PS5 & Xbox Series X: Making Sure Your New Console Is Safe
2020 hasn’t been the best year in a lot of respects, but it’s a great year to be a gamer. In the past month we’ve seen the release of a new generation of gaming consoles: the PlayStation 5 from Sony, and the Xbox Series X and Series S from Microsoft.
Actually getting your hands on one of these consoles has proved surprisingly difficult, but if you’re one of the lucky parents who managed to make an order, you’ll want to make sure your new console is ready for your children to enjoy safely. That’s why we put together this blog to explain what parental settings are available on your new device, as well as simple instructions to activate them.
PlayStation 5
If you’ve already used the parental settings on PS4, then setting up your PS5 will be a doddle. Just sign in with your existing PlayStation Network account, and your chosen settings will automatically switch over! If you’re new to PlayStation, here’s what you need to know:
1. Create a PSN account
You’ll be asked to do this when you boot up the console for the first time. Just enter your email address and choose a password.
2. Make a child account
Press the PS button on the controller, then select Switch User. You can create a child account here and link it to your user account.
3. Change console restrictions
Go to the Settings menu, then select Family and Parental Controls, then PS5 Console Restrictions. You'll be asked for a restriction passcode: the default is 0000, but you can change this later.
You can create all sorts of specific restrictions for a child account, including:
- Blocking any games/discs from playing if their age rating is too high.
- Setting limits on how long your child can play for, or what times of day.
- Restricting the internet browser
- Setting spending limits on your child’s account
- Restricting online communication like voice chat
Xbox Series X/S
Microsoft’s consoles require you to set up a Microsoft account. You can find the parental controls in the console under Account > Family Settings, but the easiest way to set them is through the Xbox Family Settings app. Here’s how:
1. Download the Xbox Family Settings App
You can find it for free on the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. Once you’ve got it installed, sign in to your Microsoft account (or create one if you haven’t already).
2. Add a Child Account
Create an account for your child, or add their existing account to your Xbox Family. Be sure to make your child a Member, rather than an Organiser - this will ensure they can’t tweak any settings on their own!
3. Set content restrictions
As with the PS5, there are loads of restrictions you can put on a child account. These include:
- Setting limits on how long your child can play for, or what times of day.
- Blocking any games/discs from playing if their age rating is too high.
- Monitoring your child's activity when playing.
- Setting spending limits on your child’s account
- Managing your child's Friends List, including being able to see incoming friend requests and accept or decline them.
- Manage your child's online account and privacy settings, including whether or not they're able to play online.
Game on!
Once you’ve got your console of choice set up, why not spend some time playing it with your child? It’s a great opportunity for family bonding time, and an easy way to start conversations with your child about the things that they love, things they’re worried about, and anything else that might be going on in their lives.
About Natterhub
Natterhub is an educational social media platform created to prepare primary school children to thrive online.
Our interactive lessons give children all the skills that they need to stay safe in a digital landscape, and our Badges of Honour help teachers to keep track of their progress.
With a cleverly designed interface that looks and feels like social media, children learn in an environment that feels like the real deal whilst teachers can make use of the extensive Natterhub content library to keep pupils engaged and inspired.
Natterhub is powered by TwinklHive, and is used in over 40 countries around the world. Twinkl, a global educational publishing house, offers primary and secondary resources to 8.5 million members, across 197 countries.
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