The exposure of children and young people to the digital environment has long been a subject of debate, particularly when it comes to video games and social networks.
Platforms like Fortnite and Roblox attract millions of young players worldwide, but they also present risks, from exposure to inappropriate content to interactions with strangers. These concerns have fueled the growing discussion around the importance of parental control tools in gaming.
Console manufacturers and developers alike have introduced features to help parents monitor and limit their children’s digital activities. Now, Sony has taken an important step forward with the release of the PS Family app, designed specifically to make parental supervision on the PlayStation 5 easier and more accessible.
Launched on September 5, 2025, without much promotional push from Sony or PlayStation, the PS Family app is available for free on both Google Play and the App Store.
Through the app, parents can:
- Monitor playtime and set daily or weekly limits.
- Restrict game content based on age ratings.
- Control spending on the PlayStation Store.
- Receive real-time notifications about their child’s activity.
With PS Family, Sony aims to centralise parental controls in a simple mobile interface, giving guardians more flexibility and peace of mind.
Main features of PS Family
The PS Family app was created to help parents and guardians manage how children and teenagers interact with the PlayStation 5. Available for free on iOS and Android, it centralises restrictions, monitoring tools, and spending controls into one easy-to-use platform.
With PS Family, adults can set age-appropriate limits, define play schedules, block unwanted content, and even control purchases — all in real time and directly from their phone.
Here’s a breakdown of the key features:
Game Time Control
One of the most useful tools is the ability to manage playtime schedules. Parents can:
- Set daily or weekly time limits.
- Define exact hours when gaming is allowed.
- Receive detailed reports of console usage.
If a child tries to log in outside the approved schedule, the console automatically blocks access. However, the app gives kids the option to send a request for extra playtime, which parents can approve or deny instantly from their phone. This request-and-approval system applies to other restrictions as well, giving adults remote flexibility.
Content Management
Parents can restrict access to games and apps based on age ratings, whether they’re digital downloads or physical discs. Beyond that, guardians can:
- Block specific titles.
- Hide certain content in the PlayStation Store.
This ensures kids only see games appropriate for their age group.
Activity Monitoring
The app provides charts and usage insights that show exactly how long a child spends on the console and which games they play most often. This makes it easier to track habits and spot early signs of overuse.
Spending Limits
Unauthorised purchases have long been a concern for families, especially with popular games like Fortnite. With PS Family, parents can:
- Set a maximum spending limit.
- Create a digital wallet with a fixed balance.
This prevents unexpected charges on credit cards and gives kids a safer way to enjoy in-game purchases.
Chat and Communication Control
Online communication is another common worry. By default, child accounts have restricted access to PlayStation chat and messaging. Using the app, parents can:
- Keep chats blocked.
- Allow text or voice chat only in specific games.
This ensures safer interactions without completely isolating kids from social play.
Multi-Account Management
Families with more than one child aren’t left behind — PS Family lets adults manage multiple accounts, each with customised restrictions. This way, older kids can have more freedom while younger ones stay under tighter supervision.
PS Portal can be an excellent alternative to mobile
Mobile devices like tablets and smartphones present a bigger challenge for parental control because children can access a wide range of online content. In this context, the PS Portal — PlayStation’s remote gameplay device — emerges as a useful complement. Since it relies on the console, it can provide a safer gaming experience outside the home, especially when paired with PS Family.
The PS Portal is designed specifically for gaming, which naturally limits access to other apps like social media platforms or web browsers — a common issue with tablets and smartphones.
When used together, PS Family and PS Portal give parents and guardians a convenient, fully customizable way to monitor and manage their children’s gaming activities, both at home and on the go.
While the interface might feel a bit confusing at first and may require some time to get used to, PlayStation’s Parental Control app is a valuable tool for keeping children safe on online platforms.
The best part is that the app is completely free, and all parents need is a PlayStation Network account to start using it.
