Parental Controls (Parent/Guardian Guide)

April 29, 2026

At Sora, we understand the importance of balancing online safety with the educational needs of our students. As our students use personal devices for their studies, we encourage parents and guardians to set up parental controls that suit their family's needs.

Choosing the Right Parental Controls Tool

We do not recommend specific parental controls tools since every family and student is unique. Instead, we suggest families explore various options and select a tool that best fits their needs. Here are some general guidelines to consider:

1. Start Broad: Begin with broader settings that cover a wide range of content. This approach helps ensure that your child has access to necessary educational tools, like YouTube, which are used in Sora's curriculum.

2. Adjust Over Time: Observe how your child interacts with their device and the internet. Based on your observations, you can narrow the restrictions to better align with your family’s values and your child’s learning requirements.

3. Communication is Key: Engage in regular discussions with your child about their online experiences. Encourage them to share what they encounter and discuss how to navigate any challenges together.

4. Privacy restrictions: Sora is unable to support any parental control (or third-party) software that requires permission to manage or configure Sora student accounts due to privacy restrictions.

Useful Resources for Setting Up Parental Controls

Device Settings

To assist you in setting up parental controls and managing screen time, here are some useful guides from popular operating systems:

• Microsoft Family Safety: A comprehensive tool for Windows devices that allows you to set screen time limits, content filters, and more.

• Apple Screen Time: Apple's built-in feature for managing screen time, app usage, and content restrictions on iPhones, iPads, and Macs.

• Screen Time Guide for iPhone/iPads

  • Screen Time Guide for Macs

Chrome Browser Extension

If you’re looking for a browser-specific solution, you may consider using a Chrome extension like Site Blocker, which has been reviewed for security by Sora's team.

When installing Site Blocker or other browser extensions:

• Please take care when installing third-party tools and research whether they collect or process user data.

• Be mindful that Sora does not have direct access to these tools and is not able to provide ongoing support or guarantee functionality across devices.

Google Account Management for Personal Use

While parents/guardians cannot manage their student’s Sora accounts, they may find it helpful to set up parental controls on their child's personal Google account or Android device. Google offers a variety of tools to help parents manage their child's online experience:

• Google Family Link: This tool allows you to create a Google account for your child and manage settings such as screen time, app usage, and content restrictions. It’s particularly useful if your child uses a separate Google account outside of Sora.

On Android devices, Google Family link allows you to:

• Manage Apps: Approve or block apps your child wants to download from the Google Play Store.
• Set Screen Time Limits: Set daily screen time limits for your child's device.
• Monitor Activity: See how much time your child spends on their favorite apps.
• Content Filtering: Set filters to limit the type of content your child can access on Google Search and YouTube.

General Online Safety Tips

For broader guidance on online safety and responsible internet use, we recommend checking out resources from Common Sense Media. Their guides cover a wide range of topics, including digital citizenship, privacy, and media balance, helping families make informed decisions.

Additional Sora Resources

Sora's tech team is unable to provide support with specific parental control tools, but we do have some Sora-specific resources for your reference!

• Technology @ Sora (includes a list of platforms approved for use at Sora)
• Non-designated Platforms and Social Media
• Technology Use Agreement
• Is Your Device Supported?