Microsoft Family - Child can remove themselves from the family

Anonymous
2020-01-05T10:56:06+00:00

I have setup Microsoft Family with my children added as child accounts.

My children can login to their accounts at family.microsoft.com and simply click the link "Leave family group" and they are removed from the group and from any screen time limits etc.

This seems like a serious issue as it negates the point of setting any restrictions if it is this easy to circumvent them.

Please advise if there are additional settings required to prevent children from removing themselves from the family group.

I've checked the DOB for each child and that is correct.

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Family and online safety

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  1. Anonymous
    2021-01-17T03:12:21+00:00

    Surprise!  Just ran into this same issue with my 13 year-old son.  What a creepy, dirty, underhand tactic Microsoft.  I am surprised and disappointed.  "We have parental controls"... except really they are not when you make that easy for a 13 year old to "leave group"  What a pain.  Need to take away Xbox.

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  2. Anonymous
    2021-01-06T16:20:41+00:00

    This is now exactly one year since the thread was created and there isn't a fix to this problem? As a parent of three boys ages 16, 13 and 11 we need to have a solid way of monitoring screen time. Although it is an issue of integrity, our 16 year old has removed his name from the family account and his defiance is forcing me to look elsewhere for a better system to hold these kids accountable. A 16 year old should not be able to remove themselves from the family account! I really hope that you "Microsoft" are hearing the voices of concerned parents during this incredibly challenging time with kids sitting in front of screens all day long unmonitored! Not healthy, not full-proof and definitely NOT COOL!

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  3. Anonymous
    2020-10-09T14:41:28+00:00

    Hey guys! I just changed the DOB to 3yrs old. And as well as setting the restrictions to a 3 year old.

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  4. Anonymous
    2020-07-25T14:59:06+00:00

    I have the same issue. My 12 year old not only removed himself from the group but changed all his restrictions. My 12 year old is adopted and has a traumatic past and has been exposed to pornography and other internet dangers. I hope you recognize the harm this does to children who are not capable of managing theirselves in such an unsafe environment.

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  5. Anonymous
    2020-05-06T15:00:33+00:00

    The only saving grace is that he has just realised that once he removed himself from the family group is that he can no longer send purchase request for games or gift cards. So he has a choice of either going out to purchase them or come back to his family group. Needless to say he has asked to come back to the family group LOL

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