How to Configure Parental Controls on SoftBank and au Lines
A child’s first smartphone brings useful independence, but it also creates practical concerns about unsuitable websites, excessive screen time, in-app purchases, and contact from strangers. Parental controls can reduce these risks when they are configured carefully and reviewed as the child’s needs change.
SoftBank and au both provide carrier filtering services, while iPhone and Android devices include their own family safety tools. The most reliable setup usually combines both: network-level content filtering from the mobile carrier and device-level controls for apps, usage time, purchases, and privacy.
Menus and service names can change after a software update, and available functions may depend on the device, age category, contract, or operating system. Parents should therefore check the latest instructions in My SoftBank, My au, Apple settings, or Google Family Link before finalizing the setup.
Start with the line and account structure
Before enabling restrictions, confirm whose name is on the contract and who controls the carrier account. A parent or legal guardian normally needs the appropriate account password, service PIN, Apple Account or Google Account credentials, and access to the email address used for notifications. Without these details, changing restrictions later can be difficult.
SoftBank customers commonly manage line-related services through My SoftBank, while au customers use My au. Look for family safety, filtering, security, or usage management options connected to the child’s number. Carrier support may ask for identification or contract information when a restriction affects billing, service changes, or the activation of a safety option.
It is also important to check whether the child uses a standard smartphone, an iPhone, an Android handset, or a dedicated children’s phone. A child-focused handset may have simpler built-in restrictions, whereas a smartphone requires separate configuration for web browsing, applications, payments, and communication tools.
Configure SoftBank filtering and device limits
SoftBank offers filtering and safety functions designed to restrict access to harmful or age-inappropriate websites. During setup, select the child’s age or an appropriate usage category rather than choosing the least restrictive option by default. The service may classify websites involving violence, adult content, gambling, illegal activity, or dangerous behavior.
After activation, review the categories manually. Educational websites, school portals, video platforms, maps, messaging services, and online games may be affected differently. If a legitimate site is blocked, use the parent management screen to approve that specific address instead of disabling all filtering.
On an iPhone, combine the SoftBank service with Screen Time. Content and Privacy Restrictions can prevent app installation, restrict explicit media, limit web content, and require approval for purchases. On Android, use Google Family Link to manage application downloads, daily screen limits, bedtime schedules, and selected content settings.
Carrier filtering does not replace a passcode. Set a Screen Time passcode or parent account password that the child does not know, and avoid using an easily guessed birthday. Test the settings from the child’s handset after activation, because a restriction that appears enabled in the account may still require a restart, profile installation, or application permission.
Set up au safety services and family management
au customers can use the carrier’s filtering and safety services to limit harmful websites and manage a child’s mobile environment. The available name and procedure may vary by contract and device, so begin in My au or ask an au shop to identify the correct service for the line. Check whether the control applies to cellular data, Wi-Fi browsing, or both.
A filtering profile may include age-based categories, application restrictions, and parent approval functions. Review the settings after the child signs in to services such as Google Play, YouTube, social media, or game platforms. Some applications have their own age controls, privacy menus, and messaging permissions that operate separately from au’s network filtering.
For an iPhone, Family Sharing can give a parent a central place to approve downloads, manage Screen Time, and view device usage. For Android, create or supervise the child’s Google Account through Family Link. Use one consistent parent account rather than several different accounts, since scattered credentials make it harder to audit or change restrictions.
If the child needs voicemail or other telephone features, configure them separately from internet safety settings. Families supporting a non-Japanese speaker can use this English voicemail guide while keeping the child’s safety settings under the parent’s account.
