Using smart devices today became a common thing. Many homes have begun to have smart devices such as smart TVs, various smart lighting systems that can be controlled via phone apps, smart security systems, and of course smart speakers with voice assistants.
Voice assistants have become really indispensable for carrying out your daily routine. You can use them to find out the latest information such as traffic jams, the weather, or simply ask your assistant how you are doing. Many assistants are equipped with a special feature set for entertainment.
This way they can tell you jokes, play different games or answer your jokes. These are actually very interesting and fun features for your voice assistant.
However, this can be a problem if you have children in the house and you do not want them to actively use the voice assistant. For example Alexa in Amazon Echo. There is a special parental control feature for that.
What are parental controls in Amazon Echo
The parental control features in Amazon Echo are done with FreeTime. This is an app feature that can be enabled on any Echo device, including the Echo Dot Kids Edition.
This feature is especially useful if you want to keep your children safe when interacting with Alexa. It will allow you to keep track of how your child is using the Amazon Echo. What requests your child makes, whether they are shopping for different products, you can also limit listening to explicit music, and use the device when they should be sleeping or doing homework.
To set up this feature, you’ll need the Alexa app on your smartphone. It’s actually quite easy to do.
But it’s also important to remember that when you can make your Echo kid-friendlier, you’re providing consent for Amazon to collect some of your kid’s data, including their name, birth date, contact information, and voice recordings. You should review Alexa’s privacy rules in more detail before using this feature.
How to set up parental controls on Amazon Echo
If you do compare the risks and decide you should set parental controls on your voice assistant, it’s really easy. You’ll need the Alexa app and your smartphone to do it.
If it’s already done, you need to:
- Launch the Alexa app on your smartphone.
- Then click on the Devices button. This is an icon with the shape of a house, it should be in the bottom right corner of the screen.
- Then select your Alexa device. This should display a list of connected devices. Select the one you want.
- Note that you will need to repeat the entire procedure for each new device where you want to put parental controls.
- On the next screen, you will need to scroll down and select FreeTime.
- Then turn this feature on. When the slider turns blue, that means the feature is enabled.
- Click on the Setup Amazon FreeTime button.
- This is where you will need to fill in your child’s information and click on Add Child.
- Then click Continue and log in to your account using your Amazon account information.
- To add more children, simply click Add Child under Continue and repeat the above process.
- Tap Sign in. Confirm your password when prompted with two-factor authentication.
- Tap I Agree on the Parental Consent page.
- Next, you will need to configure the Alexa features you want to allow your child to use. For example, you can enable or disable calling and messaging, the Alexa drop-in feature, or enable the Explicit Filter for music.
- At the ponce, just click on Continue and you can exit the FreeTime settings with the X in the upper right corner.
This way you can quickly set up the parental control feature. For more information about this feature, visit parents.amazon.com. From there you can set time limits and content allowed. You can also change the age filter and more.
There’s also a handy feature where you can teach Alexa to recognize your voice so she understands that you’re talking to her, not your child.
