The New York Times - Manage screen time

If you’re concerned by the surgeon general’s recent warning on the risks of social media on kids’ mental health, downloading a parental control app could be a great place to start.

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These apps allow parents to set limits on their child’s app access and overall screen time, and serve as “training wheels” to help kids and teens build healthy tech habits. They can allow parents to do things like manage their child’s devices remotely, curb access to the phone at bedtime, and set limits on how much time a kid can spend on specific apps, on categories of apps, or generally on the phone.

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“Parental control apps are a crucial tool for today’s parents,” explains Wirecutter contributor Ellen Lee. “But you can’t just ‘set it and forget it.’ They’re a starting point for an ongoing family conversation around healthy tech use.”

The 3 best parental control apps to manage screen time→

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And if you’re looking for ways to delay giving your kids an adult smartphone—but do want them to have a way to communicate as they become more independent—you have options. Here are our picks for the best smartwatches and phones for kids.

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