The Sony Playstation 4 (PS4) encompasses more than just video gaming — users can stream music, movies, and TV, as well as browse the web. Because of this, the PS4 can create potentially harmful situations for children, so it’s important to monitor and restrict access to inappropriate content.
Sony's Video Game Rating System
All PS4 video games hold ratings based on the criteria and judgment of the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). The most common of these ratings include "E" for games appropriate for everyone, "T" for content acceptable for most teenagers, and "M" for content deemed appropriate only for mature players.
It is important to remember that the ESRB rating system provides only a general idea of a video game's content. While this can help parents determine what games are appropriate for their children, parents are greatly encouraged to research and review games before purchasing to determine the content they'd like their children to access.
A simple breakdown of how to use ESRB ratings in conjunction with Sony's parental controls (which use numbers 1-11) include:
- Level 0: ESRB RP - RATING PENDING
- Level 2: ESRB EC - EARLY CHILDHOOD
- Level 3: ESRB E - EVERYONE
- Level 4: ESRB E10+ - EVERYONE 10+
- Level 5: ESRB T - TEEN
- Level 9: ESRB M - MATURE
- Level 10: ESRB AO - ADULTS ONLY
Setting Up PlayStation 4 Parental Controls
Sony provides parental control options to help ensure the safety and security of children. Before establishing other parental controls, Sony recommends that you set a system restriction passcode. This allows you to alter and adjust your settings later and prevents others from accessing and changing the restrictions you put in place.
How to create a child account on PlayStation 4
- Access the PlayStation's main Settings menu, then select Parental Controls/Family Management.
- Select Family Management.
- If this is your first time adding a family member, you will see a screen that gives you a brief overview of the console’s family system. Click Set Up Now. (Note: You will not see this screen if you already have multiple members in your family on the console).
- Select Create User. (Note: If you already have multiple members in your family on the console, you will need to select Add Family Member and then select Create User).
- Enter your child’s name and date of birth, and then select Next.
- You’ll be taken to a User Agreement page. Select Accept.
- If this is your first time setting up a child account, you will be required to pay $0.50 to verify that you are an adult. The money will be deposited into your PlayStation wallet. Select Next to continue.
- Enter your payment information and select Verify to confirm your purchase.
- After the payment is made, select OK to continue.
How to set a system restriction passcode
- Access the PlayStation's main Settings menu, then select Parental Controls/Family Management.
- Navigate to PS4 System Restrictions. Before setting a custom passcode, you'll need to enter the default code ("0000").
- Choose a passcode that is simple for you to remember.
After setting up your own system restriction passcode, you'll be able to set up other parental controls on your console, including by each individual user if you have multiple children.
How to implement parental controls on PS4
- From the PlayStation's main Settings menu, select the Parental Controls/Family Management menu.
- Select the child account you'd like to manage. We recommend that you create an individual account for each PlayStation user to allow for multiple control options; an older child can access games and other content acceptable for older users, while younger children in the same household can only access content appropriate for younger children.
- Choose from the following what you’d like to restrict: