By Staff Reporter
Google is introducing a new age assurance system that will make it easier for parents to manage their children’s online safety across Android apps, eliminating the need to adjust parental settings individually for each application.
The new technology, known as the Play Signal API, allows Android apps to automatically apply age-appropriate experiences based on a child’s age category. Instead of sharing sensitive personal information such as a child’s exact date of birth, Google will only provide developers with a general age classification when necessary, helping protect users’ privacy while ensuring safer digital experiences.
The feature has already launched in Brazil and will expand to Australia and Canada by mid-August. Google plans to roll it out globally, including in the UAE, before the end of 2026 as part of wider efforts to strengthen online protections for children and teenagers.
For parents, the biggest advantage is convenience. Rather than configuring parental controls separately for every app, settings will be managed centrally through Google’s Family Link app. Existing features such as screen time management, download approvals and content filtering will continue to be available, providing families with a single dashboard for monitoring and managing their children’s digital activity.
The update is expected to benefit families in the UAE, where parents often manage multiple devices, international app stores and varying content standards. By streamlining parental controls while maintaining strong privacy safeguards, Google aims to make online safety easier to manage without compromising children’s personal information.
As the rollout reaches the UAE later this year, parents are encouraged to ensure that Family Link is properly configured so they can take full advantage of the new automated parental control features.
