Google launched the Chromecast with Google TV without any type of true multi-user support, including support for kids profiles. This means that anyone who is using the device has access to everything on the device and there is no way to block certain content from, for example, young viewers.
As detailed this week, that’s soon to change, as Google will be introducing Kids Profiles in “the next month (or so).”
Here’s what a Google representative posted to the Issue Tracker website.
Just wanted to post an update that Kids Profiles should be rolling out in the next month (or so).
Restricted profiles are indeed deprecated in GTV and replaced by the new feature “Kids Profiles”, which allows you to setup a safe space for kids in google TV. During onboarding you can chose what apps to make available to kids. Youtube kids is available by default and other installed apps required parent opt-in before they are made available to the kid. Leaving the kids profile can be restricted by a PIN to prevent kids from accidentally going back to the parent account.
While that’s totally cool, it doesn’t exactly add multi-user support, which is what I’d really like to have. I have some movies from Google Play tied to another Google account of mine, which I can only access from my phone and then cast to the Google TV. It’s an annoying workaround, but that’s what Google offers. Cool.
As soon as this change rolls out, we’ll let you know.
// Android Police | Google Issue Tracker
Interesting that you can’t login to the YouTube app with different accounts. That functionality is on Roku.
I refuse to buy this device until they add true multi-user support. Which, at the rate this is going, probably means I will never buy this device.
I guess this is a good thing for presents of young children, but it sounds like whatever the kids have access to is still associated with the parent’s account. Like you, I have multiple accounts, but for me it’s not by choice. Google’s inexplicable restriction on G Suite account participation in family groups requires me have a second, non-G Suite, account, yet somehow they’re still releasing products without support for multiple accounts.
With all their resources it amazes me how they seem unable to introduce anything other than half-baked products and services. But then again, the problem is probably a lack of management not a lack of resources.
I wonder if this will restrict other apps to kids profiles only. E.g. on the kids profile they can only goto the kids profile on netflix, amazon prime, etc