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Google TV kid profiles are coming without multi-user support
Google TV is now a rather confusing name given it could refer to one of two things. It could, for example, refer to the new name for the Play Movies & TV app or it could be the new Google-specific interface for Android TV, specifically on the new Chromecast with Google TV. Despite its shared roots with Android, however, there are some things that are missing from the new Google TV that have some parents worried. Fortunately, Google will be pushing an update that partially addresses that, at least as far as parental controls are concerned.
Although Android itself has had support for multiple user accounts on the same device, Android TV didn’t exactly inherit it wholesale. The TV version only had restricted profiles that hid apps behind 4-digit PINs and restricted access to settings and folders. Curiously, Google TV, which is based on Android TV, didn’t even get that but only supported multiple Google accounts that still shared settings or apps anyway.
This, of course, is a great deal of concern for parents who have minors that have access to the Chromecast with Google TV device. The good news is that Google is definitely aware of the situation and has shared that more parental controls are coming soon. To be exact, Google TV will be getting Kids Profiles which will replace Android TV’s restricted profiles.