Google TV added new features to the kids' accounts, including parent-managed watchlists, home screen suggestions, and supervised use of the regular YouTube app. All of these software enhancements started reaching Google TV users on Tuesday, Oct. 18, and will continue to do so over the next several weeks.
In 2021, Google introduced kid profiles to the platform, providing children with their own curated hub filled with material that is suitable for their age group.
Parent-Managed Watchlists
Parents may manage their children's viewing habits by adding their favorite episodes and movies to a centralized watchlist that will display on their kid's Google TV home screen. By doing so, kids may swiftly go from one video to the next.
To add a movie or TV program to a child's profile, just make your selection as you usually would, click the watchlist button, and pick the appropriate account.
AI-Generated Suggestions
Additional updates from Google includes personalized content suggestions for children's accounts, which can be seen on the home screen.
Prior to this update, the home screen only featured kid-friendly streaming applications without the real recommendations seen on adult accounts. Google said in its recent blog post that these suggestions are based on the apps parents have installed and the rating settings they have selected, The Verge reported. The company also pointed out that removing unwanted widgets from the home screen is simple, if necessary.
Also Read: Google Enhances TV Experience for Viewers, Acknowledges Flaws and Areas that Need Improvement
A Risk-free Upgrade From the YouTube Kids to the Regular YouTube App
Google wants to make it easy for parents to guide their children from the YouTube Kids app to the regular YouTube app once they are ready.
Google TV product manager Saleh Altayyar stated, "If you have older kids in your home that are ready to move on from YouTube Kids, Google TV now supports a supervised experience on YouTube." This means that children can use their own Google TV kids' profiles to access more of YouTube's content with parental supervision.
This experience includes "content settings for pre-teens and older," which modify the features the child may use and allows parents to ban channels and manage other restrictions through the YouTube mobile app.
According to The Verge's report, the riskiest bit behind Google's new update appears to be making the entire YouTube library available to children, although parents are not obligated to make that decision until they are ready.
Update on Family Link App
On the same day of Google TV's changes, the tech company also released an update on the Family Link app, which includes a number of new features geared towards children.
The new highlights page offers a glimpse of the child's app activity, screen time, and newly installed applications. Other improvements make it much simpler for parents to access the features and functions they frequently use.
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Written by Trisha Kae Andrada
