Democracy Dies in Darkness

Tech companies are adding new parental controls amid a virus-fueled surge in screen time

TikTok, Netflix and Google introduced new tools for parents, but some critics say it’s too little, too late.

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April 17, 2020 at 12:30 p.m. EDT
Netflix, along with TikTok and Google, has enhanced tools for parents and kids just as children spend more time on screens during the coronavirus pandemic. (Olivier Douliery/Afp Via Getty Images)

SAN FRANCISCO — It’s the era of coronavirus screen time, and some tech companies are rolling out new tools to help parents better monitor what their kids are watching and doing online.

TikTok, a social media video app heavily used by teens, this week introduced ways for parents to limit time on the app, while Google rolled out a new Play Store tab to highlight apps approved and rated by teachers. Last week, Netflix introduced a way to add a pin code to access content.