Netflix is one of the many popular TV streaming services that provide your family with endless entertainment, but not all content on this platform is kid-appropriate. Using the provided Netflix parental controls, parents can ensure that their kids are only enjoying shows that are suitable for their age.

Should you be worried about how much screen time your kids are getting? Discover how screen time can affect your child by reading how heavy screen time rewires your child's brain.

Why Netflix Parental Controls are Important

Well-loved in many households, Netflix is an affordable way to watch TV and movies without limits or commercials. It offers numerous plans so that you can select which is the best fit for your family as well as the ability to create profiles for each individual user in your family.

The one thing families who are using Netflix will want to consider is that not everything on the site was made for kids. Many of the thousands of titles offered are too mature for younger viewers and could include mature themes and language, nudity, references to drugs, alcohol, and more. Utilizing the parental controls offered can allow all members of the family to enjoy age-appropriate TV, without the worry.

Learn how to set Netflix parental controls with these 3 options:

1. Set a PIN on the account to restrict viewing above certain maturity level

Netflix offers parental controls on two levels, on an account level that will affect all members and profiles using the account, as well as on an individual profile level, affecting only a specified user.

Setting a PIN on the account to restrict viewing above certain maturity levels will require a 4-digit PIN to be entered to play any TV show or movie above the selected level. Parents should know this PIN number will not be able to be entered on devices produced before 2013 but that the rule will still apply. Any user using a device produced before 2013 will not be able to watch a PIN-protected title without switching to a newer device or viewing through a web browser.

• Access your Account page from a web browser.
• Select the link for Parental controls in the Settings section.
• Enter your Netflix account password and select Continue.
• Enter four numbers into the PIN field (no letters) - this will be your PIN.
• Set your PIN protection level from the following options:

  Little Kids: All
  Older Kids: 7+, some 13
  Teens: 13+
  Adults: 16+, 18+

2. Set a PIN to restrict viewing of a certain TV show or movie

Netflix also offers the option of PIN-protecting specific TV series or movies that you do not want your child viewing. By doing so, users on any profile will need to enter the PIN number to access the TV series or movies in your selected list.

As in the first step, this PIN number will not be able to be entered on devices produced before 2013 but that the rule will still apply. Any user using a device produced before 2013 will not be able to watch one of these PIN-protected titles without switching to a newer device or viewing through a web browser.

• Access your Account page from a web browser.
• Select the link for Parental controls in the Settings section.
• Enter your Netflix account password and select Continue.
• If you do not already have a PIN, enter four numbers into the PIN field (no letters) - this will be your PIN.
• Set PIN protection for a specific title by typing the title in the “enter show or movie name” box and clicking on the title when it appears.
• Select Save.

3. Set the maturity level for an individual profile

If users on your accounts will being viewing different maturity levels and you do not wish to PIN protect the entire account, parents may want to consider setting a maturity level for an individual profile. Setting the maturity level will only populate suitable TV shows and movies for the chosen profile.

Parents should keep in mind though, that there is nothing stopping your child from viewing on another profile within your account. Parents will have to make certain that their child is only using the correct profile created for them.

• Access your Account page from a web browser and select Manage Profiles.
• Select the profile you’d like to edit.
• Under Allowed TV shows and movies, select your desired maturity level or tick the “Kid?” box.

  For Little Kids only: Watch TV shows and movies suitable for all ages.
  For Older Kids and below: Watch TV shows and movies suitable for older kids.
  For Teens and below: Watch TV shows and movies suitable for teens.
  All Maturity levels: Watch all TV shows and movies, including mature content.

• Select Save.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Ages are Netflix Parental Controls Good For?

Maturity ratings for each piece of content on Netflix are determined by a local standards organization or by Netflix considering the “frequency and impact of mature content in a TV show or movie”. These ratings are put in place to help your family make informed decisions about the content you are viewing.

To get a better understanding of how Netflix breaks down its ratings categories:

• Little Kids: G, TV-Y, TV-G
• Older Kids: PG, TV-Y7, TV-Y7-FV, TV-PG
• Teens: PG-13, TV-14
• Mature: R, NC-17, TV-MA

How Do I Create or Manage a Profile on My Netflix Account?

Most devices allow for users to create up to five profiles for their account. Creating separate profiles will allow you to watch shows at your own pace and get tailored recommendations based on your viewing history.

In addition to that, creating a separate profile gives you the option to create a kid’s profile with appropriate settings in place. To do so:

• Select Manage Profiles from the main menu in the app or by navigating to your account page.
• Select Add A Profile, making sure to give it a different name than what you have named other profiles.
• If you are looking to manage an already created profile, you will need to select Edit Profile.

How Net Nanny Keeps Kids Safe

Netflix is a great service for streaming TV shows and movies on the go and does offer parental controls that will help keeps your kids safe, but it does not offer any features concerning screen time.

Fortunately, Net Nanny can help by not only making you aware of how often your child is using this app on their device, but it also can help you manage your child’s screen time by allowing you to set easily adjusted schedules and monitor multiple device use.

Using Netflix parental controls is one simple step parents can take in managing the content that their children have access to while streaming and using the internet. Netflix makes it easy for parents to do so by allowing users to select controls that are appropriate for their family.

Looking for more info about how to set healthy limits for your children when they use tech? Check out Setting Boundaries for Tech Addicted Kids (and Parents) for some helpful tips on how to manage your family’s device use.