Many parent control apps are more like Spyware and are often also exactly that, Spyware which spy on your Kids. Or Google Family Link is also a great example which you can’t remove even if you want too (as parent). I already setup a non-child-friendly blocking DNS and set the Age Limit in the Google Play Store and did all the Privacy related stuff, but I’m still thinking how can I make a Android phone more secure for children? The threads I’m talking about are non-child-friendly content, malware, scams, etc.
What i’ll do is buy the oldest android you can find, somewhere within 4.4 and install all the privacy safe apps that lock kids from certain sites and such. Hide everything, make it look like it’s a new android (they’ll never know) and watch as they question on why android apps and current hack tricks aren’t working.
Do not follow this advice. Using an obsolete android version is by no means a way to get a secure phone, no matter the apps. Android has vulnerabilities regularly discovered, which is normal, so keeping up to date with the operating system is a necessity to stay secure. There’s no way around it.
It doesn’t matter how many fixes you try to fix in current android, it will always be insecure. Google Play won’t work for 4.4 so the kids won’t install any app. Blocking sideloading will make the kids unable to sideload. All they ever have is and android phone with the heaviest browser restriction, any website not on your list becomes block. Super simple, the fear of insecure is only from people who can’t control the phone 100%.