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Parental Controls and Apps.

Search online for Parental Control or Apps and you'll find a wealth of information. Some examples include:

Apple iTunes Parental Controls allow a parent to create an account for a child with safe limits on the applications they can run, what files they can access, and how they use the Internet. With parental controls the parent can:

Create settings for Internet applications.
Create a list of email addresses with which the child can exchange email.
Specify websites the child can view and create a contact list for the child.
Limit the applications the child can access.
Prevent settings or preferences from being changed accidentally.
Prevent essential files from being deleted.

Google Apps Content Ratings system enables parents to choose suitable levels of content exposure and information sharing through Apps that are downloaded from Android Market. The content rating system requires developers to rate their Apps in one of four categories:

Everyone.
Low.
Medium.
High.

The High Maturity filter:

"Applications in this category may focus on or include frequent instances of sexual and suggestive content; graphic violence; social features; simulated gambling; and strong alcohol, tobacco and drug references. Applications may collect user location data for the purpose of sharing or publishing with the user’s consent."

The parent must opt to select the App content rating filter appropriate for their child, the steps to setting up App filtering is as follows:

Open Android Market.
Press Menu on the upper right corner.
Touch ‘App Content Filter’ and choose your desired setting.
To lock the settings, touch the lock icon and enter a PIN code.

Using a PIN code, parents can lock a setting to filter Apps on their devices so that only Apps deemed appropriate for use by a child can be displayed and downloaded. Inappropriate or objectionable content can be Reported. If a parent or a child comes across incorrectly rated Apps, they can flag such Apps for review by Google.

Google's Android App Help Centre

Google Family Safety Centre

Google aims to provide parents and teachers with tools to help them choose what content their children see online and to offer tips and advice to families about how to stay safe online.

Google's Family Safety Centre

Google recommend that parents set up Safe Search on any smartphone or computer that a child uses. As for YouTube they advise that YouTube Safety Mode is activated and they remind parents that "YouTube is not intended for children under the age of 13."

Apps Tips for Parents

Apply Parental Controls and App Filters to all mobiles and Internet enabled devices used by young children.
Talk to your child about the Apps they download.
Discuss mobile phone and data package costs with your child.
Find out about the Parental Controls and Safety Advice provided by a mobile provider when purchasing a handset or software for your child.
Encourage service providers to set devices and services to "Private by default" so that "opt-in" is the default setting. When child protection settings are the default setting, privacy and safety settings will be auto loaded onto devices, thus saving the parent having to search for them or having to learn how to download them.