A few years ago we heard about digitalisation, how technology would advance so much that we would be presented with a completely different world. Today, that world is a reality and new generations do not need to learn about new technologies, they have it intrinsic to their development.
Internet access is an integral part of everyday life, even for the youngest members of the family. However, the web is a vast and not always safe space for children, which has led many parents to look for ways to protect their children while surfing. This is where parental controls come in: a simple and effective tool to ensure safe internet use.
Importantly, it is also important to educate children about the risks of the internet. Explaining why certain content is restricted and how to protect their personal information is as crucial as installing a parental control application. By establishing an open dialogue about the responsible use of technology, parents can further strengthen their children’s online protection.
What is parental control?
It is a tool that allows parents to monitor and restrict the content their children can access online without the need for advanced technology skills. These tools offer easy-to-adjust settings that limit usage time, block inappropriate websites and control interaction on social networks. This type of protection is increasingly essential as children can access age-inappropriate content, interact with strangers or even share personal information without realising it with just a couple of clicks.
Parental control is a key tool for the digital wellbeing of young people and, fortunately, it is available to everyone. With the right approach and the right technology, it is possible to create a safe and positive online environment for our children, encouraging their development and curiosity without compromising their safety.
In addition to the web control service, parental control systems often offer more extensive services such as:
- Usage time limit: the establishment of schedules or usage time is very common to prevent children from spending too much time in front of the screen. With this control, the device will be blocked at the set time.
- Internet monitoring: in addition to blocking certain websites and apps, you can monitor the websites children access to monitor their use of devices.
- Blocking purchases: to avoid unwanted expenses, you can install different blockers for making purchases, either in apps or on websites.
- Geolocation: this service makes it possible to monitor the location of the device and therefore of the child.
On which devices can parental controls be installed?
The idea behind this type of tool is that it should be installed on all the devices that minors have access to, such as mobile phones, video game consoles, social networks, Smart TV or even streaming platforms.
Any device with an internet connection can be susceptible to being handled by minors, which means that greater control and vigilance must be exercised over them. Thus, there are systems specially designed for different platforms.
Once the decision has been taken to install one of these systems to control our children, it is advisable to make a brief review of all the devices that the child can handle.
How can DNS filtering help you?
First of all, we must clarify what a DNS is. This server is in charge of showing us a specific web page when we perform a search. Therefore, using DNS filtering to prevent children and teenagers from accessing a certain content can be much more efficient.
With DNS filtering, the server will check whether the page that has been requested is among those classified as content for minors. If it detects that it is not appropriate content, it will block it and avoid displaying it.
This type of filtering is very useful as it does not have to be installed individually on each device, but instead blocks the entire home network.
Examples of parental control applications
These are some examples of parental control applications that can be installed on different devices.
- Qustodio: Available on iOS and Android, this app allows you to set time limits, block content and monitor social media activity.
- Google Family Link: Free and compatible with Android and iOS devices, it helps parents manage which apps their children can use and how much time they spend on each.
- Norton Family: Offers advanced features such as search monitoring and real-time alerting, available on both platforms.
Last but not least, it is essential that parents also take steps to protect their own data and the security of their network. Many companies, such as Irismedia, understand the importance of data security and are constantly working to ensure that their customers’ information is well protected. Taking inspiration from these practices is a good starting point for any family concerned about online privacy and security.