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Est. 1921

Online Safety

Below is a guide on how to secure your home WIFI connections to allow safer connectivity for your children:

FAMILY SAFETY APPS/SETTINGS:

Life360 - Family Locator App

What It Is

Life360 is a family safety and locator app that helps you see where your loved ones are in real time.

It also allows you to send in-app messages, and receive automatic alerts when a family member arrives or leaves a destination (such as home or school).

Download Links

Step-by-Step Setup

1. Download and Install

  • Tap the link above that matches your device.

  • Tap Install and wait for the app to download.

2. Create an Account

  • Open Life360.

  • Tap Sign Up, then enter your email, create a password, and follow the on-screen instructions.

3. Set Up Your “Circle”

  • When you first sign up, you’ll be prompted to create a Circle (a private group for your family).

  • Add family members using their phone numbers or email addresses.

  • They’ll receive an invitation to join your Circle.

4. Customise Settings

  • Go to Settings → Location Sharing to control what’s shared, enable alerts, and manage privacy preferences.

5. Explore Features

  • Free Version:

    • Real-time location sharing

    • Basic location alerts

    • In-app family messaging

  • Paid Versions (Life360 Plus / Premium):

    • Full location history

    • Driving safety reports

    • Crash detection and emergency assistance

Benefits

  • Real-time tracking of family members
  • Easy communication through secure messaging
  • Additional safety tools in paid plans

Drawbacks

  • Free version has limited features
  • Continuous location sharing can reduce battery life

 Qustodio – Parental Control App

What It Is

Qustodio is a parental control app that helps you monitor your child’s online activities, set screen time limits, block inappropriate content, and view detailed reports of app and web usage.

Download Links

Step-by-Step Setup

1. Download and Install

  • Visit the Qustodio Download Page using the link above.

  • Download the version for your device (Windows/Mac for computers, iOS/Android for mobile devices).

2. Create an Account

  • Open the app and tap Sign Up.

  • Follow the on-screen instructions to enter your details and create your account.

3. Install on Your Child’s Device

  • Repeat the download and installation process on your child’s device.

  • Use the Parent Setup wizard to link your child’s device to your account.

4. Configure Controls and Limits

  • From your Parent Dashboard (accessible via web or mobile app):

    • Choose which websites and apps to block.

    • Set daily screen time limits and create schedules.

    • Customise alerts and reports to suit your family’s needs.

5. Choose Your Plan

  • Free Version: Includes limited monitoring and basic controls.

  • Paid Version: Offers detailed reports, advanced monitoring tools, location tracking, and stronger web filtering.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive monitoring of online activity
  • Ability to set time limits and block inappropriate content
  • Detailed usage reports for peace of mind

Drawbacks

  • Free version has limited functionality
  • Some features can be complex to configure initially 

Android Family Link - Parental Control Tool

What It Is

Family Link is a free app from Google that helps parents manage their child’s Android device usage.

It allows you to set screen time limits, approve or block apps, and locate your child’s device — all from your own phone.

Download Links

Step-by-Step Setup

1. Download and Install

  • On your Android device, download Family Link for Parents using the link above.

  • On your child’s Android device, install Family Link for Children & Teens from Google Play.

2. Set Up Your Parent Account

  • Open Family Link on your device and sign in with your Google account.

  • Follow the on-screen prompts to set up parental controls.

3. Link Your Child’s Account

  • On your child’s device, open Family Link for Children & Teens.

  • Sign in with your child’s Google account (or create one if needed).

  • Follow the prompts to link it with your parent account.

4. Configure Settings

  • In the parent app, you can:

    • Set screen time limits

    • Approve or block apps

    • Set bedtime schedules

    • View app activity and location (if enabled)

Benefits

  • Completely free to use

  • Seamlessly integrated with Android and Google services

  • Simple app management and screen time tools

Drawbacks

  • Only available for Android devices (child’s device must be Android)

  • Fewer advanced features compared to paid third-party apps

Apple Family (Family Sharing)

What It Is

Apple Family Sharing (often simply called “Family”) is a built-in service on Apple devices that lets you share purchases, subscriptions, iCloud storage, and even your location with family members.

Download / Access Link

Step-by-Step Setup

1. Set Up on Your Device

  • Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.

  • Tap on your name at the top and select Family Sharing.

  • Tap Set Up Your Family and follow the on-screen instructions.

2. Invite Family Members

  • Tap Add Family Member and enter the Apple ID email address of the person you wish to invite.

