Sony releases dedicated PlayStation Family app for PlayStation 4 and 5 control
Sony is stepping up its child safety game.
Sony’s PlayStation 4 and 5 consoles already have parental controls built into the console’s settings, and you could also edit them through account management on Sony’s website. But while the extent of those parental controls ran pretty deep with playtime and age restriction levels, Sony has gone a step further with a new PlayStation Family app.
Sony says that PS Family is the next step in its commitment to safe play for all ages, and it collates all the current adjustable parental controls into one place. Playtime settings and filters for age restricted content can be found here, along with settings for spending management, privacy and restrictions for the console’s social capabilities.
It also adds additional features for more in-depth monitoring, including real-time notifications for what your child is currently playing, and daily and weekly reports that show your child’s gameplay activity and how long they’re playing. Parents can also approve and decline requests for extra playtime and for playing restricted games via the app.
There are some added convenience features as well, including a proper onboarding process for setting up a child account, the ability to add funds to said account through the app, and presets for content filters that are automatically applied depending on your child’s age group. These settings can still be individually customised, though.
The PS Family app comes at a time when child safety online and in gaming is being placed under greater scrutiny. This includes YouTube’s contentious implementation of AI age verification earlier last month, as well as multiple lawsuits concerning Roblox in the US (per the LA Times). On Sony’s part, it says it’s committing to the app and plans to add more enhancements over time.
The PlayStation Family app is available on the App Store and Google Play Store now.