News

Passwords Are No Longer Required To Sign Into Google Accounts

Google will allow users to replace passwords and 2FA with passkeys.

Published

3 years ago

May 4, 2023

Nour Nasir

Google

Google has taken a step towards a passwordless future, announcing that passkey functionality is being added to all Google accounts.

Passkeys are cryptographic tools that allow users to ditch passwords and two-factor verification when signing in. Google, along with Apple and Microsoft, are keen to push the technology, which uses a local PIN or a device’s biometric tools such as fingerprint scanners or Face ID.

Biometric data from passkeys isn’t shared with third parties and only exists on a user’s device, providing enhanced security since no passwords can be hacked or stolen.

When a passkey is added to a Google account, users will be prompted for it on new sign-ins or when potentially suspicious activity is detected. Passkeys can be stored on any compatible hardware, including iPhones with iOS 16 and Android devices running Android 9 and above. Users can access passkeys on other devices by using services such as iCloud or password managers like 1Password. In addition, Google also allows the following:

Accounts can be accessed temporarily using someone else’s device by selecting “use a passkey from another device” to create a one-time sign-in.
Passkeys can be revoked immediately in the account settings section if a user suspects a security breach, or a device is lost or stolen.
Users of Google’s Advanced Protection Program (a free service providing additional security against phishing and malware) can use passkeys instead of physical security keys.

Also Read: Abu Dhabi Scientists Create Electronic Appetite Regulation Pill

If you’d prefer to log in to your account the traditional way, Google will continue to support regular passwords for the foreseeable future, allowing users without a biometric device to make the change once they eventually upgrade their hardware.

News

YouTube Rolls Out Supervised Children’s Accounts Across MENA

An industry-first feed timer lets parents cap Shorts scrolling. Access can also be switched off entirely ahead of exam season.

Published

12 hours ago

July 10, 2026

Dana Saadeh

YouTube

YouTube has launched supervised kid accounts across the Middle East and North Africa, giving parents a way to hand their children the main YouTube app without handing over all of it. Announced in Dubai on July 2, the accounts are built directly into the platform rather than the standalone YouTube Kids app, and are aimed at families who feel a child has outgrown the curated library but isn’t ready for the open feed.

Parents can choose from three content settings, each broadly aligned with international content ratings. Explore covers educational videos, tutorials, arts and crafts, and dance. Explore More adds gaming and live streams. Most of YouTube opens up almost everything except videos rated 18+ or deemed inappropriate for supervised accounts.

The standout tool is an industry-first Shorts feed timer, which lets parents set daily limits on short-form scrolling. Set it to zero and Shorts disappears altogether – a lever YouTube suggests parents might pull ahead of exam season. Other protections are on by default for all users under 18: “Take a Break” and “Bedtime” reminders, no personalized ad targeting, autoplay switched off, and no ability to upload videos or write comments. The accounts are optional, and parents can end supervision at any time.

The kid accounts join supervised teen accounts already available across the region, which notify parents by email when a teenager uploads a video or starts a live stream.

“YouTube has been a huge part of families’ lives across this region for over 20 years,” said Javid Aslanov, head of YouTube Middle East and North Africa, citing Kantar research showing 95% of viewers in Saudi Arabia and the UAE agree YouTube has top content in education and learning.

Also Read: Tamper With The Recording LED & Meta’s Glasses Kill Camera

“It’s essential that we protect young people in – not from – the digital world,” added Garth Graham, YouTube’s head of health.

The new settings are rolling out gradually across the MENA, including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, and Iraq. The latest features can be set up through Family Center in the YouTube app or via Google Family Link.