Buying your kid a cell phone can be a great idea for keeping in contact and allowing them to interact with friends online. However, you might not feel like you have any control over how long they use their phone or how much of the internet they have access to. Luckily, there is a plan that can help! In this article, I'll explain what Verizon Smart Family is and how you can sign up!
Verizon Smart Family: Explained!
Verizon Smart Family allows you to manage your kids' smartphones from an app on your phone. It's basically a parental control device that includes location tracking, screen time management, content filters, text monitoring, call monitoring, internet pausing, and more.
Is My Family Eligible?
If you have a Verizon plan with 10 or fewer lines, then yes you are eligible for Verizon Smart Family.
However, certain restrictions apply. If you have a business plan, Prepaid plan, or a plan with more than ten lines, you can't sign up for Verizon Smart Family.
You can sign into your My Verizon account to see if your family plan is eligible!
What Devices Can My Family Use?
Smart Family is currently only compatible with smartphones. If you have an Android, it must run on OS 5.0 (Lollipop) or newer.
For iOS devices, it must run on iOS 10 or newer. Every iPhone since the iPhone 5 is compatible with iOS 10.
How Do I Sign Up?
Before you can sign up for Verizon Smart Family, you'll first have to download the Smart Family app on your phone. After that, you'll have to download the Companion App on your child's phone.
On the parent phone, open Google Play or the Apple App Store and search for “Verizon Smart Family.” Download the app on your device and sign in using your Verizon user ID or the phone number and password for your account. Once you're signed in, you can subscribe to either Verizon Smart Family or Verizon Smart Family Premium.
After completing the above steps for the parent phone, open Google Play or the Apple App Store on the child's phone and search for “Smart Family Companion.” Download the app and from there you'll be able to pair your child's phone with your own.
Verizon Smart Family Premium
You have the choice between two options: Smart Family ($4.99/month) and Smart Family Premium ($9.99/month).
The only difference between the two is that with Premium, you have location tracking. With this tracking, you can set up alerts for when your child arrives at places such as school, home, or soccer practice.
If you don't want location tracking but still want all the other features, then the standard Verizon Smart Family option will work just fine.
Can My Kids Delete The Companion App On Their Devices?
Technically they can, but they would need a specific code from your parent device in order to delete it. Also, if the Companion App is deleted, you will receive a text message that alerts you of the deletion.
Smart Family can still function even if app has been deleted, including location tracking. However, for the most accurate location tracking and full usage of the features, the Companion App should always be installed.
How Do I Unsubscribe From Verizon Smart Family?
To unsubscribe from Verizon Smart Family, open the app and go to the menu. Go to Settings, tap Account Details, then tap Subscription, and lastly, tap Cancel Subscription. From there, you can follow the onscreen instructions to unsubscribe.
What If I Change Phone Numbers?
You'll have to re-register for Verizon Smart Family if you change the phone number of the parent phone. However, if your child gets a new phone number, you can keep the same registration and add them by going to your family settings in the Companion App.
How To Add Family Members To Verizon Smart Family
First, visit the My Verizon app or login into your account online. From there, you can assign your family member's number as either a child or parent. After that, they can be easily be added to your Smart Family plan.
To add a family member, open the Smart Family app on the parent device and go to the menu. Go to Settings, tap Family Settings, then tap Add Family Member.
If you would like to add a second parent to your account, open the Smart Family app on the parent device and go to the menu. Tap Settings, then tap Family Settings, select the member that you'd like to make a parent, tap Role, select which role you want this member to have, then tap Save.
Verizon Smart Family: Explained!
Parenting can be a daunting task, but this app can make your job a little easier. While we can't give advice on the right way to parent, Verizon Smart Family is an app that'll help you teach your kids about smart internet usage and healthy screen time practices. If you have any more questions, feel free to leave them in the comments below!
Can I see what the text messages are? Will it alert me when messages are deleted?
Any suggestions for me as I have a business account and Smart Family is not compatible ? any other apps?
If my son’s location services are turned off, can I still track his device with Verizon Smart Family? Can this be done through Wi-Fi / cellular data?
i feel like this is another app for parents just control their kids and be helicopter parents and if the parents block text messages and phone calls that can be hazardous and if their in a dangerous situation they will have no one to contact. this is just another app to phone jam
It’s very important to balance parental control with trust. In my article about Android parental controls I talk about this in a little more detail. These tools are here for a reason, but they shouldn’t be used to exact authority over every inch of our children’s lives.