Do you want to use parental controls to block inappropriate websites? This article will cover how to do so.

How to block websites for children on a computer or phone

Being a parent can be complicated, especially when you need to start monitoring your child’s internet use. Responsible parents want their children to learn and grow with help from valuable apps and websites. Unfortunately, there is an abundance of inappropriate websites that can hinder their learning or provide unnecessary distractions. Sometimes it feels like a full-time job trying to monitor a child’s screen time and you may need to block websites.

There’s plenty a parent needs to protect their child from when talking about web content. Fortunately, there are ways to block your child’s access to specific websites with inappropriate content, both from the parent’s and the child’s device. There are a few ways to monitor your child’s online activity and set screen time limits.

Different ways of blocking websites

Using parental controls can limit a child’s online activity and help to monitor their internet use. These tools work on mobile devices, laptops, and even the family’s shared computer. There are far too many inappropriate sites that are easily accessible from all types of devices, even a cell phone.

The best parental control is to monitor all apps and websites your child views. It’s highly unlikely that you’ll have the time to do this, but you can use different website blockers, set up social media time limits, and create content restrictions. Blocking web pages can save you from the hassle of constantly checking your child’s web browsing history.

Here are some of the best ways to eliminate your child’s access to adult content and other inappropriate sites.

Block websites

You can limit what search results Google will supply your child gets by enabling Safesearch. If your child uses your computer, you’ll first need to ensure that the web browser installed on it uses Google as its default search engine. This parental web filtering tool will eliminate the risk of Google providing search results with adult content. A family member can quickly set this up on all computers and devices. Blocking adult websites is a must for families with young children who regularly surf the web unattended.

Filter content

Parents can take things a step further and filter the content available to their children. To limit access to specific websites and also those that may contain adult content, all operating systems have parental controls set in place. These will stop your children from having access to inappropriate websites. Windows and iOS both offer settings to filter inappropriate content for minors. To do so, ensure that you’re running the most updated version of the operating system and that each user has to log in with their profile.

Block sites, filter content, and impose time limits

For more control over what your child can access, several apps can impose all three of these things. One of the best parental control apps is Net Nanny. This app allows users to set up a block list making it impossible to reach specific websites that contain inappropriate content. Concerned parents can also set up a whitelist for their children. This ensures that they’ll only have access to the particular websites that you’re comfortable with them accessing. Net Nanny also allows parents to set up screen time limits.

Blocking websites on Windows, Mac, and more

Blocking websites on your computer, iPad, Apple devices, and Androids can all be accomplished. Let’s break it down.

Best parental controls for Android

Options for Android devices can vary, so you’ll need to check your device’s settings to see what’s available. If your child is under the age of 13, a great option is to download Google’s Family Link app. With it, you’ll have the ability to control and track online activity, including social media and text messages. Also available on Android devices are the Digital Wellbeing settings, which you can set on your child’s device to help keep them mindful of their screen time.

Best parental controls for Apple devices

If your child uses an iPad or iPhone, parents can set up screen time alerts to help keep them aware of how much time they spend on apps or games. To enable screen time settings on your child’s phone, they can be accessed on your child’s phone and password protected so they can’t bypass them. You can also make adjustments to the Family Sharing settings to keep them from accessing inappropriate sites.

Best parental controls for Windows and Mac

Windows has some built-in features that allow for content filtering, content restrictions, and web filtering. All that’s needed is to sign in to your Microsoft account and set up a child account through the Windows settings. Select Content Restrictions and then Apps, Games, and Media. Here you can block certain apps, games, and other media. You can also block inappropriate websites or create a white list.

Parents who have a Mac have similar options. Access the Apple menu, go to System Preferences, and select Parental Controls. Here you’ll be able to select three different content filters. Just like Windows, you can create white lists and block sites.

Other popular standalone services, such as Netflix, Hulu, and web browsers, also have built-in content control settings you can browse.

There are also many third-party solutions that provide parental controls, usually a bit more conveniently.

Make your kids more productive with Speechify

The internet can help your child to advance and grow. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of web content, apps, and inappropriate websites that they shouldn’t be viewing. A child’s screen time can be used for good or for bad. One of the best ways of ensuring they use it for good is to introduce them to the benefits of text to speech with Speechify.

Speechify can help to boost your child’s productivity and reading skills by reading along as this tool reads the text out loud. With Speechify, your child can listen to and read along to a variety of web content which will encourage them to read more. Imagine your child’s interest when they can have different voices read to them. If your child is dealing with ADHD, text to speech apps like Speechify can help improve their focus and retention of information.

Speechify works on iOS, Windows, and Android devices, and has a Chrome extension for seamless access. To see how Speechify can help to improve your child’s screen time, give it a try today.

FAQ

How do I block a website from all devices?

If you have a family account, you can block a website by going into Family Settings. From there, you can block websites and those with adult content.

How can I block the internet on my child’s phone?

Numerous third-party apps can be purchased to completely block the internet from a child’s phone. The most common way is to set up parental controls.

How can I prevent my child from viewing inappropriate content?

The best way to prevent your child from viewing adult content and inappropriate websites are to set up parental controls or install parental control software.