  • Alternatively, you can send an invitation via iMessage.

  • Each family member must accept the invitation to join.

3. Configure Shared Services

  • Choose what you’d like to share (for example, App Store purchases, Apple Music, iCloud storage, or location).

  • Manage settings for purchase sharing and approval for children’s spending if desired.

4. Free and Paid Options

  • Free Services: Family Sharing itself is free.

  • Paid Services: You can share subscriptions such as Apple Music, Apple TV+, or upgrade iCloud storage plans, which are paid services.

Benefits

  • Easy sharing of purchases, subscriptions, and more within the Apple ecosystem

  • Built-in and integrated directly with iOS and macOS

  • Simple and intuitive setup

Drawbacks

  • Limited only to Apple devices

  • Some shared services (like additional iCloud storage or Apple Music) incur extra costs

SECURING YOUR HOME WIFI ROUTER:

BT Routers

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Log in to Your Router

  • Open a web browser and type 192.168.1.254 in the address bar.

  • Enter your BT router’s username and password when prompted.

2. Access Parental Controls

  • Look for the “Parental Controls” or “Security” section on the router’s dashboard.

  • Select “Manage” or “Settings” for parental controls.

3. Block Specific Websites

  • Find an option labelled “Website Filtering” or “Blocked Sites.”

  • Enter the URLs of the websites you want to block.

  • Save your settings.

4. Control Wi-Fi Access

  • Navigate to the “Wi-Fi Schedule” or “Wireless Settings” section.

  • Set a schedule or manually disable Wi-Fi during the times you want to restrict access.

  • Save your changes.

Benefits

  • No additional cost – these settings are built in.

  • Customisable schedules and filtering.

Drawbacks

  • Interface may differ slightly depending on the BT router model.

  • Settings might be too basic for advanced filtering needs.

Virgin Media Routers

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Log in to Your Router

  • Open your browser and visit http://192.168.0.1 or check your router’s label for the correct IP).

  • Enter your Virgin Media username and password.

2. Access Parental Controls

  • Once logged in, click on the “Advanced” settings tab.

  • Select “Parental Controls.”

3. Block Websites

  • Under Parental Controls, you will see a “Blocked Websites” option.

  • Add the URLs of the sites you wish to block.

  • Confirm and save your changes.

4. Manage Wi-Fi Access

  • Look for “Wi-Fi Scheduler” or “Wireless Settings.”

  • Set time frames when the Wi-Fi should be active or disabled.

  • Save your schedule.

Benefits

  • Simple interface with built-in parental control features.

  • Scheduling options help manage screen time.

Drawbacks

  • Limited advanced filtering options.

  • Changes affect the whole network, which may impact all devices.

EE Routers

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Log in to Your Router

  • Open your web browser and navigate to 192.168.1.1 (or check your device’s manual for the correct address).

  • Enter the default or your personalised login credentials.

2. Access the Parental Controls Section

  • Once inside, locate the “Parental Controls” tab.

  • If not visible, it might be under “Security” or “Advanced Settings.”

3. Block Specific Websites

  • Look for a section called “Website Filtering” or “Content Filter.”

  • Add the web addresses you wish to restrict.

  • Save your changes.

4. Set Wi-Fi Access Times

  • Find the “Wi-Fi Scheduler” within the Wireless settings.

  • Create a schedule to disable the Wi-Fi during designated hours.

  • Save the schedule.

Benefits

  • Free and built-in controls.

  • Easy scheduling helps enforce household rules.

Drawbacks

  • Some older EE routers may have limited options.

  • May require occasional troubleshooting if settings do not save correctly.

Sky Routers

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Log in to Your Router

  • Open a browser and type 192.168.0.1 or the IP address printed on your Sky router.

  • Enter your Sky router’s username and password.

2. Access Parental Controls

  • After logging in, navigate to the “Parental Controls” section, which might be found under “Security” or “Advanced Settings.”

3. Block Websites

  • Look for an option like “URL Blocking” or “Blocked Sites.”

  • Enter the website URLs you want to block and save your settings.

4. Control Wi-Fi Access

  • Go to the “Wireless Settings” and find the “Wi-Fi Schedule” option.

  • Set the times during which Wi-Fi should be disabled or enabled.

  • Save your schedule.

Benefits

  • No extra cost for built-in parental control features.

  • Can be easily managed through the router’s web interface.

Drawbacks

  • User interface might seem dated compared to modern apps.

  • Limited customisation options beyond basic scheduling and URL blocking.

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