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Post Disclaimer
The information on this website is designed to offer self-care tips and recommendations based on evidence-based research and literature from professionals in each field. It is not intended to diagnose or treat any specific medical condition. Please consult with your healthcare provider before making any health-related decisions.
In today’s digital world, keeping children and teens safe online is more challenging and crucial than ever. From explicit content to risky apps and hidden dangers, the internet presents a range of threats that require thoughtful strategies and reliable tools. This comprehensive guide is designed to help parents and guardians navigate these challenges by offering practical solutions, from filtering software and device-specific parental controls to advice on identifying high-risk apps.
To make it easier, you can use the buttons below to quickly jump to the topics that matter most, ensuring you have the resources to protect your family and foster responsible digital habits.
Home Internet Filtering Software
Children and teens can access many internet-connected devices, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, gaming consoles, smart TVs, streaming devices, virtual reality headsets, smartwatches, e-readers, and smart home hubs. To safeguard them from explicit material, consider the following tools that can block inappropriate content across all devices connected to your home network:
OpenDNS Family Shield is a free, Domain Name System (DNS) based internet filtering service that blocks adult content and inappropriate websites. It filters explicit material without additional software by replacing your default DNS settings with OpenDNS servers. Advanced options are available for $19.95 per year.
CleanBrowsing is a DNS-based tool that offers multiple pre-configured filtering options, including Family Filter, Adult Filter, and Security Filter, to block pornography, explicit material, and malicious websites. It provides free and paid plans ranging from $75 to $300 per year.
Circle by Disney is a comprehensive parental control device that helps families manage and monitor internet usage across all connected devices. Features include content filtering, screen time limits, and pausing internet access for specific devices.
Other DNS-based programs to consider include NextDNS, Norton ConnectSafe, AdGuard DNS, SafeDNS, and Cloudflare for Families, with varying prices.
Many home internet providers offer built-in tools that allow you to control the content accessible through your home network. These systems enable you to block specific websites or restrict access for particular IP addresses, such as those of your children’s and teens’ devices, while maintaining unrestricted access for your own. Contact your internet provider to explore the specific parental control features available with your service.
Mobile Phones and Tablets
Modern mobile devices have built-in parental controls that allow parents to manage their children’s media usage and protect them from explicit material. These tools enable setting content restrictions, limiting screen time, and monitoring app usage, regardless of the network used.
Apple Products iOS
The ‘Screen Time’ feature is used to set app time limits, schedule downtime, filter content, and receive activity reports. Communication Limits and remote management via Family Sharing provide additional control. Learn how to use parental controls on your child’s iPhone and iPad.
Android Products
Google Family Link allows parents to set screen time limits, approve or block app downloads, and monitor app usage. It also enables safe browsing by filtering explicit content on Google Search, YouTube, and Chrome. Learn how to use parental controls on your child’s Android device through Google Family Link.
My Mobile Watchdog App.
This parental control app provides an additional layer of security and is designed to help parents monitor and manage their children’s smartphone usage. It provides call and text message monitoring, app blocking, and web filtering to ensure kids use their devices safely. Check out their website for more information on this mobile application.
Bark
This parental control app designed to help parents monitor, manage, and protect their children’s online activity and digital interactions. It uses advanced algorithms to detect and alert parents to potential risks, such as cyberbullying, explicit content, sexting, online predators, self-harm, and other unsafe behaviors. Here is the link to their website.
Qustodio
This app provides comprehensive monitoring across devices, including web filtering, screen time management, and detailed activity reports. It supports multiple platforms and offers real-time alerts for concerning activities. Here is the link to their website.
Net Nanny
Net Nanny Offers robust web filtering, app blocking, and screen time controls. It includes real-time alerts and reports, helping parents stay informed about their child’s online behavior. Click here to learn more.
Canopy
Canopy filters inappropriate material in real time to prevent exposure to explicit content. It also offers sexting prevention and app management features. Click here to learn more.
Mobicip
This app provides web filtering, screen time management, and app blocking. It supports multiple devices and offers customizable settings to suit different age groups. Click here to learn more.
Most mobile phone service providers offer their own apps to help parents manage and control their teens’ device usage. For example, Verizon Smart Family allows parents to set content filters, monitor online activity, and manage screen time. Similarly, other providers, such as AT&T Secure Family and T-Mobile FamilyMode, offer apps with features like location tracking, app blocking, and usage limits. These tools provide an added layer of protection, making it easier for parents to ensure their teens use their devices responsibly.
Gaming Systems and Virtual Reality (VR) Headsets
Gaming consoles and VR headsets often include parental control features to manage gaming activity and block explicit content. These controls ensure continued protection even when devices access networks outside the home.
Sony PlayStation
Offers parental controls to set screen time limits, restrict access to age-rated games and media, and control online interactions. PlayStation parental controls guide.
Xbox
Parents can set daily screen time limits through the Xbox Family Settings app and Microsoft account, restrict access to inappropriate games and content, and control communication during online play. Xbox parental controls guide.
