The PlayStation 5 isn't just a console; it’s a high-powered social media portal. Because of that, Sony built a "Family Management" system.

The core idea is simple: You are the Family Manager. Your child has a Child Account.

By linking them, you get a dashboard that lets you see exactly what they’re playing, who they’re talking to, and how much time they’re spending in "Ohio" (or whatever weird virtual world they’re obsessed with this week).

The PS5 is the gold standard for gaming right now. The graphics are incredible, the load times are non-existent, and the exclusive games are top-tier.

For kids, it’s about the social currency. Being able to play Spider-Man 2 or hop into a party chat with school friends is the modern-day equivalent of hanging out at the mall.

For us, the "love" part usually comes from the fact that it can also be a high-quality 4K Blu-ray player and a hub for Netflix or Disney+, making it the center of the family living room.

The biggest stressor for parents isn't usually the violence in games—it's the "accidental" $99.99 charge for virtual currency.

On the PS5, you can set a Monthly Spending Limit. I recommend setting this to $0.00. This forces the console to ask for your permission (and usually your password) before any transaction goes through.

Even if they have a gift card balanced on their account, you can still require a passcode for every single purchase.

Ask our chatbot about managing in-game purchases and microtransactions

We’ve all been there: "Five more minutes!" turning into forty-five more minutes.

The PS5 allows you to set Playtime Settings for each day of the week. You can choose:

Pro-tip: If you use the Hard Logout, give them a heads-up. There is nothing more devastating to a 10-year-old than being kicked out of a Minecraft world right before they hit "save."

The PS5 allows you to restrict games based on their ESRB rating.

This is where things get "Skibidi." The PS5 has built-in voice and text chat.

In the Communication and User-Generated Content settings, you can decide if your child can:

For kids under 12, Friends Only is the sweet spot. It allows them to talk to their actual friends from school but blocks "xX_SniperLover_Xx" from sending them weird messages or teaching them new "Ohio" slang you'd rather they didn't know.

Technically, the PS5 doesn't have a visible web browser app like the PS4 did. However, kids are smart. They can often access a "hidden" browser by clicking links in messages.

Ensure you have Web Browsing set to "Restricted" in the parental control menu to block them from wandering into the dark corners of the internet while they're supposed to be playing Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart.

Every family is different, but based on community data from Screenwise parents, here’s how most people are handling the PS5:

At this age, the PS5 should be in a common area. Use Hard Logout for time limits and keep the Spending Limit at $0.

This is when they start asking for Roblox and Fortnite.

By now, they’re likely playing M-rated games or wanting to join larger Discord communities.

The PS5 controller has a "Create" button. It lets kids record gameplay and—if their account allows it—upload it directly to YouTube or Twitch.

If you aren't ready for your kid to be a "streamer," make sure to disable Linking with Third-Party Services in the account settings.

The PS5 DualSense controller has a built-in microphone that is ON by default.

This means if your kid is in a game lobby, the whole world might hear your family's dinner conversation or you yelling about the laundry. Teach your kids to hit the "Mute" button (the little horizontal button under the PlayStation logo) until they actually need to speak.

Learn more about privacy risks in online gaming lobbies

Instead of being the "Screen Time Police," try to be the "Digital Coach."

When you set these limits, explain the why.

If they feel like the controls are there to protect their fun rather than end it, you'll have a lot fewer battles.

The PS5 is an incredible piece of tech, but it’s not a "set it and forget it" toy.

The parental controls are robust, but they only work if you actually turn them on. Take the 15 minutes tonight to go through the settings. Your future self—and your bank account—will thank you.

Next Steps:

Check out our guide on the best PS5 games for families