PlayStation 5 Safety Settings

The PlayStation 5 (PS5) stands as a powerful and highly popular gaming console, offering immersive experiences and extensive online capabilities. For many families, it is a central hub for entertainment. Given its advanced features and online connectivity, understanding and implementing the available safety settings is paramount for parents and guardians.

This comprehensive guide outlines the essential Safety Settings on the PS5, empowering you to create a secure and age-appropriate gaming environment for your children. Without these protections, children can inadvertently face risks ranging from exposure to inappropriate content and interactions to excessive screen time and unauthorized spending.

 

 

Key Safety Settings Available on PlayStation 5

The PS5’s robust Family Management system allows for granular control over various aspects of your child’s gaming experience. Key PS5 Safety Settings that can be applied include:

• Age Filtering for Games & Apps: Restricting access to content based on age ratings (for PS5 and PS4 games, Blu-ray, and DVD). This prevents exposure to mature themes, violence, or language unsuitable for their age.

• Playtime Limits: Managing how long your child can play each day. This helps ensure a healthy balance between gaming and other essential activities.

• Communication & User-Generated Content: Controlling interactions with other players and the sharing of content. This mitigates risks from cyberbullying, inappropriate language, or contact from strangers.

• Monthly Spending Limits: Setting a cap on purchases from the PlayStation Store. This prevents unauthorized spending and teaches financial responsibility.

• Web Browsing: Restricting access to the console’s internet browser (though PS5 has no built-in browser for general use). This minimizes accidental exposure to harmful websites.

• PlayStation VR2 Use: Limiting access to virtual reality experiences. This safeguards against potential physical discomfort or overstimulation for young children.

• User Creation & Guest Login: Preventing unauthorized new accounts or guest access. This ensures that parental controls cannot be easily bypassed.

 

 

Setting Up PlayStation 5 Parental Controls: Family Management

All PlayStation 5 parental controls are managed through the Family Management system, which is accessed via your PlayStation Network (PSN) account. As the “Family Manager,” you will have comprehensive oversight.

 

Step 1 Create Your PlayStation Network Account (Family Manager)

A personal PlayStation Network Account is the foundation for all PS5 parental controls. You, as the parent or guardian, will be designated as the “Family Manager.”

How to Set It Up

• Access the PlayStation website: Visit https://www.playstation.com.

• Create a New Account: If you do not have one, click “Join Now” and follow the prompts to create your personal PlayStation Network account.

• Log In: If an account already exists, “Sign in to PSN” should be selected.

• Access Account Settings: Once signed in, select the “Account Settings” tab. This is typically found under your Profile Picture. Your login details must be confirmed.

• Navigate to Family Management: Select the “Family Management” option from the menu. Your own account will be listed as “Family Manager” on the right side of the screen.

 

 

Step 2 Add Family Members (Child Accounts)

Once your Family Manager account is set up, child accounts can be added to your family group. Each child’s account can then have individualized parental control settings.

How to Add a Child Account

• From the “Family Management” screen, select Add Family Member.
• You will be prompted to add an adult or a child. Add a Child must be chosen.
• The child’s date of birth and other required details are to be entered when prompted. Your own email address may be used for their account if preferred.
• A username and password must be selected to protect their account.
• Applicable legal terms may be displayed; these should be reviewed, and then accepted.
• Follow any on-screen instructions to complete the setup. The child’s account will be created.

 

Why this is important

Creating a dedicated child account under your Family Manager account is crucial. This structure allows for precise control over each child’s access and activities, ensuring that restrictions are tailored to their age and maturity level, rather than applying a blanket setting to the entire console. Without individual accounts, it becomes significantly harder to apply specific rules, potentially exposing all users to the least restrictive settings.

 

 

Configuring PlayStation 5 Parental Controls

Once child accounts are established within your Family Management, you can proceed to configure specific parental control settings. These settings can be accessed either directly on the PS5 console or through the PlayStation website (account.playstation.com/family).

PS5 Console Restrictions (PIN Protected)

These are general console-wide restrictions that apply to new users or guests who are not signed into PSN. A PIN is required to change these settings.