| Control area | SoftBank line | au line | Device-level setting to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harmful website filtering | Activate the applicable SoftBank filtering service and select an age category | Activate the applicable au filtering service through My au or shop support | Limit adult content and restrict web searches |
| App downloads | Review carrier and account controls | Review carrier and account controls | Require parent approval through Screen Time or Family Link |
| Screen time | May require separate device settings | May require separate device settings | Set daily limits, downtime, and bedtime |
| Purchases | Check carrier billing and account permissions | Check carrier billing and account permissions | Require a password for App Store or Google Play purchases |
| Location and emergency use | Confirm which family features are available | Confirm which family features are available | Share location only with trusted guardians and allow emergency contacts |
| Wi-Fi protection | Cellular filtering may not cover every Wi-Fi connection | Cellular filtering may not cover every Wi-Fi connection | Configure home router controls and safe DNS where appropriate |
Control spending, communication, and location
Parental control is broader than website blocking. A child may accidentally spend money through carrier billing, app stores, games, or digital subscriptions. Review SoftBank or au payment settings and remove carrier billing from the child’s line when it is unnecessary. On the device, require approval for purchases and prevent saved payment methods from being used without a parent password.
Communication controls also deserve attention. Decide which calls and messages are permitted, whether unknown callers should be silenced, and how social media accounts will be handled. Blocking every unfamiliar number can interfere with school, clubs, transport services, or emergencies, so maintain a clear list of trusted contacts and explain how the child should respond to suspicious messages.
Location sharing can help a family coordinate travel, but it should be configured with care. Use Apple Find My or Google location sharing only with approved guardians, explain when location will be viewed, and check which applications have background location permission. Disable location access for games, shopping apps, and other services that do not need it.
Parents should also review camera, microphone, contacts, Bluetooth, and photo permissions. A child may install an apparently harmless game that requests access unrelated to its purpose. Restricting permissions reduces exposure while preserving the functions the child genuinely needs.
Use a calm family agreement alongside filters
Technical controls work best when the child understands their purpose. Explain that filtering protects against harmful content and unexpected charges; it is not intended to monitor every private thought or punish ordinary mistakes. Agree on practical rules for bedtime, school hours, public posting, passwords, and responding to unknown contacts.
Set a review date rather than leaving restrictions unchanged for years. Younger children may need strict web and app controls, while teenagers may need greater privacy combined with stronger guidance about scams, sexual exploitation, cyberbullying, and account security. Adjust one setting at a time so the family can see what changed.
Create a simple response plan for uncomfortable messages or online threats. The child should know how to stop replying, save evidence, block the account, and tell a trusted adult. Parents should avoid immediately deleting evidence or confiscating the device if doing so could prevent an appropriate report.
A family agreement should also cover shared passwords. Parents can keep the recovery information and billing credentials private while helping the child create a strong personal password. Enable multi-factor authentication for important accounts and keep recovery phone numbers and email addresses up to date.
Test the restrictions and maintain them
Complete a practical test using the child’s handset and the same connection they usually use. Try a blocked website, an age-restricted application, an in-app purchase, an unknown call, a location request, and a screen-time limit. Test both mobile data and home Wi-Fi because carrier filtering may work differently across networks.
Check notifications on the parent’s phone or email account. A safety service that blocks content but sends no alerts may still be useful, but parents should understand what information is available and how quickly it appears. Keep records of the service name, management URL, parent credentials, and support contact in a secure location.
After an iOS or Android update, revisit permissions and family settings. An operating system upgrade can change menu locations, reset a permission, or introduce a new communication feature. Review the carrier contract after changing devices, moving from au to SoftBank or vice versa, or adding a second child line.
Families who need broader digital management can also seek professional guidance. NSC provides ICT solutions for organizations and communities, while its authorized mobile shops support device setup, contracts, upgrades, and troubleshooting for local customers.
A practical setup checklist
- Confirm the parent account, contract holder, service PIN, and recovery credentials before changing settings.
- Activate the correct SoftBank or au filtering service and choose an age-appropriate category.
- Add device-level controls for screen time, app approval, web content, purchases, and privacy permissions.
- Review carrier billing, app-store payments, location sharing, and unknown-contact settings.
- Test the controls on mobile data and Wi-Fi, then schedule a review after software or device changes.
NSC’s authorized shops across Fukushima and Miyagi can help families identify the correct carrier service, configure a new iPhone or Android device, and explain the settings in person. Bring the handset, relevant account information, and the parent or contract holder’s identification so the setup can be completed securely and accurately. Visit an NSC shop for hands-on support before the child begins using the line independently.