Nintendo
Nintendo consoles, including the Nintendo Switch, offer robust parental controls to help parents manage their children’s gaming activities. Parents can set playtime limits, enforce bedtime restrictions, and receive activity reports detailing game usage through the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app. Nintendo parental controls guide.
VR Gaming Systems
Virtual reality (VR) headsets vary in their connectivity and parental control features. Many, like those from PlayStation and Xbox, connect to the internet via gaming consoles, utilizing the consoles’ parental controls to manage content and interactions.
In contrast, standalone headsets such as the Meta Quest (formerly Oculus Quest) connect directly to the internet without relying on external consoles. Consequently, Meta Quest incorporates its own parental control system to ensure a safe and age-appropriate experience for children and teens. Oculus parental controls guide. Here is also a YouTube video on setting up parental controls on the Meta Quest. If you use one of the DNS system internet filters mentioned earlier in this article, it will already be blocking the Meta Quest from accessing inappropriate websites.
Wearable Devices
Wearable devices like smartwatches and fitness trackers may offer parental controls, but the level of protection varies. These devices often rely on a paired smartphone or tablet, so implementing controls on the primary device or home internet can help manage access.
Apps That Put Children and Teens at Risk
Many apps expose teens to explicit material or make them vulnerable to exploitation. These apps often have minimal content moderation, anonymous communication, or privacy concerns, making them risky for teens if not monitored. The controls you put in place can prevent you from downloading them. Yet, as you screen your children’s phones, be aware of these apps. The following apps provide a potential risk to your children:
Snapchat: Risks include sexting, explicit content, contact with strangers, and real-time location sharing via ‘Snap Map.’
TikTok: Short videos may contain explicit or inappropriate content, and the platform allows for predatory behavior in comments or direct messages.
Instagram: Enables direct messaging with anonymous features and unregulated content, exposing teens to harmful material. Risks include sextortion, inappropriate hashtags, or harmful challenges. As of 2024, Instagram has implemented several features to enhance the safety and privacy of its teenage users.
Kik Messenger: Known for enabling anonymous communication, it is popular among predators. Poses risks for sexting and exploitation with minimal moderation.
Whisper: An anonymous posting app where users share secrets and chat privately, posing risks as predators use anonymity to groom and exploit teens.
Omegle: An anonymous chat platform connecting strangers via text or video, exposing users to explicit content and predators seeking teens.
Grindr: An app for LGBTQ+ individuals, often used by adults. Minors may falsify their age to use it, exposing them to explicit content and inappropriate interactions.
Tinder: A dating app designed for adults, but teens may falsify their age to use it, posing risks of sextortion, grooming, and exploitation.
Discord: A chat platform for gamers with private servers and channels where explicit content may be shared, and predators may groom vulnerable users.
Roblox: A popular gaming app among teens and younger children, posing risks of grooming and inappropriate interactions in games with user-generated content.
X (formerly Twitter): Allows explicit content and ease of discovery, enabling teens to access pornography and direct messaging, which predators may exploit.
Apps for Sharing and Hiding Content and Bypassing Parental Controls
Teens often use vault or decoy apps to conceal content from their parents. These apps disguise themselves as standard utilities, such as calculators or media players, but function as secure storage for photos, videos, messages, and other files. Common examples include:
Calculator+: This calculator appears regular but unlocks a hidden vault when entering a specific passcode. It allows users to hide images behind the disguise of a calculator.
Vault-Hide: Offers a secure space to hide and lock apps, photos, videos, and more.
Private Photo Vault: This app, disguised as a photo management app, requires a password to access hidden images and videos.
KeepSafe: Functions as a photo locker, allowing users to hide photos and videos behind a PIN or fingerprint authentication.
Hide It Pro: Masquerades is an audio manager that provides a vault for hiding various types of content.
Gallery Lock: Appears as a standard gallery app but hides selected photos and videos securely.
Secret Calculator Folder: It looks like a calculator but is a hidden file manager for private content.
App Hider: Allows users to hide other apps and disguise themselves as calculators.
CoverMe: Provides private texting and calling features and a hidden vault for photos and videos.
Best Secret Folder: Disguised as a utility folder, it hides photos and videos securely.
Finally, it’s important to know that Teens may attempt to bypass parental controls using various Virtual Private Network (VPN) services. VPNs encrypt internet traffic and can mask a user’s online activities, making it challenging for parental control software to monitor or restrict access. Some commonly used VPNs include ExpressVPN, NordVPN, Surfshark, ProtonVPN, and Hotpost Shield.
While VPNs can help users access restricted content, they can also expose them to unfiltered internet environments, potentially leading to exposure to inappropriate material. Parents should be aware of these tools and consider implementing comprehensive strategies to effectively manage and monitor internet usage.
In today’s digital age, ensuring the online safety of children and teens is an ever-evolving challenge that requires vigilance, education, and effective tools. Parents can create a safer online environment by implementing parental controls on devices, leveraging network-based safeguards, and staying informed about potential risks like unsafe apps or hidden content. Open communication and regular monitoring are essential to fostering trust and teaching responsible digital habits. While no solution is foolproof, a layered approach combining technical safeguards and proactive parenting can empower families to navigate the internet safely and confidently, protecting children from harmful content and interactions.