How to Set It Up

• On your PS5 console, go to Settings (the gear icon).
• Select Family and Parental Controls.
• Choose PS5 Console Restrictions.
• You will be prompted to enter a 4-digit passcode. The default is “0000,” but it is highly recommended that this be changed immediately to prevent unauthorized changes.
• Within this section, you can set:

• • User Creation and Guest Login: Select “Don’t Allow” to prevent new accounts from being created or guests from logging in without your permission.
  • Age Level for Games & Apps: Set a general age restriction for PS5 and PS4 games/apps.
  • Blu-ray Disc and DVD Video Restrictions: Control the playback of physical media.
  • Use of PlayStation VR2: Restrict access to VR experiences.

 

 

Individual Child Account Parental Controls (Family Management)

These are the most powerful and granular controls, managed for each child account within your Family Management.

How to Set It Up

• On your PS5 console, go to Settings > Family and Parental Controls > Family Management.
• Select the specific child’s account for whom you want to adjust settings.
• Select Parental Controls.
• The user’s current restriction level will be shown at the top. You can choose a pre-set level (Child, Early Teens, Late Teens, Older, No Restriction) or customize individual settings.

 

 

Key Features Explained

Age Level for Games & Apps

This allows you to set the maximum age rating for games and apps your child can access. You can set separate age levels for PS5 games, PS4 games, Blu-ray Discs, and DVDs. 

Why it’s important

Age ratings (e.g., ESRB, PEGI) provide essential guidance on content suitability. By setting these limits, you ensure your child only plays games and watches media that are appropriate for their developmental stage, protecting them from violence, mature themes, or inappropriate language.

If these settings are not used, children can be exposed to content that may cause distress, confusion, or normalize behaviours that are not age-appropriate.

 

 

Playtime Settings

This feature allows you to manage how long your child can play on the PS5 console each day.

How to set it up

• • From the child’s “Parental Controls” screen, select Playtime Settings.
  • Choose a time zone for your child.
  • Select “Restrict Playtime” to turn the feature on.
  • Choose “When Play Time Ends” (options: “Notify Only” or “Log Out of PS5” for stricter control).
  • In “Duration and Playable Hours,” you can set daily limits (e.g., 2 hours per day) and specific playable hours (e.g., 3 PM to 8 PM). You can also set different limits for individual days of the week.

 

Why it’s important

Managing screen time is crucial for a child’s overall well-being, impacting sleep, academic performance, and physical activity. As noted by Matthew Johnson, Director of Education at MediaSmarts, in April 2025, “The best approach is to create rules and routines so your child understands when they can use screens and for how long.”

Playtime limits help establish healthy gaming habits and prevent excessive play, promoting a balanced lifestyle. Without these limits, children may experience disrupted sleep patterns, reduced physical activity, and potential negative impacts on their school performance and social development.

 

 

Communication and User-Generated Content

This setting allows you to control how your child interacts with other players and views/shares user-generated content (UGC).

How to set it up

• • From the child’s “Parental Controls” screen, select Communicating and User-Generated Content.
  • You can choose to “Restrict” all communication and UGC or “Allow” it.
  • If “Allow” is chosen, you can then make exceptions for specific games or features.

 

Why it’s important

Unsupervised communication can expose children to cyberbullying, inappropriate language, or even grooming attempts from strangers. As highlighted by child advocates in May 2025 regarding modern online gaming environments, “dangers of unmonitored voice and text chats” are a significant concern, leading platforms to “crack down on its social features and amped up its parental controls” (Mashable, May 30, 2025).

Restricting communication channels and UGC is a fundamental step in protecting your child from harmful online interactions and content shared by others. Without these controls, children may be exposed to offensive language, cyberbullying, or even attempts by malicious individuals to solicit personal information or arrange offline contact.

 

 

Monthly Spending Limit

This feature allows you to set a maximum amount your child can spend on content in the PlayStation Store each calendar month. Purchases are drawn from the Family Manager’s wallet.

How to set it up

• From the child’s “Parental Controls” screen, select Monthly Spending Limit.
• Set the desired limit (e.g., €0 to prevent all purchases, or a specific amount).

 

Why it’s important

This is critical for preventing unauthorized or excessive spending on games, add-ons, or in-game items. By setting a monthly limit, parents maintain financial control and teach responsible spending habits, protecting against unexpected charges.

Without spending limits, children might inadvertently make significant purchases, leading to financial strain for the family and a lack of understanding about money management.

 

 

Age Filtering for Online Content (PlayStation Store)

This setting ensures that only age-appropriate games and content are displayed to your child when they browse the PlayStation Store.

 

Why it’s important

The PlayStation Store contains a vast array of content, some of which may be unsuitable for younger eyes. This filter helps ensure your child only sees content relevant to their age rating, preventing exposure to mature game titles or themes.

Without this filter, children could easily stumble upon game descriptions, images, or trailers that are not suitable for their age, causing distress or curiosity about inappropriate content.

 

 

Restrict Use of PlayStation VR2

This allows you to prevent your child from using the PlayStation VR2 headset.

 

Why it’s important

Virtual Reality (VR) technology can be intense and potentially disorienting. PlayStation generally recommends that PS VR2 not be used by children under 12 due to potential impacts on developing eyes, balance, and spatial awareness.

Restricting VR access safeguards your child’s physical and psychological well-being. Unrestricted VR use for young children could lead to eye strain, motion sickness, or an overwhelming sensory experience.

 

 

Potential Risks of Unprotected Online Gaming for Children

When parental controls are not adequately implemented or monitored, children can be exposed to various risks in online gaming environments:

 

• Exposure to Inappropriate Content: Without age filtering, children can easily encounter games, videos, or user-generated content (UGC) that contains violence, strong language, sexual themes, or other mature material. This can be distressing or normalize harmful concepts.

 

• Harmful Online Interactions: Unrestricted communication can lead to:
  • Cyberbullying: Children may be targeted or witness bullying from other players.
  • Grooming: Predatory individuals may attempt to build relationships with children for harmful purposes.
  • Exposure to Inappropriate Language: Children may encounter swearing, hate speech, or other offensive language from strangers.
  • Sharing Personal Information: Children might inadvertently reveal personal details (name, location, school) to strangers, putting their safety at risk. As noted by the ESRB in June 2025 regarding contact management, parents need to be aware of “two layers of approval for contacts” to ensure safety.

 

• Excessive Screen Time & Addiction: Without playtime limits, gaming can consume a disproportionate amount of a child’s time, leading to:
  • Sleep Deprivation: Late-night gaming can disrupt sleep cycles.
  • Reduced Physical Activity: Less time spent on outdoor play and exercise.
  • Academic Decline: Neglect of homework and studies.
  • Social Isolation: Prioritizing online interactions over real-world friendships.

 

• Unauthorized Spending: Without spending limits, children can make in-game purchases or buy new games without parental consent, leading to unexpected credit card charges and financial strain for the family.

 

• Bypassing Controls: If console-level restrictions (like user creation) are not set or PINs are shared, children may create new profiles to circumvent existing parental controls.

 

 

Best Practices for PlayStation 5 Safety

Implementing parental controls is a great start, but combining them with these best practices creates the safest and most positive gaming environment:

 

• Open Communication: Regularly talk to your child about their gaming. Ask about the games they play, who they interact with online, and if anything makes them uncomfortable. Your child should feel safe coming to you with any concerns. As stated in a 2025 parental controls booklet, “no system is effective all of the time, so it is important to engage with your child and talk to them about their online life regularly” (Parental Controls booklet 2025, July 1, 2025).

 

• Understand Game Content: Don’t just rely on age ratings; research games your child is interested in. Watch gameplay videos or read reviews to understand the actual content.

 

• Set Clear Rules & Boundaries: Establish clear household rules for gaming, including playtime limits, content boundaries, and acceptable online behavior.

 

• Secure Your PSN Account: Use a strong, unique password for your Family Manager PSN account. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) for an extra layer of security.

 

• Review Settings Regularly: Children grow and mature, and their needs (and online risks) evolve. Periodically review and adjust parental control settings as your child ages.

 

• Encourage Balance: Promote a healthy lifestyle by encouraging breaks from gaming. Ensure your child has time for physical activity, schoolwork, and other hobbies.

 

• Teach Online Etiquette & Reporting: Educate your child on respectful online behavior. Teach them how to use in-game reporting tools for inappropriate content or players, and emphasize that they should always tell you if something upsetting happens online.

 

• Model Good Digital Habits: Children learn by example. Demonstrate responsible screen time, respectful online interactions, and a balanced approach to technology yourself.

 

 

Need More Help? Contact Our Online Safety Experts!

Navigating the complexities of modern gaming consoles and online safety can be challenging. If you require further assistance with safeguarding your family’s gaming experience on PlayStation 5 or any other device, our team is ready to provide support.

 

Contact Children of the Digital Age

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© 2025 Children of the Digital Age. All rights reserved. | Last Updated: July 2025