MX Player has emerged as one of the most popular media player apps in the world. It currently boasts a fast-growing user base thanks to its versatile video playback capabilities.
For parents engaging their kids in digital entertainment, it is very important to get a good idea about the robust features of MX Player, especially parental controls, to ensure the safety of content.
This article, thus, delves deep into the most important functionalities that make MX Player a top choice while covering essential issues of child safety.
What is MX Player?
MX Player is a very versatile media player and streaming service that has become a world leader in digital entertainment.
Originally developed as a powerful video player for Android, it has grown into a comprehensive system owned by Amazon India.
Its basic function is to provide smooth play for almost any video or audio file format.
The app enjoys universal accessibility, supporting platforms such as Android, iOS, and PC via web browsers or standalone desktop applications.
According to market data from Statista released in 2022, MX Player already has registered more than one billion downloads on the Google Play Store.
Recent reports have shown that the platform boasts a monstrous user base of more than 350 million monthly active users globally.
It has a strong presence in international markets, such as the US and the UK, although it is especially dominant in India.
Its demographics are skewed towards a younger audience, with the most users being between 18 and 34 years old, making up 78% of the user base.
Use a parent control app for help!
Key features of the MX Player
The success of MX Player lies in its powerful features, which suit both casual users and power users. Here are the distinguishing features that make the experience.
Superior playback performance.
It was the first Android player to support multi-core decoding, yielding improved performance by 70% in multi-core devices.
Broad format support.
The application very easily works with formats such as MKV, MP4, AVI, MOV, and FLV without requiring additional codecs.
Advanced subtitles integration.
Users can enjoy extensive subtitle support, including such formats as SRT, SSA/ASS, and SMI. You can use gestures to change the font size of the text or move subtitles on the fly.
Interactive gesture controls.
Easily adjust volume, brightness, and seeking functions with single swipes of the finger on different parts of the screen.
Offline and online versatility.
Other than local file playback, it also provides offline downloads for streaming content and supports quality network streams.
Additional functionalities.
The app has a Private Folder that stores sensitive videos. There is a separate Music Player mode to listen to the audio alone.
These stand-out characteristics make MX Player a diverse media platform for daily entertainment across devices and age groups.
Is MX Player safe for kids?
Whether MX Player is safe for kids depends to a great extent on how particular configurations are made.
As a standalone media player for local files, it is quite secure.
However, as it has developed into a streaming platform, this comes with new variables that parents need to watch closely.
While much of this content is family-friendly, the platform also offers mature themes.
According to its Age Suitability Policy, the service is technically for users over 18.
However, it does provide age maturity ratings to classify shows and movies by age categories. In addition, MX Player also offers a number of child-safety features.
- Kids mode. This limits access to kid-friendly content, often focused on educational videos or age-appropriate videos. It comes with a PIN lock to ensure that children cannot exit the mode.
- Kids lock. Keeps kids from touching the screen to pause or exit and access other functions during video play.
- Parental controls. Allow for viewing restrictions based on maturity ratings, block higher-rated content, and offer levels such as Kids, Teens, etc.
These tools, when enabled, are very helpful for effectively moderating content. However, content moderation is still not perfect.
A major concern for parents is actually the ad-supported model. The free version of the app often shows promotions from third-party sources.
These ads may not always be curated to fit younger audiences. This may result in inappropriate exposure to products or imagery that are meant for adults.
Is MX Player free to use?
One of the reasons for the massive success of MX Player is its flexible pricing structure. It caters to both the casual viewer and the dedicated cinephile with various tiers.
The regular version of MX Player can be downloaded and used for free. This version has complete access to powerful features such as hardware acceleration and gesture controls.
However, it is mainly supported through advertisements. Users will encounter.
- Banner and interstitial ads. These are there while you are browsing through your local folders.
- Video ads. When using the streaming service, there are usually short ads before or during the streaming of the content.
However, for those who want a more seamless experience, there are two main “paid” paths.
- MX Player Pro. Available on Google Play Store and iOS, this is a one-time purchase (roughly $5.99). It eliminates all the banner and transition ads from a local video player interface.
- MX gold. It costs around rupees 299 for 3 months or rupees 499 per annum. Provides an “ad-lite” experience, high definition (1080p) streaming, and early access to exclusive web series.
