Sony has rolled out the PlayStation Family app, a new parental control tool designed for iOS and Android devices. This app allows parents to manage their children’s gaming activity on PlayStation consoles directly from their smartphones. With real-time monitoring, spending controls, and social interaction settings, the app brings convenience and greater security for families who want to ensure healthy gaming habits.
The PlayStation Family app is a mobile extension of Sony’s existing parental controls. Previously, parents could only configure restrictions through the console itself. Now, these features are available at their fingertips via mobile, making it easier to track and adjust settings anytime, anywhere.
The app supports PlayStation 5 (PS5) and PlayStation 4 (PS4) accounts and is available to download globally from both the App Store and Google Play.
Parents can receive instant notifications when their child starts playing a game. This allows them to stay updated without constantly checking the console.
The app provides daily and weekly reports on gaming activity. Parents can set playtime limits, and children can request extra time, which parents can approve or decline remotely.
Through the app, parents can:
Add funds to a child’s wallet.
View balances in real-time.
Set monthly spending limits for PlayStation Store purchases.
This ensures children stay within safe spending boundaries.
The app offers age-based content filters, which can be applied with a single tap. These filters can also be customized individually to match each child’s needs.
Parents can manage:
How children connect with friends.
Which social features are accessible.
Who can interact with their child online.
This reduces exposure to potentially harmful social interactions.
Using the PlayStation Family app is simple:
Parents log in with their existing PlayStation account.
A guided onboarding flow helps create or link a child account.
Once linked, parents can start receiving notifications, setting restrictions, and monitoring gameplay activity.
The app ensures seamless integration with PlayStation consoles, making parental management hassle-free.
Sony confirmed that PlayStation Family is available worldwide from September 11 on both iOS and Android. The company also announced plans to introduce new features and enhancements in future updates, ensuring the app evolves with user needs.
Sony’s launch follows similar moves from other tech giants:
Google has integrated parental controls into its Gemini ecosystem.
Meta offers monitoring tools in Facebook Messenger and Instagram.
OpenAI has introduced child-safety controls in ChatGPT.
With growing concerns about children’s exposure to inappropriate content and excessive screen time, Sony’s PlayStation Family app aligns with the global trend of strengthening digital safeguards.
Conclusion
The Sony PlayStation Family app is a timely solution for modern families. By shifting parental controls from consoles to smartphones, Sony offers parents greater flexibility, transparency, and control over their children’s gaming habits. Whether it’s monitoring playtime, limiting spending, or managing online interactions, the app makes family gaming safer and more responsible.