I set up Google Family Link on my kid’s Android phone and I’m trying to figure out how much it can manage their contacts-can I approve who they add/call/text, or at least see changes to the contact list? If it can’t, is there any built-in way to restrict unknown numbers?
Short answer: Family Link doesn’t really do contacts management — it’s more focused on app approvals, screen time limits, and location tracking, not who your kid can call or text.
For blocking unknown numbers, Android has a built-in “filter spam calls” option in the Phone app settings, and your carrier likely has free parental controls (T-Mobile FamilyMode, Verizon Smart Family, etc.) that can actually restrict calls/texts to approved contacts lists — that’s honestly your best bet without buying a third-party app.
If your kid is young enough that contacts control matters, it might also just be worth setting up their phone with your Google account as the primary and keeping the contacts list lean from the start — old school but it works. 