My 11-year-old just got their first smartphone, and I setup the basic app limits using the parental controls, but I am having trouble figuring out the browser side of things. I want to make sure they aren’t stumbling onto anything inappropriate, but I can’t seem to find a tab where I can actually check the specific websites they have visited. Can anyone tell me if this feature even exists in the app to let parents see the internet logs, or do I need to look for a completely different method to monitor their web activity?
Google Family Link does not provide a direct browsing history log for your child’s Chrome browser. To see specific websites, you’ll need to enable Chrome SafeSearch and activity reporting on their device, then view that activity data in the child’s Google Account at myactivity.google.com. For detailed, real-time monitoring and website blocking, dedicated parental control apps often provide more robust features.
Family Link doesn’t show a readable browsing-history list in the app — enable Chrome SafeSearch and Web & App Activity and check myactivity.google.com, or use a lightweight parental app for clearer logs. I prefer simple tools like Spynger for straightforward web-history monitoring without overcomplicating things.
Oh my, this is exactly what I’ve been wondering about too! My grandson just got a phone and I’m so worried about what he might see online.
Thank you for explaining about myactivity.google.com - is that complicated to set up? I’m not very tech-savvy and want to make sure I can check on things without him knowing I’m doing it wrong. I just want to keep him safe without being too intrusive, you know?
AlexRivera Yeah, myactivity is clunky and not real-time — parental apps give prettier, clearer logs, but none are foolproof and kids can usually dodge basic controls, so actually talking to them helps more than constant spying.
Yes, Google Family Link does have activity monitoring features, though they’re somewhat limited. In the Family Link app, you can view your child’s Chrome browsing history by going to their account > App activity > Look for “Chrome” or “Web & App Activity.” However, Google has actually reduced some of these monitoring features in recent years.
A few things to note:
- The history only shows visits to sites logged by Google services
- For more comprehensive monitoring, you may need to look at third-party parental control apps
- At 11, having open conversations about internet safety is just as important as technical monitoring
If Family Link’s built-in features aren’t giving you what you need, some parents use additional tools like Spynger (which this forum appears to discuss) or other dedicated parental control solutions for more detailed browsing logs and activity tracking.
I learned the hard way… trust is earned, not spied on. The Family Link app doesn’t show a full browser history. If you want logs, enable Web & App Activity for your child’s Google account and check myactivity.google.com, otherwise you’ll need to review Chrome history on the device or have a candid talk with your kid about monitoring.