‘Before You Buy’ video games checklist
Make informed decisions about game content for children and young people.
How to set up safety controls
We’ll guide you through the process for different devices, making it easier to create a safer digital environment.
On the console, go to System Settings > Parental Controls or on mobile, download the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app to your smartphone. Here, you can block games by age rating, limit communication and disable VR mode.
Create a family account under your PlayStation network account by going to Settings > Parental Controls/Family Management. Here you can set up child accounts with age restrictions, spending limits, screen time boundaries and scheduled playtimes. You can also filter web content using Trend Micro.
The Microsoft Family Safety app allows you to manage screen time, set content restrictions and monitor activity across Xbox and Windows devices.
Access these settings directly through the console by going to Settings > Account > Family. Here you can set time limits, restrict purchases, block inappropriate content and manage who can communicate with your child online.
The Microsoft Family Safety app allows you to manage screen time, set content restrictions and monitor activity across Xbox and Windows devices.
For games played through Steam, enable Family View to restrict access to certain games and features.
Many families also use third party parental control software such as Norton Family or Kaspersky Safe Kids for more comprehensive protection across all PC activities.
Both iOS and Android offer built-in tools to manage gaming. On iOS, Screen Time settings let you control app access and set downtimes. Android users can use Google Family Link to approve downloads and set gaming boundaries.
On Discord, go to User Settings > Privacy & Safety. Here you can enable privacy settings to block direct messages from non-friends and filter explicit content.
On Twitch, adjust privacy settings to control who can send messages and interact with your child. Consider blocking the app if it becomes too distracting.
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