In the free version, ads are common, and they are sometimes unskippable. These ads are the major way in which the developer makes money off the “free” content.
While the free version of MX Player is great for casual viewing, the high volume of ads this player has is a common complaint among users.
Moving up to a paid version is sometimes recommended for users who rely on the app on a daily basis.
Pros and cons of MX Player
To help you determine whether or not this app is best for your family, here is a breakdown of the pros and cons of MX Player.
Pros of MX Player
- Extensive format support. It supports nearly all file types, such as MKV, MP4, AVI, etc., without the need for additional plugins.
- User-friendly interface. The app includes easy-to-use gesture controls. There is an option to swipe for volume or pinch the screen to zoom into videos.
- Advanced decoding. With multi-core decoding, the app offers smoother playing on most of the devices compared to the standard players.
- Powerful subtitle tools. Users can easily synchronize and tailor appropriate subtitles, which is excellent for films that are international or educational content.
- Kids’ lock feature. This particular tool makes sure that the kids do not leave the player or accidentally make calls while watching videos.
Cons of MX Player
- Intrusive advertisements. The free version is filled with frequent advertisements. These may be presented when you pause, start, or even scroll through your files.
- Safety and privacy concerns. Some advertisements may not be age-appropriate. In addition, the app also gathers information such as location and device IDs for targeted marketing.
- Complex settings. The volume of customization is overwhelming to some of the casual users who simply wish to have a simple player.
- Mixed content ratings. Because it offers a streaming service, kids can accidentally come across mature “Original” series with no strict parental controls.
MX Player can provide a rich media experience with a feature set and broad format support, and easy navigation.
However, too many advertisements and possibly exposure to unsafe content mean parents should consider using techniques to ensure safer use.
Tips for safe and better use of MX Player
To make sure that MX Player does not become a digital tool that is hazardous but rather is beneficial, parents can employ these practical strategies.
- Enable the “Kids lock”. Within the settings on the MX Player, search for “Kids Lock.” This helps in stopping accidental pauses, exits, or phone interference.
- Set clear viewing limits. Discuss with your child the amount of time that he can spend on the app every day. Consistent boundaries help avoid screen fatigue as well as encourage other non-screen activities.
- Review content together. Spend time watching with your kids. This way, you can keep track of what sorts of shows they are watching, and you can discuss the issue of any themes that may confuse them.
- Activate “safe content mode”. Use the internal settings on the app to be able to filter out adult-rated streaming content and advertisements.
For better and more detailed control than MX Player’s built-in features, you might want to consider a dedicated parental control program such as FlashGet Kids.
This tool has advanced features that serve as a comprehensive shield to your child’s whole digital life. Some of these features include.
- Screen mirroring. You can view your child’s screen in real-time remotely. This helps you to check that the content that they are watching is age-appropriate.
- App blocker. If you feel that your child is spending too much time on the app, then you can block MX Player during school hours or late at night.
- Daily usage. FlashGet Kids has a detailed breakdown of how much time is spent on particular apps, making it possible to track digital habits.
- Screen time. Set strict limits eachday, which automatically locks the device once the time has elapsed to provide for a healthy balance.
By combining the internal “Kids Lock” of MX Player with the powerful monitoring of FlashGet Kids, it will be possible to offer a truly safe viewing environment.
FAQs about MX Player
Yes, MX Player comes with a “Kids Lock” to keep the kids from leaving the application or making a call. It even provides a “Safe Content Mode” to block out content of a mature rating for younger viewers.
The free version has third-party video and banner ads, which can occasionally be of a mature nature and inappropriate for kids. Upgrading to MX Player Pro removes any and all ads for disruption-free, safer play.
MX Player is a player that needs no Internet for Local Files stored on your device. You can play downloaded videos and music offline anytime. However, an active internet connection is necessary to stream its online content library or download new web series.
Conclusion
MX Player is still one of the best options for media playback, thanks to its unparalleled versatility and powerful performance.
While its expansive file support and streaming library are impressive, parents must be on the lookout for ad exposure and mature material.
By using the built-in tools with external applications such as Flashget Kids, you can ensure that it can be a safe viewing environment.
Balancing these advanced features with Proactive Supervision provides you and your family with the best of digital entertainment.
