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The era of affordable internet access has provided us with countless useful apps, services, and features, but it has also become a hunting ground for many dangerous cybercriminals looking for information and easy money. There is also. Although Android is updated frequently and is very secure, vulnerability exploitation and malware attacks are common.
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The operating system has some useful features to protect children from the dangers of the internet, but as I learned firsthand, Google has a lot to offer when it comes to online security and ease of use for older, less tech-savvy adults. is completely omitted. I think this could be easily fixed by extending the existing parental control settings.
Android issues for seniors
Android is a comfortable operating system once you get used to it, but its versatility can also make it vulnerable if you’re unsure of what you’re doing. I learned firsthand that a scammer used her Chrome notifications to deliver misleading pop-ups and attempt to remotely access an elderly family member’s device. Although my timely intervention thwarted this attempt, it’s possible that the older girlfriend Android users in your family may not notice the red flags until it’s too late.
This begs the question, why isn’t it easy to set up Android for seniors? As you know, most of the guides and suggestions online addressing this question focus on accessibility issues, including installing a simple third-party launcher like BaldPhone, increasing font size, and screen timeouts. Suggestions include slowing down and turning off notifications in browsers like Chrome. Unfortunately, they completely ignore the security aspect, leaving the elderly as vulnerable as babies in the wilds of the internet.
Security risks are further compounded by the fact that many older adults often use hand-me-down devices that may not have the latest security patches or may be running obsolete versions of Android. It grows larger and leaves you even more vulnerable.
The solution is to look straight at Google.
Currently, onboarding workflows for Android and iOS simply assume that the user has set up the phone for daily use and is a tech-savvy person who knows how to stay safe online. A crash course in cybersecurity is essential for users at every stage of their digital journey, but only a handful of Android skins address accessibility concerns that older adults may face. Samsung’s One UI includes Easy Mode, and Apple has a similar feature called Assistive Access since iOS 17, both of which limit the functionality of the device and address the accessibility issues mentioned above. We are dealing with some of the issues.
Tools like Samsung’s Easy Mode can help, but seniors need more than big buttons
But what is needed now is a group of OS-level settings that make Android devices safer for older adults while also addressing accessibility aspects. Support for utilities such as remote diagnostics is another plus. Interestingly, I noticed a significant overlap between my request and the current functionality of an existing Android feature, Parental Controls.
When you think about it, older adults are a lot like children in that they may not fully understand the security implications of the simple act of clicking on a malicious link online. This is why some phishing scams target the elderly. However, Google should reject the basic premise that those who set up parental controls are doing so on children’s devices.
What are Android parental controls?
As the name suggests, parental controls are a subset of Android’s OS-level settings that give parents high-level permissions to limit device functionality. Parents who set up this feature can define allowed ratings for downloads such as apps and games, define content ratings for movies and TV shows, and prevent access to explicit books in the Play Books app. You can also set your child’s device to ask for permission every time they download a new app.
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With the Family Link app, you can go a step further and block inappropriate apps, define daily screen time limits for your child, track your child’s real-time location, and choose when to leave or leave a specific location. You can also receive notification alerts when it arrives and lock or unlock it remotely. linked device.
On the other hand, if a scammer tries to persuade an older family member to install an app while you’re sitting on the other side of the world, these settings could be a boon, but the protection provided is not comprehensive. Not the target, but you still need something. Like BaldPhone, we ensure that our devices address accessibility issues.
Google needs to start yesterday
The Family Link onboarding flow assumes you are the parent setting up your child’s device
Google can address this glaring loophole with three simple approaches. First, parental controls need to be comprehensively rebranded to make it clear that the same settings and restrictions can be set on any device. Although Family Link has an inclusive name, it shamelessly assumes that you are the parent setting up your child’s phone. While this is a cosmetic change, and some might argue that iOS is relatively easier to navigate, Android could leverage its inherent customizability to attract more advanced users. right.
Feature-wise, Android parental controls include one-tap restrictions on malicious links, reliable spammer detection, and proactive alerts for unusual device-level activity that may be related to malware. , I strongly believe that modern security-oriented regulations are missing. Remote control tools like AnyDesk built on Google’s cloud infrastructure would also be a great addition to parental controls. Similarly, Google encourages caregivers to set up passkey authentication for seniors in supported apps, as passkeys are less susceptible to traditional phishing and eliminate the risk of password reuse. There is a possibility that it will.
What is a passkey? How is it different from a password?
Passkeys and their fast encryption are already starting to replace passwords: Here are the big differences
Finally, the setup flow for parental controls and Family Link should include options like Samsung’s Easy Mode. This reduces dependence on third-party apps and makes the device easier to access for people with manual dexterity, vision, or hearing problems.
As a reminder, I wouldn’t care if Google integrated the Family Link feature within its parental controls. The former is because it provides advanced tracking, while the latter is an OS-level implementation, similar to Xiaomi’s HyperOS or OnePlus’ OxygenOS. In a world where cybercrime is rampant, it’s probably the least Google can do for the elderly.
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