Parental
Guide to Parental Controls
Even if you've already talked to your kids
about screen time limits and responsible behavior online, it's still very
difficult to monitor what they're doing when you're not around (and even when
you are). Parental
controls can help you keep your children's Internet experiences safe, fun,
and productive. Parental controls work best when used in conjunction with
open communication and passing on your family's values, so keep that in mind no
matter which parental control you choose.
To
determine what type of parental control is best, you need to think about the
needs of your family. Some families just need to change their browser
settings to filter inappropriate content, which is free. Other families
need help reducing screen time for children. Other parents are comfortable
just checking their children's cell phone or tablet from time to time. No
matter what your need is, this guide can help you understand the wide range of
options you have for monitoring your family's devices. Read below for
answers to the most frequently asked questions from parents about parental
controls.
What are the Best Parental
Controls if I want to:
Block websites. If all you want is to
limit what your children can search, your best option is to activate Google
Safe Search in all the browsers you use. First, make sure
your browsers have Google as their default search engine, and then turn on SafeSearch. It's
good to take this precaution as soon as your kids start connecting to make sure
they don't accidentally stumble across something unpleasant or inappropriate.
Block websites and
filter content. If you want to prevent access to specific websites and
limit your children's contact with inappropriate content such as adult games or pornography,
you can use the parental controls that are built into the operating system of
your device. All major operating systems - Microsoft's Windows, Apple's
Mac OS, and even Amazon's Fire - offer settings to prevent kids from accessing
things you don't want them to see. To get the maximum benefits from these
controls, you must be using the most current version of the operating system,
and each user must log in with their own profile. The settings apply
universally to all content accessed through the computer. Each of these
operating systems works differently and has its own pros and cons. This is
the best solution if you have young children who primarily use a device at
home. Take a look at the characteristics of each: Microsoft, Apple,
Block websites,
filter content, impose time limits, watch what my kids are up to.A full-featured
external Parental
Control service, such as Qustodio or Net Nanny, will give you a lot of
control over all of your children's devices (the ones they use at home and
their phones). These services can be expensive (especially if you have
multiple children to monitor), but the cost includes constant device
monitoring, allowing you to see the ways children are using their devices. These
parental controls can only keep track of accounts that your child knows about,
and in some apps, you will need their password to monitor activity. For
example, if the child creates a completely new profile on Instagram using a
friend's computer without warning you, these parental controls will not track
that account.
Monitor my child's
phone. To
monitor your preteen or teen's phone, it's best to download an app like Bark,
KidBridge (formerly known as TeenSafe), or WebWatcher, which monitors text
messages, social media, emails, and other mobile phone functions. These
apps are especially useful if you are concerned about potentially risky
conversations or questionable topics your child might be into. Bark, for
example, notifies you when it detects words that generate an alert, like
"drugs." To monitor social media, you will need your child's
account information, including passwords. See my child's location. You can
use GPS trackers like Find My Friends and FamiSafe to know where your children
are. However, they must have the phone on for this to work.
Monitor all devices
on the network, limit screen time, filter content, and turn off Wi-Fi. There are hardware and software solutions to
control your network and your home Wi-Fi. To name just a few of the most
popular: OpenDNS is a downloadable application that works with your router (the
device that brings the Internet to your home) to filter Internet content. Circle
Home Plus is a subscription service that syncs with your routerand
it allows you to stop Internet access, create time limits and add content
filters to all devices on your home network (including Wi-Fi devices), as well
as monitoring phones and tablets outside the home. Some Internet Service
Providers, such as Comcast and Verizon in the United States, also offer
parental controls features that apply to all devices on the network. Network
solutions can be useful for families with children of different ages; however,
Wi-Fi and network setup can be tricky and the controls may not work when
children are on a different network.
What
are the best parental control options for iOS phones and tablets?
If
you have an iPhone or iPad, Apple's Screen Time (or Time of use in
Spanish) settings allow you to manage almost every aspect of your
child's iOS device, including how much time children spend on each application
and game and what downloaded. You can even turn off the phone at specific
times, like bedtime. There are two ways to activate Screen Time, either by
changing the setting on your child's device and password protecting the setting
or by activating the Family Sharing feature that allows you to manage the
functions from your phone.
What
are the best parental control options for Android devices?
Android
devices can vary greatly in what they offer, so check your device's settings to
see what options you have. If your child is under 13, you can download
Family Link from Google to track and control their internet activity, including
texting and social media, using your own phone. You can also use Android's
Digital Wellbeing setting, which is built into the latest version of the
operating system. This can help kids be more aware of their time online
and hopefully help them reduce usage. It is important that you help your
child to activate this setting, which will help him learn to control
himself.
Can
I set parental controls on specific apps, like Snapshot ?
In
addition to blocking specific people, most apps allow you to disable features
that could pose some risks to children. For example, you can disable chat,
set limits so that they can only chat with friends, and hide the profile so
that it does not appear in search results. Some applications go a step
further by allowing users to control their own use of the application. TikTok's Digital
Wellbeing features help reduce the time you spend in the app and
limit the appearance of inappropriate videos. YouTube allows you to set a
reminder to take a break. To find out if your kids' favorite apps offer
any kind of restrictions, go to the app's settings (it's usually a gear icon). Unless
an app offers password protection for the settings (and most don't), your child
can easily change them.
Do I
have to worry about my child turning off Parental
Controls?
Yes,
children can reverse parental controls. In fact, you can easily find the
instructions on the Internet. Depending on the software you use, you may
receive a notification that parental control has been changed ... or you may
not receive it. Kids can discover all sorts of ingenious methods to keep
doing what they want to do: talking to friends, staying up late playing Fortnite and watch videos that
you don't want them to see. If you notice anything suspicious, such as a
sharp drop in your parental controls, Wi-Fi, or data activity notifications
after the network has been shut down, or anything else that indicates that
parental controls aren't working the way it's supposed to should do so, your
child may have discovered a method to avoid it. However, there could be
another reason, as parental controls can be affected by system updates, power
outages, and other technical issues.
Will
my child know that I am using parental controls?
It
depends on the type of Parental Controls
you install and the devices you have. You can install some parental
controls without your children knowing, but Common Sense Media does not
recommend doing so (unless you have a really serious problem with your child
and need to monitor them discreetly). In fact, beware of companies
offering covert monitoring services, as they tend to prey on parental fears. On
the other hand, parental control companies that encourage open dialogue between
parents and children are more useful, because at some point you will have to
talk to him or her about what you find and it will be easier if your child
already knows what you are monitoring. If you decide to use parental
controls, talk to your children and explain why you use them (to help them keep
them safe);
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