Systems and methods for enabling parental controls based on user engagement with a media device

A system for controlling playback of media assets, the system comprising processing circuitry configured to:

• detect a second user within proximity of a first user equipment device, wherein the second user is restricted from accessing a media asset on the first user equipment device without a first user within proximity of the first user equipment device who has a content authorization level higher than the second user;
• detect a first user within proximity of the first user equipment device;
• measure an engagement level of the first user with the first user equipment device;
• retrieve a first threshold value stored in a memory of the first user equipment device;
• determine whether the measured engagement level of the first user with the first user equipment device is above the first threshold value;
• and
• enable access to the media asset at the first user equipment device upon determining that the measured engagement level of the first user with the first user equipment device is above the first threshold value.