Parental Controls for Skype: How to Make It Safe for Kids

Skype doesn’t have in-built parental controls or supervision tools. Parents can only manage privacy and security settings inside a child’s Skype account to protect children while using this service.

Still, a teen can change these settings anytime. Thus, HeyLocate prepared this guide on how to make Skype more safe and what additional parental control tools you can use.

Comparison Table: What’s Better for Parental Control in Skype?

To understand what’s better for Skype parental controls, compare the tools in the table below.

Try mSpy

What is the Age Limit for Skype?

Skype’s age limit is 13 years. The service said that its software is not designed for children under 13, emphasizing the dangers of uncontrolled Skype use by them.

Microsoft recommends providing your child’s correct age when setting up Skype to ensure that the platform does not collect a child’s information without a parent’s consent.

Is Skype Safe to Use for Kids?

Skype is not safe for kids if used without the proper precautions. Since Skype allows for video, text, and voice communication, predators use the platform for grooming kids. Parents have reported that pedophiles are active on Skype.

Moreover, according to law enforcement, Skype is the number one source for live streaming sexual abuse in the US, since it does not leave a record.

In Canada alone, there were 2,000 tried cases between 2014 and 2020, which are now believed to be more.

As one victim described, it started with texting during the day, and it gradually advanced to the topic of Skype sex.

How to Manage Skype Settings for Parental Controls

Skype has privacy settings that can act as parental controls. Parents can’t use them remotely but can set them up inside a kid’s account. Thus, they can manage the visibility of a child’s account, block contacts, and report inappropriate content.

Manage Who Can See Your Child’s Profile

Your child’s profile picture is visible to everyone on Skype. However, you can change some settings to make it visible only to their contacts.

To manage Skype profile visibility:

1. Open your child’s Skype account and tap their profile photo. Scroll down to settings.
   
2. Tap Account & Profile. Tap Profile Picture.
   
3. Change the settings under Visibility from Public to Contacts Only.
   

Prevent your Child’s Account from Appearing in Search Results

We recommend removing your child’s profile from search results and suggestions, especially for teens, as it may keep bullies and trollers from finding them on the Skype platform.

1. Open Settings on your child’s Skype account.
2. Go to Account & Profile > Your Profile.
   
3. Scroll down until you find Profile Settings. Uncheck the box that says [Appear in Search Results and suggestions.]
   

Delete Contacts From Your Child’s Profile Visibility List

Your child can see their contacts in the profile visibility list. If you don’t want your child to interact with a certain contact, you can remove them from their visibility list.

1. Go to Settings and Tap Contacts. Tap Privacy.
   
2. Open the View List and choose contact from the list.
3. Tap Delete Contact. That person will no longer appear on your child’s profile visibility list.
   

Prevent Strangers from Calling your Child

If your child is receiving unwanted calls on the Skype app, you can restrict their ability to receive calls to only their contacts.

1. Open Settings and go to Privacy.
   
2. Scroll down to calling and then turn on the toggle after the setting, [Only allow Skype calls from contacts to ring on this device.]
   

Block or Report Someone on Skype

You can block or report someone to make Skype safer. When you report or block someone, they can’t send instant messages or video call your child. They also cannot see your child’s Skype app status.

While Skype has end-to-end encryption, reporting someone will allow Microsoft to view the conversation, and Microsoft will hide inappropriate media from the chat.

To block someone:

1. Open Skype and tap on Contacts at the bottom.
2. Tap and hold on the contact you want to block.
3. Tap View Profile.
   
4. Scroll down to Block Contact and tap it. A new window will open, and you can also report them by pushing the toggle next to [Report abuse from this person.]
5. Tap Block to confirm your choice.
   
6. When you report the contact, your child will be safe from them since they can no longer reach them.

Can a Kid Bypass Parental Controls on Skype?

A child can bypass parental controls on Skype because there’s no parental controls, per se. They can reverse the settings, since there’s no option to create a password or PIN to prevent changes to the profile settings or create another Skype account.

In addition, a child can access their account on the Windows desktop app or use an alternative device to access Skype. That’s why we advise openly communicating with your child to help them understand why the parental controls are in place, or use a parental control app.

Use Parental Control App for Skype Monitoring

If you want to control a child’s Skype usage better, use family monitoring apps like mSpy to secure your child’s online safety.

mSpy parental control tool can help protect underage users if you use the app as the primary form of communication with your family. mSpy allows you to see how your child interacts with Skype and how they connect with others, which can help you guide them toward digital safety.

When you install mSpy, it works in the background, making it hard to remove. Moreover, it takes screenshots of Skype communications. Therefore, you will see a child’s texts and know if they are on a Skype video call through an online tracking dashboard.

In addition, mSpy shows you the media they share through Skype. With these monitoring features, the parental control app gives you peace of mind and helps you catch anyone inappropriate with your child.

Try mSpy

Use In-Built Parental Controls for Skype Screen Time

You can manage your child’s Skype screen time using your phone’s settings. Both iPhones and Android offer methods for controlling Skype usage.

For Android

You have the timer setting on an Android phone to limit Skype app usage.

1. Go to Android Settings > Digital wellbeing and parental controls > App Timers.
   
2. Choose Skype from the list of apps.
3. Tap Set Timer. Choose time in hours and minutes. Tap Done to finish setting up a timer for Skype on An Android phone.
   

For iPhone

You can use Screen Time settings on an iPhone to manage Skype use on a child’s iOS device.

1. Open the Settings app and select Screen Time.
   
2. Tap App limits > Add Limit and choose Skype from the list of apps.
   
3. Enter the time you want to limit Skype usage and tap [Add] to ensure that the app blocks them from using when they come to the end of their time limit for Skype.
   

Use Microsoft Family Safety

Microsoft Family Safety also has the option to set up Skype screen time for family members. Once you have added your child account, open the Family Safety app and tap on your child’s name.

1. Scroll down and tap Mobile. This will open the list of apps on your child’s device.
2. Tap the Toggle beside the feature [App and Game Limits] to turn it on.
   
3. Scroll down to the Skype app and tap it.
4. Tap [Set App Limits].
5. Choose which days and then select a time limit from 0 min to 6h. Tap save when done.
   

You can also prevent your child from using Skype by blocking the Skype app entirely on Family Safety.

1. Open the Family Safety app, go to Mobile > See All Apps, then tap the Skype app.
   
2. Tap [Block App] to prevent access to Skype on your child’s device.
   

Conclusion

Skype is not secure for kids, as it allows access to them for strangers and hackers. Skype privacy settings help manage who your child communicates with on the app and how they interact on the platform.

Nonetheless, these are not enough and can’t be a self-sufficient Skype parental controls.

HeyLocate recommends using a family monitoring app like mSpy to see your child’s activities on Skype and other social media apps.