MUST

100% need this. It's ridiculous that we can't block websites.

I am shocked that there isn’t a way to child proof the portal. I bought it so our kids could keep in touch with their grandparents but unfortunately it is now unplugged and packed away due to the lack of child proofing. Unrestricted YouTube and internet access isn’t safe for kids these days, rendering this device useless for families, the audience it was intended for. Very disappointed

We got the Portal so our kids could talk to their extended family, but 99% of the time, they use it to watch YouTube, or play games.
Please allow kids messenger access, or add parental controls for the device.

I purchased this device so my adult son with special needs could communicate with us during lockdown. He is confined to his group residence indefinitely. Parental controls are a must in order for him to use the device appropriately. I was surprised that when I came upon this forum that the parental controls issue has not yet been addressed by the manufacturer. This complaint has been ongoing and the tech support people I have communicated with acted like it was news to them.

We were just given one of these so our kids could talk to their grandparents when we are working. They end up watching YouTube videos, calling random people and overusing the effects. I cannot believe the there is no way to disable the effects. They are driving me insane with all the voice changing ones.

For such a family-oriented device it's really shocking that the parental controls are so inadequate. I would like to have a child safe no-PIN user option, which only allows calling to approved contacts (grandparents etc) and where the available apps are restricted at the discretion of the parents. The adults could still retain full functionality in their user account with a PIN.

My problem is more basic than this. I need to be able to lock the the contacts and rooms and add favorites. Additionally I need to be able to restrict who my kids can send videos to. My 1 year old and 3 year old love to play with the portal and have managed to call and send videos to several people on my friends list.

I agree, more parental control required also i have my child google account with Family Link & its not allow me to login to portal browser using my child account. can you please consider upgrading the browser ASAP.

I agree with many of these comments. It would be great to block things like YouTube. I want my son to be able to access the video calling features so that he can call his grandparents and family, but I don't want him to have access to videos and apps that are otherwise blocked all of our other internet-connected devices.

Agree completely with all! The Watch app should NOT be so easily accessible and at the very least should be allowed to be deleted. The apps app should also be restricted.

Agree with all comments below. Parental controls critical to us being able to use this device

Yes, especially if you follow other suggestions here for adding more apps. I like this device because it DOESN'T have a lot of apps (otherwise, I'd just use my tablet?) but if more apps are in the future, I'd like to be able to block them.

I literally just want a video phone. Nothing confusing. Nothing my kids can get in trouble with.

I bought a portal so our kids (8 and under) could stay in touch with grandparents and cousins more easily. I love the idea of having rotating pictures, like a digital picture frame, from favorite contacts. I love the idea that they can make video calls to contacts. I do not love that they also have access to a web browser, youtube, FB Watch, or any other apps. There needs to be a way to set this up so that it is locked down and we can have it sitting in the living room where kids can access it. Huge Fail! We won't be keeping it for this reason.

I'm fine with my kids accessing apps and watching videos. However, there should be some sort of mechanism to make sure content is age-appropriate (e.g. in youtube app, or allow youtbue kids etc)

Parental controls are extremely important. You will sell more with this feature. This is what parents and grandparents are calling for.

Please, please, please do this. In today’s world we Grandparents’ need to help out with kids but giving them free access to the internet is not in their best interest. Most of us just want a video phone connection that does not include games, internet, music, etc. Just true grandparents to child communication. I think you could sell many more with this feature.

I was hoping the Portal would only be a video phone device, or at least allow me to implement controls to disallow internet access.

I don’t want my kids to have access to the internet and apps, but I do want to be able to check in on them while I’m not home, or even have the grandparents call when I’m not home. Just because my child is old enough for FB doesn’t everything on the internet.