Keep tabs on your child's screen time

Want to limit your child’s internet time or block internet access on their device? You can do both with AT&T Secure Family.


DETAILED INFO

Secure Family's parental controls include options for controlling internet access on a child's device. You can:

  • Create time limits for internet use
  • Set scheduled internet times
  • Block internet during bedtime hours
  • Turn all internet access off or on

FYI: To use the time features and parental controls, you must pair your phone with the Secure Family Companion app on your child's device.

Review the Secure Family FAQ (PDF, 263KB)

Time Limits

Use Time Limits to set specific amounts of time your child can use the internet in a day. You can set time limits in 15-minute increments for up to 12 hours. Choose from an overall internet time or set limits for specific apps, websites, or categories. (Apps, websites, and categories set to Always Allow aren’t limited by time, and their usage doesn’t count toward the internet time limit.)

Total internet time takes priority over limits set for other apps, websites, or categories. If you set time limits for the internet and a mobile app both at four hours, the mobile app will be blocked if the child’s total usage reaches four hours on any site or app.

Your child can see their time limits on their dashboard. It displays their total internet time and the limits for apps, websites, or categories. When they reach any of their limits, they’ll get an alert letting them know they have no more internet time left. If they reach their limit for total internet time, all internet access will end even if there's time left for an individual app, website, or category.

Good to know: Time Limits only apply to apps, websites, and categories set to Allow in the Filter section. Individual Time Limits can’t be set for unfiltered apps and websites, but their usage counts towards the total internet time limit.

Scheduled Off Times

Set internet Off Times to block internet access for scheduled times during the day (use Bedtime schedules for night ). During an Off Time, internet access is blocked from allowed and unfiltered apps, websites, and categories on the child’s device. This may be good during homework or family time. You can toggle the scheduled times on and off as needed. Apps, websites, and categories set to Always Allow aren’t blocked.

If your child tries to access a website or internet-based app during an Off Time, they’ll get a message letting them know their device is on Off Time, their app doesn’t have a connection, or a website can’t load. In their dashboard, they can see a countdown to the finish of an Off Time. If they aren’t in an Off Time, they’ll see a countdown to the start of the next one.

FYI: To create a new Off Time, tap the plus icon at the top of the Off Time screen.

Bedtime schedule

With the Bedtime option, you can block internet access at night. When a Bedtime is set, internet access for allowed and unfiltered apps, websites, and categories is blocked on the child’s device from Bedtime to Awake time. Apps and websites set to Always Allow aren’t blocked.

If your child tries to access a website or internet-based app during Bedtime, they’ll get an alert stating their device is on Bedtime, their app doesn’t have a connection, or a website can’t load. Your child can see a countdown to the start or finish of their Bedtime schedule on their dashboard.

Block Internet

Stop internet access to allowed and unfiltered apps and websites on a child’s device with the Block Internet option. You can also use Internet Block if you don’t have any filters applied to a child’s profile. In that case, all internet-based apps and websites are blocked.

You have three ways to use the Block feature. You can block the internet for:

  • All devices on every child’s profile
  • All devices on one child’s profile
  • A single device on a child’s profile

If your child tries to access a website or internet-based app during a block time, they’ll get a block screen alert or a message stating their app doesn’t have a connection or a website can’t load.

Want to block your child from using mobile data too? Learn how to turn data on or off for your devices.


FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Last updated: August 29, 2023

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