Google Accused of Undermining Parental Controls, Nudging Kids to Disable Safeguards

• An online safety advocate accused Google of directly contacting her child about loosening account restrictions.
• The child, approaching 13, received emails explaining how to manage or remove parental controls, sparking a debate on tech companies' interaction with minors.
• The parent felt Google's messages framed the decision as the child's alone, sidelining parental authority.
• Google states its Family Link system is designed to transition responsibility to older children while keeping parents informed, explaining options and legal rights.
• Child safety advocates warn that direct communication with minors on family rules carries risks, highlighting the tension between platform engagement and parental safety concerns.

Why It Matters: Google faces scrutiny for directly messaging children about parental controls, raising concerns about parental authority.