In the ongoing streaming wars, Hulu has emerged as a leading platform with a comprehensive selection of TV shows, movies, and Originals. The platform is also known for its user-friendly interface and variety of content – which has helped catapult it into many homes across America.
While Hulu is an excellent streaming service, it’s essential to be aware of the potential risks that come with using any online platform – especially when children are involved. Knowing the various parental controls that different streaming services offer is critical for keeping your family safe online.
Does Hulu offer parental controls? And if so, what are the best ways to ensure that your children are only accessing age-appropriate content? Keep reading to learn everything you need about Hulu parental controls.
What is Hulu?
First launched in 2008, Hulu is a streaming service that offers TV shows, movies, and Originals. Hulu has two different subscription plans – Hulu (with ads) and Hulu (no ads). Both plans offer access to the same content, but the ad-supported plan is significantly cheaper.
The platform also offers a live TV service, which gives users access to over 60 live and on-demand content channels. However, this service is only available in certain markets and comes at an additional cost.
Is Hulu Dangerous for Children?
Like any online platform, Hulu poses certain risks to children. The most significant risk is that children may be exposed to content that is not appropriate for their age group. For example, content on Hulu’s platform can range from PG to MA, which means that some content may not be suitable for younger children.
However, Hulu doesn’t pose many of the same risks as other digital platforms – primarily due to it being a streaming service and not a social media platform. This means that children are less likely to encounter strangers or bullies on Hulu.
That being said, it’s still important to be aware of the potential risks associated with any online platform – especially when children are involved.
Does Hulu Have Parental Controls?
Yes! Hulu offers several options that parents can use to control what their children can watch on the platform. There are two primary ways to set parental controls on Hulu:
- Create a Hulu Kids Profile
- Set a PIN to restrict access to content
Let’s take a closer look at each of these methods:
How to Create a Hulu Kids Profile for Your Children
One of the best ways to ensure that your kids only access age-appropriate content on Hulu is to create a Hulu Kids profile. This profile is specifically designed for children and only displays content that is appropriate for kids of all ages.
To set up a Hulu Kids profile, follow these steps:
- Log in to your Hulu account and select “Manage Profiles” from the drop-down menu in the top-right corner.
- Select “Add Profile” to create a new profile for your child.
- Select “Kids” as the profile type.
- Enter a name for the profile and select “Create Profile.”
Once you’ve created a Hulu Kids profile, only content that is appropriate for children will be displayed when they are logged in. In general, this is content that is rated -G, -PG, or -TV-Y.
If you want to further restrict the content that your child can watch on Hulu, you can also set up a 4-digit PIN for the profile. This PIN will be required whenever your child wants to watch content that is rated -TV-14 or above.
How to Set A PIN for Accounts to Restrict Access
While creating a Kids account on your Hulu profile is the best way to restrict access to older content, you can also set a 4-digit PIN that must be entered in order to watch any content on Hulu. This will help ensure that only adults can access the platform.
To set up a PIN for your Hulu account, follow these steps:
- Log in to your Hulu account and select “Account” from the drop-down menu in the top-right corner.
- Select “Manage Profiles” and then select “Edit” next to the profile you want to modify.
- Scroll down to the “Profile Lock” section and select “Enable Profile Lock.”
- Enter a 4-digit PIN and then select “Save Changes.”
Once you’ve set up a PIN for your Hulu account, anyone who wants to watch content on the platform will need to enter the PIN in order to do so. This is a great way to ensure that only adults can access the platform – and that children can only watch age-appropriate content.
Tips to Keep Your Kids Safe on Hulu and Beyond
In addition to setting up parental controls on Hulu, there are also a few other things you can do to keep your kids safe while using the platform. Here are a few tips to get you started:
1. Talk to your kids about online safety.
One of the best ways to help keep your kids safe online is to talk to them about internet safety. This includes things like not sharing personal information with strangers, being careful about what they click on, and not meeting up with people they’ve met online. While Hulu doesn’t include online interactions, these skills will help them stay safe on other platforms – and in life.
2. Keep an eye on what they’re watching.
Even with parental controls in place, it’s still a good idea to keep an eye on what your kids are watching on Hulu. This way, you can ensure that they’re only accessing appropriate content for their age group.
3. Create a family media plan.
A family media plan is a great way to ensure that everyone in the family is on the same page when it comes to screen time. This can help reduce arguments and help everyone respect each other’s screen time needs.
Creating a family media plan doesn’t have to be complicated. Start by setting some basic rules, like no screens at the dinner table or no screens an hour before bedtime. Then, work together to devise a schedule that works for everyone. For example, you might decide that on weekdays everyone gets an hour of screen time after homework is done, and on weekends there are no limits.
4. Set screen time limits for devices.
Limiting how much time your kids can spend online is also important. Too much screen time can harm their development, so it’s important to ensure that they’re spending enough time offline.
5. Keep an eye on their online activity.
Finally, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on your kids’ activity online. This includes things like what they’re watching, who they’re talking to, and what they’re posting. If you see anything that makes you concerned, don’t hesitate to reach out to their school or a trusted adult for help.
By following these tips, you can help ensure that your kids are safe while they’re using Hulu. And by setting up parental controls, you can ensure they’re only accessing age-appropriate content.
Take Your Protection Further with Kidslox
Hulu offers great parental controls to help families enjoy the full Hulu library safely. However, what if you want to take your protection one step further?
Kidslox is a parental control app that allows you to block apps, set time limits, and filter content on all of your child’s devices. This includes things like laptops, smartphones, tablets, and more. Plus, it’s compatible with all major operating systems, so you can use it regardless of your child’s device.
With a single account, families can use Kidslox to connect devices and control access from anywhere. This means parents can keep an eye on their kids’ activity even when they’re not at home.
Check out Kidslox today and learn more about how it can help keep your kids safe online!
