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Verizon has a new way for parents to track their kids

The carrier's new Smart Family app lets parents see where their kids are and limit their phone or tablet screen time.

Roger Cheng Former Executive Editor / Head of News
Roger Cheng (he/him/his) was the executive editor in charge of CNET News, managing everything from daily breaking news to in-depth investigative packages. Prior to this, he was on the telecommunications beat and wrote for Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal for nearly a decade and got his start writing and laying out pages at a local paper in Southern California. He's a devoted Trojan alum and thinks sleep is the perfect -- if unattainable -- hobby for a parent.
Expertise Mobile, 5G, Big Tech, Social Media Credentials
  • SABEW Best in Business 2011 Award for Breaking News Coverage, Eddie Award in 2020 for 5G coverage, runner-up National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Award for culture analysis.
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Roger Cheng
verizonfamily

Verizon Smart Family lets parents put limits on their children's mobile device usage.

 Verizon

Verizon has introduced new tools that make life easier for parents -- even if their kids won't be thrilled about it. 

The nation's largest wireless carrier on Thursday unveiled its Smart Family service, an enhanced version of its former parent monitoring program, FamilyBase. 

Smart Family will let parents set boundaries like content filters and limit screen time. That service costs $4.99 a month. For $9.99, Verizon Smart Family Premium lets parents track children's location. 

There are other apps that accomplish the same tasks, but  Verizon  is hoping that its brand reputation and its ability to bundle the services into one program will attract parents looking to keep a better eye on their kids. 

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