There are many companies dedicated to helping you ensure the safety of your family and protecting your children not only from accessing the material but being targeted by sexual predators.
Important Guidelines:
- Install and use parent control software on all computers
- Know what sites your children frequent and monitor their online activity
- Foster communication with your children so they understand the potential dangers they may be exposed to online.
There are many resources that parents can access to learn more about protecting their family from illegal materials. Below is a list of informative resource links:
Parental Control Settings - Desktop Services
All modern operating systems have built-in parental controls and they are simple to activate requiring only a few minutes to setup. Microsoft Windows 10 for instance, allows parents to easily setup accounts for their children, restrict which apps and programs they can open, and block inappropriate websites at the touch of a button.
Visit the Microsoft Family Safety site for more information.
Apple devices such as Macs, iPads, and iPhones have similar parental controls which can be enabled by following the instructions on Apple’s dedicated Families site.
Parental Control Settings - Mobile Devices
As many children use their own personal devices to access the internet, mobile operating systems now include tools to ensure parents can stay firmly in control of their children’s browsing habits.
iOS devices from Apple such as iPhones and iPads can block inappropriate content, set screen time limits and prevent apps from being installed without permission. More information is available on Apple’s dedicated Families site.
Android products such as smartphones and tablets contain similar protections, allowing parents to choose what their children can see and do on their personal devices. The Google Safety Centre will walk you through the setup process.
Internet Service Providers
Most, if not all Internet Service Providers (ISPs) offer protections to limit the websites available to your home or handheld device. Such services block all traffic to inappropriate websites and can usually be enabled by logging into your ISP account online. Simply contact your ISP and they can advise how to enable their content blocks.
Dedicated Parental Control Software
In addition to parental controls provided free of charge by operating systems, device manufacturers and ISPs, there are multiple parental control apps available from third parties. A non-exhaustive list is provided below:
