Parents
Latest
FDA approves Owlet’s baby-monitoring sock two years after halting sales
Owlet, a baby monitoring device manufacturer, has received a nod from the FDA for its latest pulse-oximeter device BabySat. The approval comes after the FDA previously took the technology off consumer shelves.
Google has fixed the 'white noise' sound on Nest speakers that helps people sleep
Google recently changed its white noise ambient sound to something that loops more often and has a muffled sound. Users are not happy.
Google now lets users ask for images of minors to be removed from Search
Google has activated a safety feature that lets minors under 18 request that images of themselves be removed from search results.
YouTube will begin demonetizing 'low-quality' kids videos next month
Starting next month, the company will demonetize channels that primarily target young people or market themselves as “made for kids” if the content they upload is of low quality.
Facebook is ‘pausing’ work on Instagram Kids app amid growing scrutiny
Facebook has announced that it's "pausing" its Instagram Kids products in order to "work with parents, experts and policymakers.
TikTok rolls out a Guardian's Guide to help parents understand the platform
The TikTok Safety Center is also receiving a spit-shine.
YouTube will expand parental controls for tweens and teens
Supervised accounts will enable content settings and limit some features.
The best tech gifts for new parents
Here's a list of the best tech you can get soon-to-be parents and new parents, as chosen by Engadget editors.
Netflix's new parental controls include PIN-protected profiles
Netflix’s parental controls have been something of a mess, but they just got considerably better.
Facebook gives parents more control over Messenger Kids chats
Facebook launched its Messenger Kids app back in 2017, designed to get younger kids on board with digital literacy while giving them a safe space to connect and chat with their friends. It's seen a few security blips since, though, leading senators to question whether Facebook is doing enough to protect kids' privacy. Today, the company appears to have answered that call, as it rolls out a raft of new parental controls and safety features.
Spotify's family plan now comes with a standalone kids' app
Spotify is expanding its family-plan offering with a new app designed for kids. The Spotify Kids app -- with a pared-back, easy-to-use interface -- comes with two silos of age-appropriate music: Audio for Younger Kids features singalongs, lullabies and content from licensed partners such as Disney and Nickelodeon, while Audio for Older Kids includes popular chart tracks and playlists that exclude explicit content. There's no specific age range for each -- it's up to parents to decide what's appropriate for their kids.
BBC's smart keyboard helps kids live healthy digital lives
The BBC wants to help kids have healthy and positive interactions online, and it's hoping its new Own It app will do just that. The app is centered around a keyboard that pops up whenever a user begins to type. If the message is negative, the app can offer support, give advice and recommend talking to a trusted adult.
Congress could require a car alarm for kids left inside
In the past 20 years, more than 800 children have died of heatstroke in cars in the US. Now, a group of lawmakers wants to require alerts that would remind parents to check for children in the backseat before exiting the vehicle. Legislation announced today would mandate "a distinct auditory and visual alert," and it would require a feasibility study for retrofitting existing vehicles with the system.
Verizon launches a new generation of its kid-tracking wearable
Your kid almost certainly doesn't need a smartwatch, but you can still strap one to them if you want. Verizon has expanded its dormant lineup of GizmoKids wearables with the GizmoWatch—the first of the bunch to offer 4G LTE.
YouTube adds more rigorous parental controls to its Kids app
Google and YouTube have been struggling with how to let kids watch videos without also exposing them to inappropriate content. Even the YouTube Kids app has suggested not-for-kids conspiracy theory videos. In response, the video platform started looking at handpicking content for its app earlier this month. Now the company is making changes to YouTube Kids to help keep the little ones a little safer, including curated collections, parent-approved content and an improved ability to turn off search in the app.
Fitbit Ionic is a great smartwatch for this new dad
Half a year back, my daughter suddenly stopped sleeping through the night, meaning that my wife and I stopped sleeping as well. No fancy bedroom gadget, or anything else, has alleviated the terrible fog that clouds our brains after an average of four hours' sleep. But there is one device that I've found myself clinging to in the last few months, something that's helping me get through the day in one piece. It's the Fitbit Ionic, and yes, I'm as surprised as you are.
Facebook's Messenger Kids app arrives on Amazon Fire tablets
Facebook launched a Messenger app just for kids this past December, but it was only available on iOS. Now the app is available on Amazon's app store for Fire tablets as well. While it might not help counter the current worries over connected gadget addiction, the app has some built-in features to help limit kids exposure to undesirable content and people.
Mattel built a $300 Echo for kids
It's late, and you're tired. Before you can knock off for the night, however, there's one thing left to do: read your child a bedtime story. In Mattel's world, you might not have to pick up a book or even put on voices for their favorite characters. That's because it's working on an Echo-style speaker with an assistant called Aristotle. It's built specifically for kids, offering games, facts and soothing sounds on demand. Most importantly, it has the smarts to recognize your little one's less-than-perfect speech and adapt as she gets older and more curious about the wider world.
Man found not guilty after confiscating his child's iPhone
You can safely say that you have control over your kids' devices when you're living with them, but it's trickier if you split up with your partner and share custody -- and one former couple just learned this the hard way. A Dallas judge has found Ronald Jackson not guilty of a theft charge filed after he took his daughter's iPhone 4S (bought by his ex-partner, Michelle Steppe) as punishment for a rude phone message and refused to give it back. There just wasn't enough evidence to pursue the case, the judge said.
EE's £130 Robin tablet is aimed squarely at kids
Tesco might be easing back on building family-friendly phones and tablets, but UK retailers and carriers believe there's still plenty of interest in such products. Amazon recently surprised us with a very capable £50 Fire tablet, and now EE wants a piece of the action with its new kid-centric Robin slate. The 4G-ready device features a 7-inch 1024 x 600 display, a quad-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage (with microSD support), 2-megapixel camera and is powered by EE's own Kurio OS, which is based on Android 5.1 and offers plenty of parental controls out of the box.
