Parental Controls - Children's Internet Safety

Control your family's content consumption

Protecting Your Kids Online:

From Easy to Advanced

Start Here: Easy First Steps

1. Use Built-In Safety Features

Every device already has free parental controls.

You just need to turn them on:

• On iPhones/iPads: Go to Settings → Screen Time

• On Android: Look for Digital Wellbeing or Family Link

• On computers: Set up a kid account with restrictions

• On game consoles: Create child profiles with limits

2. Turn on “Safe Search”

This takes 30 seconds and blocks most adult content:

• Google: Go to [google.com] → Settings → SafeSearch

http://google.com• YouTube: Sign in → Settings → Restricted Mode

• Bing: Settings → SafeSearch

• Do this on every browser your kids use

- Federal Trade Commission (2022). “Protecting Kids Online.” Consumer Information Guide. Available at: [ftc.gov/protecting-kids-online]http://ftc.gov/protecting-kids-online- CleanBrowsing (2023). “DNS Filtering for Families: Technical Implementation Guide.” [cleanbrowsing.org/guides](http://cleanbrowsing.org/guides)

3. Move Devices to Common Areas

Keep computers, tablets, and TVs where you can see them.

Kids are less likely to search for inappropriate things when screens are visible to everyone.

- American Academy of Pediatrics (2016). “Media and Young Minds.” Pediatrics, 138(5). doi:10.1542/peds.2016-2591- Radesky, J.S., et al. (2018). “Children and Adolescents and Digital Media.” Pediatrics, 138(5). American Academy of Pediatrics Policy Statement.

Next Level: Basic Controls

4. Set Up Your WiFi Router

Your internet router can block bad websites for every device in your home:

• Log into your router (check the sticker on it for instructions)

• Look for “Parental Controls” or “Access Restrictions”

• Block adult categories

• Set bedtime schedules when internet turns off

- Internet Watch Foundation (2022). “Annual Report: Blocking Child Sexual Abuse Material.” IWF Technical Reports.- CleanBrowsing (2023). “DNS Filtering for Families: Technical Implementation Guide.” [cleanbrowsing.org/guides]http://cleanbrowsing.org/guides- OpenDNS (2023). “FamilyShield Setup Instructions.” OpenDNS by Cisco. [opendns.com/setupguide](http://opendns.com/setupguide)

5. Install a Family Safety App

Pick one app that works on all your kids’ devices:

• Google Family Link (free, works great with Android)

• Qustodio (costs money but very thorough)

• Bark (monitors texts and social media)

These apps let you:

• See what websites your kids visit

• Set screen time limits

• Block specific apps

• Get alerts about dangerous content

- Google (2023). “Google Family Link Guide.” Google For Families. [families.google.com/familylink] http://families.google.com/familylink- Bark Technologies (2023). “Annual Report: Online Dangers Facing Children.” [bark.us/research](http://bark.us/research)- Common Sense Media (2023). “Privacy and Internet Safety.” Research reports and parent guides. [commonsensemedia.org/privacy-and-internet-safety](http://commonsensemedia.org/privacy-and-internet-safety)

6. Check Privacy Settings on Apps

For every app your kid uses:

• Turn off public profiles

• Disable direct messages from strangers

• Turn off location sharing

• Make accounts private

• Remove personal info from bios

- Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). Federal Trade Commission, 15 U.S.C. §§ 6501-6506.- Common Sense Media (2023). “Privacy and Internet Safety.” Research reports and parent guides. [commonsensemedia.org/privacy-and-internet-safety]http://commonsensemedia.org/privacy-and-internet-safety

Getting Serious: Stronger Protection

7. Use DNS Filtering

This blocks bad content before it even loads:

• CleanBrowsing (free, easy setup)

• OpenDNS FamilyShield (free, more options)

• Change your device or router’s DNS settings

• Works on every device automatically

- CleanBrowsing (2023). “DNS Filtering for Families: Technical Implementation Guide.” [cleanbrowsing.org/guides] http://cleanbrowsing.org/guides- OpenDNS (2023). “FamilyShield Setup Instructions.” OpenDNS by Cisco. [opendns.com/setupguide](http://opendns.com/setupguide)- National Institute of Standards and Technology (2023). “Family Online Safety Guide.” NIST Cybersecurity Resources. [nist.gov/cybersecurity](http://nist.gov/cybersecurity)

8. Create Separate User Accounts

Don’t let kids use your account:

• Make a kid account on every device

• Use Microsoft Family or Apple Family Sharing

• Kids can’t change settings without your password

• You get weekly reports of their activity

- Apple Inc. (2023). “Use Screen Time on your iPhone or iPad.” Apple Support Documentation. [support.apple.com/guide/iphone/screen-time]http://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/screen-time- Google (2023). “Google Family Link Guide.” Google For Families. [families.google.com/familylink](http://families.google.com/familylink)- U.S. Department of Education (2023). “Protecting Students’ Privacy: Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).” [ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco](http://ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco)

9. Monitor Social Media Closely

• Follow your kids’ accounts

• Know their passwords (non-negotiable for younger kids)

• Check their friends and followers regularly

• Use apps like Bark to scan for problems

- Pew Research Center (2022). “Teens, Social Media and Technology 2022.” Anderson, M., Faverio, M., & Gottfried, J.- Bark Technologies (2023). “Annual Report: Online Dangers Facing Children.” [bark.us/research] http://bark.us/research- Hinduja, S. & Patchin, J.W. (2020). “Cyberbullying: Identification, Prevention, and Response.” Cyberbullying Research Center.

Advanced: Maximum Protection

10. Set Up a Filtered Network

Create a separate, safer internet for kids:

• Use a service like Circle Home Plus

• Set up a guest network just for kid devices

• Use time-based access (internet off at bedtime)

• Block entire categories of websites

- Internet Matters (2023). “Setting Up Safe Networks for Families.” Technical guides and research. [internetmatters.org] http://internetmatters.org- Circle Home Plus (2023). “Parental Control Research and Implementation.” Technical documentation. [meetcircle.com/research](http://meetcircle.com/research)

11. Use Multiple Layers

Don’t rely on just one method:

• Router filtering + device controls + app monitoring

• Different tools catch different things

• If one fails, others still protect

- Livingstone, S., et al. (2017). “Children’s online activities, risks and safety: A literature review by the UKCCIS Evidence Group.” UK Council for Child Internet Safety. London School of Economics and Political Science.- Internet Matters (2023). “Setting Up Safe Networks for Families.” Technical guides and research. [internetmatters.org] http://internetmatters.org

12. Regular Device Audits

Once a month:

• Check browser history (even “private” browsing leaves traces)

• Look at downloaded apps

• Review photos and videos

• Check text messages and DMs

• Look for hidden apps (calculators that are really photo vaults)

- Bark Technologies (2023). “Annual Report: Online Dangers Facing Children.” [bark.us/research] http://bark.us/research- FBI (2023). “Parent’s Guide to Internet Safety.” Federal Bureau of Investigation, Cyber Division. [fbi.gov/scams-and-safety] http://fbi.gov/scams-and-safety- Common Sense Media (2023). “Privacy and Internet Safety.” Research reports and parent guides. [commonsensemedia.org/privacy-and-internet-safety](http://commonsensemedia.org/privacy-and-internet-safety)

Most Important: Talk to Your Kids

Have Regular Conversations

• Explain why you have rules

• Ask about their online friends

• Discuss what they’ve seen online

• Make sure they know they can come to you

- Wisniewski, P., et al. (2015). “Dear Diary: Teens Reflect on Their Weekly Online Risk Experiences.” Proceedings of the 33rd Annual ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, pp. 3919-3928.- UNICEF (2017). “Children in a Digital World.” The State of the World’s Children 2017 Report.- National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (2023). “NetSmartz: Internet Safety Resources.” [netsmartz.org] http://netsmartz.org

Teach Them Warning Signs

Help them recognize:

• When someone asks for personal info

• Requests for photos

• Adults who want to be “secret friends”

• Content that makes them uncomfortable

- Wolak, J., Finkelhor, D., & Mitchell, K. (2018). “Internet-Initiated Sex Crimes Against Minors.” Journal of Adolescent Health, 35(5), 11-20.- FBI (2023). “Parent’s Guide to Internet Safety.” Federal Bureau of Investigation, Cyber Division. [fbi.gov/scams-and-safety] http://fbi.gov/scams-and-safety

Create a Safety Plan

Make sure kids know:

• Never share passwords (except with parents)

• Never meet online friends in person

• Tell you if anything weird happens

• It’s okay to say no and block people

- National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (2023). “NetSmartz: Internet Safety Resources.” [netsmartz.org] http://netsmartz.org- FBI (2023). “Parent’s Guide to Internet Safety.” Federal Bureau of Investigation, Cyber Division. [fbi.gov/scams-and-safety](http://fbi.gov/scams-and-safety)

Red Flags to Watch For

Be extra careful if your child:

• Suddenly hides their screen when you walk by

• Gets upset when you take devices away

• Has new things you didn’t buy

• Becomes withdrawn or secretive

• Deletes history constantly