The Need for Parental Controls

If you’re not at all familiar with the internet-connected world, you might not know how much online isn’t friendly for children. Music with explicit lyrics, violent video games, untold forms of sexual content, and many other adult-oriented forms of media are only a few clicks away.

As a parent in the digital age, you probably have concerns about how your children use technology. While you can teach them good principles, it’s impossible to keep them away from every possible internet scam and all explicit content online on your own.

That’s where parental controls come in. If you’ve never taken advantage of these tools, you’ve got a lot to catch up on. Read on to find out everything you could want to know about parental controls. We’ll cover how they work, how to use them on specific devices, and offer some recommendations.

How Do Parental Controls Work?

Parental controls are used in the following ways:

• Limit what children can do with an electronic device
• Restrict daily screen time or block access after a certain hour
• Filter video or game content based on ratings
• Block websites or specific types of content

You might prefer to set up monitoring so you can review what your children are doing on their devices. No matter your parenting style, you’ll find a control that works for you. But note — parental controls are not foolproof, and tech-savvy teens may find ways around them.

Major Types of Parental Controls

There are different levels of parental controls you can use — often in combination:

• Smartphone Parental Options: Both Android and iOS offer restrictions on apps, content, and screen time.
• Browser Add-Ons: Extensions that block or filter explicit content (though easy to bypass for older kids).
• Desktop Controls: Windows and macOS have built-in parental features like app blocking, screen time limits, and web filters.
• Child-Specific Sites: Safer search engines like Kiddle provide filtered browsing.
• Third-Party Security Suites: Tools like Net Nanny allow advanced filtering and monitoring.
• Router Protection: Network-level restrictions apply to all devices connected at home.

Limiting Screen Time

Use OS-level controls or apps like OurPact and Screen Time to schedule device-free times (meals, homework, bedtime).

Educate and Talk With Your Child

Parental controls are powerful, but nothing replaces honest conversations. Teach your children about the benefits and dangers of the internet, and set family rules for safe online use.

Final Recommendations

• Start with OS-level controls — they’re free and reliable.
• Use additional restrictions only where needed (like tablets or consoles your kids often use).
• Don’t rely only on browser add-ons — they’re easy to bypass.
• Always combine technology with open communication.

Conclusion: With the right mix of parental controls and conversations, you can protect your kids online while allowing them to enjoy the benefits of technology safely.