Parental Controls Overview: Otto Setup Guide & Parent Controls

Otto offers a variety of parental controls to help parents and caregivers manage their child's experience on the platform.

Create an Account

Setting up parental controls takes less than 5 minutes:

1. Create your parent account at chat.heyotto.app/signup

2. Parental Verification - In accordance with federal law, we require a credit card to verify your identity. You will not be charged.

3. Create Family & Customize safety settings based on your family's needs

4. Add your child's profile with their age and interests

5. Monitor in real-time through your parent dashboard

Content Controls and Blocked Content

The content settings allow you to control the types of content your child has access to in Otto. To adjust your child's settings and age:

1. Go to Parent Dashboard

2. Go to My Family

3. Scroll to Content Boundaries

You are able to add and remove any content boundaries. Otto does provide default boundaries out of the box that cannot be removed. These are violence & gore, sexual content, drugs and alcohol, and profanity.

Age Restriction

Block content to prevent your child from accessing it, regardless of its content age level. Otto automatically adjusts to the age level content set by the parent on the profile.

Content Filtering

Otto's AI is trained specifically for children, with multiple layers of protection:

Age-Appropriate Responses

• Content is automatically tailored to your child's age
• Topics unsuitable for children are blocked entirely
• Educational content is prioritized

Restricted Topics

You can customize which topics Otto can discuss:

• Violence and mature themes (always blocked)
• Dating and relationships
• Political content
• Religious topics
• Custom keywords you specify

Real-Time Monitoring

Every conversation is analyzed in real-time for:

• Inappropriate content attempts
• Concerning behavior patterns
• Safety red flags
• Educational opportunities

Parent Dashboard Features

Activity Overview

• Total messages sent/received
• Popular topics discussed
• Time spent on the platform
• Creative projects created

Conversation History

• Full transcript access
• Search by keyword or date
• Flag conversations for review
• Export conversation logs

Instant Alerts

Receive notifications when Otto detects:

• Inappropriate content attempts
• Concerning language or behavior
• Unusual activity patterns
• Safety-related queries

Privacy & Data Protection

Your Child's Data

• COPPA compliant by design
• No data selling - ever
• Encrypted storage for all conversations
• Parent-controlled deletion of all data anytime

What We Collect

• Conversation content (for monitoring and improvement)
• Usage patterns (for safety)
• Creative works (stories, images)
• Account information

What We Don't Collect

• Personal information beyond what's necessary
• Location data
• Contacts or device access
• Third-party tracking

Setting Up Controls

For Younger Kids (5-9)

We recommend:

• [x] Strict content filtering
• [x] Limited topic access
• [x] Daily time limits (30-45 minutes)
• [x] Real-time alerts for all flags
• [x] Parent approval for image generation

For Pre-Teens (10-12)

Balanced approach:

• [x] Standard content filtering
• [x] Broader topic access with exceptions
• [x] Reasonable time limits (60-90 minutes)
• [x] Alerts for safety concerns only
• [x] More creative freedom

For Teens (13+)

Age-appropriate independence:

• [x] Moderate filtering
• [x] Most topics accessible
• [x] Flexible time limits
• [x] Critical safety alerts only
• [x] Full creative features

Common Questions

Can my child delete conversations?

Kids can delete conversations from their view, but parents always have access to full history through the dashboard.

Will my child know I'm monitoring?

Yes, transparency is important. Otto clearly communicates that conversations may be reviewed by parents.

What happens if Otto detects something concerning?

You'll receive an instant alert with context and recommendations. The conversation is flagged for your review.

Getting Help

Need assistance?

• Email: contact@heyotto.app
• FAQ: heyotto.app/faq
• Response time: Within 48 hours

Emergency concerns?

If you discover content that suggests immediate danger, please contact local authorities first, then notify us at contact@heyotto.app.

Best Practices

Have Open Conversations

• Talk to your kids about online safety
• Explain why monitoring exists
• Encourage them to come to you with concerns
• Review conversations together regularly

Start Strict, Relax Gradually

• Begin with tighter controls
• Loosen restrictions as trust builds
• Let kids earn more freedom
• Adjust based on maturity, not just age

Stay Engaged

• Check the dashboard weekly
• Look for learning opportunities
• Celebrate creative projects
• Address concerns promptly

Your Peace of Mind

Otto is built on the principle that kids should have the freedom to explore and learn while parents have the tools to keep them safe. Our parental controls aren't about surveillance - they're about partnership in your child's digital journey.