Streaming Services

My overviews and recommendations of the most popular streaming services. Keep in mind that every person is unique, so make sure to factor in the relational aspects of your Internet Safety Plan when deciding on how/when each of your family member’s should use each one.

Overview

Netflix has many titles containing explicit content, but it also has the most comprehensive content controls of any streaming platform. If you choose to subscribe to Netflix, make sure to take advantage of them.

The main issue with Netflix (and many other streaming platforms) is the quantity and flow of content. Shows, movies, and documentaries are added and removed from the platform multiple times per month, making it impossible to keep up with. The only way to be fully confident in what you allow your kids to watch is to only allow them to watch shows that you explicitly approve.

General Recommendation: For younger kids, PIN-protected Kids Profiles. For teens, a max rating of TV-14 selected and 1-hour time limit or whitelisted access.

Overview

Whether you’ve used it or not, Prime Video is available to everyone who has an Amazon Prime account. If your kids have access to log in with your Prime account, then you need to make sure to set up restrictions and controls around the streaming service.

Although the controls are quite limited, you can at least set up PIN protection around the service and keep your kids from using it freely.

General Recommendation: Okay with an age-appropriate max content rating, or whitelisted access.

Overview

Hulu is available through an individual subscription or as part of the Disney+ bundle. Gone are the days when Disney+ only had PG-13 or lower content; now mature Hulu shows and movies can be accessed from within the Disney+ app.

If you have access to Hulu either way, make sure to familiarize yourself with the content and controls before allowing your kids to watch.

General Recommendation: Whitelisted content only

Overview

Disney+ prides itself on being a family-friendly streaming platform, and it does quite well at living up to that for the most part. However, there are some more mature shows, like the Simpsons and the newer Marvel shows and movies, so it’s good to know about the parental controls available for your young ones.

Also, with recent acquisitions, they now offer bundle packages with Hulu, Max, and other streaming services. Make sure you are aware of what streaming services you pay for and are accessible by your account.

General Recommendation: For younger kids, PIN-protected Kids Profiles. For teens, a max rating of TV-14 selected and 1-hour time limit or whitelisted access.

Overview

HBO Max is known for hosting new movies and original TV series. Many of these feature significant amounts of sex and full-frontal nudity. Check out their parental control options, and set up kids profiles that fit your children’s ages.

General Recommendation: Make accessible only on family area TVs with kids profiles enabled.

Overview

Peacock is another new platform that is continually evolving. Take a look on the web every few months to stay up to date with any new parental control features they may release.

General Recommendation: Kids profiles with 1-hour time limit per day.

Overview

Paramount+ already has better controls than some older platforms (like Hulu), so take a look at all of the options you have.

General Recommendation: For younger kids, PIN-protected Kids Profiles. For teens, a max rating of TV-14 selected and 1-hour time limit or whitelisted access.