New Feature: Parental Controls Assistant

Parental Controls Assistant is built into AOL Desktop for Mac. It's a quick and simple way to add Mac OS X user accounts with all the correct features and applications turned on.

Parental Controls Assistant works with Mac OS X to create an account for your child that has Internet browsers and other applications turned off and activates AOL's Parental Control Proxy system that will deliver age-appropriate content via the AOL Desktop for Mac Browser. You can control who your child has on their AIM account, who they can accept e-mail from and generate usage reports that are e-mailed to the parent account. AOL Parental Controls only works with AOL Desktop for Mac 1.5 browser, mail and AIM.

To use AOL Parental Controls Assistant, just follow these steps:

  1. Go to http://parentalcontrols.aol.com and add a child account to the parent's screen name (skip this step if you already configured child accounts).
  2. Launch AOL Desktop for Mac and log in with the parent's screen name.
  3. After logging in, AOL Desktop for Mac will display the AOL Parental Controls Assistant window.
  4. All you have to do is enter the user account name for the child (or use the default) and click "Create Mac User Account".
  5. That's it! AOL Desktop for Mac will create a Mac OS X OS user account and set all the application restrictions.

When you start up your Mac, you will see a new child account. Select that account and you will have a safe, secure area for your child to enjoy the Internet.

For more information please see the AOL Parental Controls for Mac FAQs.