YouTube has strengthened parental controls for Shorts, allowing parents to set daily time limits on their children’s viewing. The move comes as tech platforms face growing pressure to improve online safety for younger users.


YouTube expands parental controls with time limits on shorts 

HMD has launched the Fusion X1, a kid-friendly smartphone unveiled at Mobile World Congress 2025. Designed with parental controls, it allows parents to set app limits, schedule screen time, and track their child’s location every 20 seconds. The device is available through a subscription model, making safety more accessible for families.

HMD unveils Fusion X1, a kid-friendly smartphone with parental controls

This might come as a bittersweet news for some Chinese parents and children if reports are to be believed, children under age 18 will be restricted access to their smartphones in China. The country's latest move is aimed at curbing the growing internet addiction in kids.

China: No internet for kids from 10pm to 6 am

Meta has announced new parental control tools across Instagram, Facebook and Messenger. These tools, which have been provided by leading experts, as claimed, will let parents support their teens through the Meta Family Centre. These controls are currently available in the US, UK, and Canada.

Meta adds parental control tools in Instagram and Facebook

For the first time, the popular messaging app Snapchat has rolled out a new feature that will allow parents to see whom their teens are talking to.

The feature has been launched at a time when social media companies have been criticised for their lack of protection for kids.

After facing accusations of exposing young users to bullying or steering them toward harmful content, tech companies such as Snap and its tech peers TikTok and YouTube testified before US lawmakers in October.

Following the leaked internal documents by a Facebook whistleblower that she said showed the app harmed some teens’ mental health and body image, Instagram also testified in a Senate hearing in December over children’s online safety.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-us-lawsuit-16-year-old-girl-takes-on-snapchat-for-failing-to-safeguard-users-476793">Also read |&nbsp;In US lawsuit, 16-year-old girl takes on Snapchat for failing to safeguard users</a>

The new feature in Snapchat, called Family Centre, will only be activated with the consent of teenagers. Once it is activated, parents will be able to view their kids’ friends list and whom they have messaged on the app in the past seven days.

While will not be able to see private content or messages sent to and from their teens, they can confidentially report any concerning accounts.

According to Jeremy Voss, Snap's head of messaging products, “It strikes the right approach for enhancing safety and well-being, while still protecting autonomy and privacy.”&nbsp;

Instagram had also launched a similar feature that allowed parents to view what accounts their teens follow and how much time they spend on the app.

(With inputs from agencies)

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For the first time, the popular messaging app Snapchat has rolled out a new feature that will allow parents to see whom their teens are talking to. The feature has been launched at a time when social media companies have been criticised for their lack of protection for kids.

For the first time, the popular messaging app Snapchat has rolled out a new feature that will allow parents to see whom their teens are talking to. The feature has been launched at a time when social media companies have been criticised for their lack of protection for kids. After facing accusations of exposing young users to bullying or steering them toward harmful content, tech companies such as Snap and its tech peers TikTok and YouTube testified before US lawmakers in October. Following the leaked internal documents by a Facebook whistleblower that she said showed the app harmed some teens’ mental health and body image, Instagram also testified in a Senate hearing in December over children’s online safety. Also read | In US lawsuit, 16-year-old girl takes on Snapchat for failing to safeguard users The new feature in Snapchat, called Family Centre, will only be activated with the consent of teenagers. Once it is activated, parents will be able to view their kids’ friends list and whom they have messaged on the app in the past seven days. While will not be able to see private content or messages sent to and from their teens, they can confidentially report any concerning accounts. According to Jeremy Voss, Snap's head of messaging products, “It strikes the right approach for enhancing safety and well-being, while still protecting autonomy and privacy.” Instagram had also launched a similar feature that allowed parents to view what accounts their teens follow and how much time they spend on the app. (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION's live TV here: ×

Snapchat to allow parents to see who their teens are talking to

With an aim to cut the 'twin pressures' of homework and offsite tutoring in core subjects, China has passed an education law, said the Xinhua news agency on Saturday. &nbsp;

In the new law, local governments are responsible for ensuring that these two pressures are reduced. It also asked the parents to arrange their children's routine in such a manner that they get reasonable rest and exercise, which will help in reducing pressure, said the agency. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-seeks-to-contain-beijing-anger-after-biden-vows-taiwan-defense-423109" hreflang="en">US seeks to contain Beijing anger after Biden vows Taiwan defense</a>

It also looks to curb overuse of the internet. The law has not been published in full. &nbsp; &nbsp;

China seems to be making concerted efforts to exercise a more assertive paternal control this year. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Being concerned with heavy academic burden on children, it has also cut back on homework and banned after-school tutoring for subjects during the weekend and holidays. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-warns-slovakia-czech-republic-over-taiwan-minister-visit-423090" hreflang="en">China warns Slovakia, Czech Republic over Taiwan minister visit</a>

Earlier, China's parliament was considering a legislation to punish parents if their young children exhibit "very bad behaviour" or commit crimes. &nbsp;

In the draft of the family education promotion law, guardians will be reprimanded and ordered to go through family education guidance programmes if prosecutors find very bad or criminal behaviour in children under their care. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

With an aim to cut the 'twin pressures' of homework and offsite tutoring in core subjects, China has passed an education law, said the Xinhua news agency on Saturday.

With an aim to cut the 'twin pressures' of homework and offsite tutoring in core subjects, China has passed an education law, said the Xinhua news agency on Saturday. In the new law, local governments are responsible for ensuring that these two pressures are reduced. It also asked the parents to arrange their children's routine in such a manner that they get reasonable rest and exercise, which will help in reducing pressure, said the agency. Also Read: US seeks to contain Beijing anger after Biden vows Taiwan defense It also looks to curb overuse of the internet. The law has not been published in full. China seems to be making concerted efforts to exercise a more assertive paternal control this year. Being concerned with heavy academic burden on children, it has also cut back on homework and banned after-school tutoring for subjects during the weekend and holidays. Also Read: China warns Slovakia, Czech Republic over Taiwan minister visit Earlier, China's parliament was considering a legislation to punish parents if their young children exhibit "very bad behaviour" or commit crimes. In the draft of the family education promotion law, guardians will be reprimanded and ordered to go through family education guidance programmes if prosecutors find very bad or criminal behaviour in children under their care. (With inputs from agencies)

Parental control? China passes law to check students’ 'twin pressures'

Facebook on Monday unveiled a version of its Messenger application for children, aimed at enabling kids under 12 to connect with others under parental supervision.

Messenger Kids is being rolled out for Apple iOS mobile devices in the United States on a test basis as a standalone video chat and messaging app.

Product manager Loren Cheng said the social network leader is offering Messenger Kids because &quot;there&#39;s a need for a messaging app that lets kids connect with people they love but also has the level&nbsp; of control parents want.&quot;

Facebook said that the new app, with no ads or in-app purchases, is aimed at 6- to 12-year-olds. It enables parents to control the contact list and does not allow children to connect with anyone their parent does not approve.

The social media giant added it designed the app because many children are going online without safeguards.

&quot;Many of us at Facebook are parents ourselves, and it seems we weren&#39;t alone when we realized that our kids were getting online earlier and earlier,&quot; a Facebook statement said.

It cited a study showing that 93 per cent of 6- to 12-year-olds in the US have access to tablets or smartphones, and two-thirds have a smartphone or tablet of their own.

&quot;We want to help ensure the experiences our kids have when using technology are positive, safer, and age-appropriate, and we believe teaching kids how to use technology in positive ways will bring better experiences later as they grow,&quot; the company said.

Facebook&#39;s rules require that children be at least 13 to create an account, but many are believed to get around the restrictions.

Cheng said Facebook conducted its own research and worked with &quot;over a dozen expert advisors&quot; in building the app.

She added that data from children would not be used for ad profiles and that the application would be compliant with the Children&#39;s Online Privacy and Protection Act (COPPA).

&quot;We&#39;ve worked extensively with parents and families to shape Messenger Kids and we&#39;re looking forward to learning and listening as more children and families start to use the iOS preview,&quot; Cheng said.

Messenger Kids is being rolled out for Apple iOS mobile devices in the United States on a test basis as a standalone video chat and messaging app

Facebook on Monday unveiled a version of its Messenger application for children, aimed at enabling kids under 12 to connect with others under parental supervision. Messenger Kids is being rolled out for Apple iOS mobile devices in the United States on a test basis as a standalone video chat and messaging app. Product manager Loren Cheng said the social network leader is offering Messenger Kids because "there's a need for a messaging app that lets kids connect with people they love but also has the level of control parents want." Facebook said that the new app, with no ads or in-app purchases, is aimed at 6- to 12-year-olds. It enables parents to control the contact list and does not allow children to connect with anyone their parent does not approve. The social media giant added it designed the app because many children are going online without safeguards. "Many of us at Facebook are parents ourselves, and it seems we weren't alone when we realized that our kids were getting online earlier and earlier," a Facebook statement said. It cited a study showing that 93 per cent of 6- to 12-year-olds in the US have access to tablets or smartphones, and two-thirds have a smartphone or tablet of their own. "We want to help ensure the experiences our kids have when using technology are positive, safer, and age-appropriate, and we believe teaching kids how to use technology in positive ways will bring better experiences later as they grow," the company said. Facebook's rules require that children be at least 13 to create an account, but many are believed to get around the restrictions. Cheng said Facebook conducted its own research and worked with "over a dozen expert advisors" in building the app. She added that data from children would not be used for ad profiles and that the application would be compliant with the Children's Online Privacy and Protection Act (COPPA). "We've worked extensively with parents and families to shape Messenger Kids and we're looking forward to learning and listening as more children and families start to use the iOS preview," Cheng said.

Facebook to launch chat app for kids, with parental controls

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