Want help talking to your kids about porn?  Get our free Quick Start Guide: How to Talk to Kids about Pornography.

Tackle the Tech

Canopy Internet Filter: A New Way to Block Porn Using AI

Today’s post comes from our friends over at Canopy. While no tech solution is foolproof and we emphasize the importance of helping your child install an internal filter, we’re also big fans of using the amazing tech tools available to defend your family against pornography. We’re so excited to introduce you to the Canopy internet filter!

Click here for a free trial of Canopy and 15% off FOREVER!

When porn interrupts your elementary school homework

Jane* was on the family computer doing homework the first time she saw it. She was looking for photos for her 6th grade school project. But in the middle of the photos, there was pornography. 

Jane’s story is typical. The average age of exposure to porn is 11 years old and dropping. Often these are good kids just doing their homework. 

Today, you don’t have to go looking for porn to find it. Today, pornography comes looking for you. 

Sadly, the rest of Jane’s story is also typical. This was her first exposure, but not her last. Like more than a third of teenagers, she struggled with porn for years. Her parents had no idea. 

Jane has since quit pornography for good and has begun the healing process. 

Related: 6 Mistakes Parents Make When They Learn Their Kid is Watching Porn

The 8 Best Questions to Ask When Your Child Has Seen Porn

How parents can fight back 

Jane’s story and millions of similar stories from other children are heartbreaking. 

They should also be a call to arms. 

The big internet companies and other authorities have not solved this problem. It’s not clear that they even want to solve this problem. It’s up to parents to fight back and defend their kids against pornography.

The good news is parents can take action.

How to raise children who reject pornography

The most important thing is to raise kids who are resilient to porn. You can teach your kids to develop an internal filter, the ability to recognize and reject sexually explicit content when they see it. 

We think about doing this in three simple steps:

  1. Define pornography in an age-appropriate way. If they understand what pornography is, they can turn away if they see it. 
  2. Explain why pornography is bad for brains. Just like taking drugs, viewing pornography can change your brain in harmful ways. 
  3. Give your child an action plan. Tell them what to do if they see pornography: shutdown the device, walk away, and tell a trusted adult what happened. 

Sound like an awkward conversation? It might be! But as Defend Young Minds’ founder Kristen Jenson has said so powerfully, “As we face the dangers of pornography head-on, our kids won’t have to face them alone.” 

Kristen’s Good Pictures Bad Pictures series of books are a powerful tool to help you get the conversation started and teach your kids the digital self defense skills they need to reject pornography.

[[CTA]]

Use a smart internet filter like Canopy 

“I trust my kids,” said one parent, “but just because I trust my kids doesn’t mean that I allow dangerous, addictive things into my house.” Porn is dangerous and addictive. That’s why every child needs an internal filter and an external filter. 

Have a family discussion about it. Let your kids know that having a filter is not because you don’t trust them. It’s because you don’t trust the internet. A filter will reduce accidental exposure for the whole family.

It’s important to use the best internet filter you can find. While no technology is foolproof and no technology can replace engaged parenting, Canopy is the best, most advanced internet filter we’ve seen. 

Canopy internet filter uses Artificial Intelligence to block porn other filters miss

Canopy is the only digital parenting app that scans images and videos in real time before your child sees them. That means Canopy blocks porn that other filters miss.

Other internet filters miss porn posted on supposedly safe websites like Twitter or miss brand new porn websites that haven’t been marked as unsafe yet. Canopy’s app automatically detects and blocks pornographic images and videos on every single website on the internet, giving parents confidence that their families are safe in the digital world. 

How you can take back the internet for your family

Canopy has the tools parents need to give their children the good of the internet without the bad

  • Smart Content Blocking: Canopy automatically blocks pornographic images and videos on every website on the internet. No exceptions.
  • Removal Prevention: Canopy can prevent your child from disabling or removing the app without your permission, so you can rest easy knowing they are protected 24/7.
  • Sexting Deterrence: Canopy is the only app anywhere that detects nude images stored on the phone so families can know when it's time for important conversations.
  • App and Website Blocking: Help your child spend time wisely by blocking inappropriate or distracting apps and games.
  • Location Monitoring: Check your child's location on a detailed real-time GPS map, no matter where life takes them.
  • Compatible with most devices. Canopy works on iPhones and iPads, Android phones and tablets, and Apple and Windows computers.  

No filter can ever replace you, the engaged parent, but a good digital parenting app like Canopy can help you raise wonderful, healthy, resilient kids.

Block every explicit website today. Your child will thank you later. 

Click here for a free trial of Canopy and get 15% off forever!

Brain Defense: Digital Safety Curriculum - Family Edition

"Parents are desperate for concepts and language like this to help their children. They would benefit so much from this program - and I think it would spur much needed conversations between parents and children.” --Jenet Erikson, parent

Learn more or buy