Server Version#: 1.32.8.7639
Player Version#: 4.116.1
I have recently been trying to help my sister setup age restricted profiles for her kids. The problem is she does not have a Plex server herself. A long while ago I created a whole account just for her kids so that I could individually restrict their content without having to limit my sister’s access. Since the creation of Plex home I figured I would help her add her kids’ profile under her home. This worked well and all of the content restrictions I had in place for my media worked, but when they do a search, they are able to see content above their allowed rating through the media provided through Plex.
I then tried setting up a Managed Profile under my sister’s account, and this solved the issue of them not being able to search for age restricted content from Plex, but the managed profiles do not have access to the media I share with my sister.
How do I restrict her kids’ access to the content provided through Plex (like with a managed profile) while simultaneously allowing the restricted access to the content I share with them (like with their account I created for them and restrict from my end)?
I even tried to buy my sister a Plex Pass and that did not solve the problem.
I different question that would also resolve the problem if answered, is there a way for me to invite a managed account setup under my sister’s username so that they are able to view the content from my server?
So I guess my original question remains. How do I restrict their regular full account, that I share my server with, from being able to watch content provided by Plex with a higher rating than what they should be allowed to watch?
Did I explain this in a poor way? Or, am I the only with this concern? Or, is it just that no one cares?
If its the first, let me provide a specific example. I log in with my nieces’ account, the one that I created for them, the one I selectively share my content with based on the movie’s or show’s content rating. I have them restricted to where they are not presented any Rated R content from my libraries. This means the new Joy Ride (2023) movie that is rated R that I recently added does not get presented to them, it is not visible on my server from their end. HOWEVER, If they browser content provided by Plex, such as the movie IP Man 2 that was streaming at the time, which is also Rated R, was displayed to them prominently as one of the first couple options. And not only was it presented to them, they were allowed to view the content. What is the point of me being able to restrict their content if Plex is going to serve them media that was not intended to be viewed by an audience of their ages?
Perhaps it is the second option, where I am the only one with the concern. I hope this is not the case and that society has not fallen into such decay that there are no other adults concerned about what content minors are able to consume. But if that is the case, then this world has truly become a sad place to live.
Maybe the last option is the reason to blame. Is it that no one in the community or on the Plex team cares? Is it a case of “If Plex can’t do it right I just won’t use Plex, I’ll use something else”? I have seen a few of those comments. Is it that parents have given up trying to restrict the content provided to their kids and instead try to teach their children what is appropriate to watch and pray and cross their fingers that they will listen, knowing that they will find a way to obtain the content anyway, and observing places like Plex make it easier for underage kids to gain access to mature content? This too is a sad thought, that we have given up trying to protect the kids.
I did notice there is a feature request that is somewhat related to this that has been open for quite some time. It is my hope that Plex just has not understood the gravity of the situation until now and that it is not something more malicious or intentionally neglectful.
Lost track of the thread over the holidays. Thanks for writing back.
To get the level of control you want, you’ll need to set them up as a Managed User in your Plex Home.
If they are a Managed User in your Plex Home (not in your sister’s Plex Home):
You control what they see from your server.
Searches for media on your server or from Plex online sources, respect the restriction profiles (Younger Kid, etc).
If they have a full Plex account (with e-mail):
If in your Plex Home, their mobile apps will be unlocked.
You control what they see from your server.
You do not control what a search will return from Plex online sources. This is set at the account level. It can be disabled via Settings → Online Media Sources. Depending on the client, they could re-enable the settings once logged in (ex: using Plex Web or Plex Desktop).
One thing to remember is that the online media from Plex, via watch.plex.tv, is viewable by anybody without an account. Anyone can watch The Texas Chain Saw Massacre without a login.
