Filtering 101: Protect Kids From Porn on New Devices
This article was originally published 12/28/2017 and updated 12/12/2023
So your kid is getting a new tech device this year —cool! If you’ve already set up the parental controls and installed WiFi filtering in your home, well done! If not, don’t panic--this post is especially for you!
We’ll walk you through the three basic steps to protect kids from porn and create a safer home internet experience for kids of all ages.
Protect kids from porn: get past filter frustration
Perhaps you’re like many parents who know they should do something to filter their kids’ devices but don’t’ know where to start! If that’s the case, I can totally empathize.
For years the terms internet filtering and parental controls were synonymous with frustration for me. Every solution seemed either too constraining (filter everything at the level of preschooler) or so complicated I needed an IT certificate to execute it.
Fortunately I’ve since learned three things that have helped me become more confident in my ability to protect kids from porn:
- First, filtering software products today are much more user-friendly than just a few short years ago. Plus they are often flexible enough to fit the needs of various family members.
- Second, filtering software programs have their limits. Although filtering is integral to protecting kids from online dangers it is only part of the solution.
- Finally, I don’t have to wait for the perfect product to protect kids from porn. I just have to get started and do something.
Know the risks: 15% ten or younger
The more we know about online risks, the more we realize filtering needs to begin as soon as a child has access to the internet. Today, 15% of kids age 10 or younger have seen porn! Let’s do everything we can to protect kids from porn and change this trend!
Filtering 101 outlines three basic steps to ensure a safer home internet experience for your family:
- Filtering the wireless signal in your home
- Parental controls on individual devices
- Helping kids develop internal filters
Filtering 101
1. Filter the wireless signal in your home
Time commitment: 1 hour
Why: Filtering the wireless signal to your home can protect kids from porn by greatly reducing the risk of accidental access to inappropriate content.
Plus, most filtering systems now offer other useful functions such as time controls, internet pause, assigned bedtimes and device specific settings. This is especially popular among families with young children who want to monitor and limit screen time. Filtering at the router means that any connected device, such as gaming systems and Smart TVs will be filtered.
When it comes to adding parental controls to your home wireless network, you have a couple of options. You can add a parental control device such as Circle to your current WiFi router, replace your router with one that has parental controls installed like Gryphon, or sign up for a DNS service. Here is a helpful tutorial for setting up free OpenDNS. Read here to learn about its limitations.
Getting started: There are lots of good products to choose from. Try not to get overwhelmed. The fact is that each internet filtering service is a little different. It may take some trial and error to find what works best for your family.
Your homework: Pick a WiFi filtering system —any filtering system! And get that extra layer of protection working for your family today!
No matter which you choose, these software programs help protect kids from porn. Your home will be safer as a result.
Related: How to Protect Your Kids from Porn with a Gryphon Router
2. Set parental controls on individual devices
Time commitment: 1 week (a few minutes each day)
Why: We wouldn’t dream of taking kids on a drive without first insisting they put on a seat belt. Safety features built-in to your kids’ devices are like seat belts for the internet. Setting parental controls is another layer of protection to safeguard kids from accidentally accessing inappropriate content.
Getting started: If you’re not tech savvy, find a friend who is. Or do an internet search for "[device or app name] parent controls" and you'll find several tutorials.
We also highly recommend families use:
- Covenant Eyes accountability software (Use code DYM for 30 day free trial)
- Bark parental controls
- Canopy AI web filtering (Use code DYMB2S for 20% off)
Related: Unexpected Nudity and Unsuspecting Kids: Protecting Your Children Online
These services are designed to enhance parental controls on tech devices, teach kids accountability, plus offer a filtering solution that grows with them.
Your homework: Make an inventory of all the internet connected devices in your home. (Be warned, the length of the list may shock you!) Every day over the course of this week set parental controls on two or three devices at a time until all devices have been set.
Note: Until well into teen years, parents should have full access to their kids’ accounts and passwords on all new devices.
Related: Do Kids Deserve Digital Privacy? 3 Myths Debunked for Smart Parents
3. Help kids develop internal filters
Time commitment: Ongoing
Why: While the first two levels of filtering help protect kids from porn and other inappropriate content, they are not fail proof. The current digital reality is that all children will be exposed to pornography sometime in their young lives. Kids need a plan to help them reject pornography before that happens.
Getting started: Teaching children about the harms of pornography is an ongoing process. See How to Talk to Kids about Porn: Research Reveals 5 Obstacles to Overcome.
You can also download our free guide, How to Talk to Kids About Pornography.
At Defend Young Minds we have amazing resources to help you define pornography in a way even young children can understand. Plus our articles are full of tips and ideas for parents. Above all you’ll want to create a safe place where kids feel comfortable talking to parents about anything.
Related: 3 Steps to Give Kids an Internal Filter
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Your homework: No discussion about internal filters would be complete without mentioning our best-selling books: Good Pictures Bad Pictures: Porn-proofing Today’s Young Kids and Good Pictures Bad Pictures Jr.: A Simple Plan to Protect Young Minds. Pick up a copy and read it with your child. If you’ve already read it together, do it again! Parents and experts agree it’s one of the best tools to help protect kids from porn.
When you read these books with your children they will be able to explain:
- What pornography is
- Why pornography is harmful
- How kids can reject pornography (with a plan!) when they encounter it
Plus, each book contains a plan to help kids build their own internal filter. The CAN DO plan is a 5-step proven plan that any kid can use to reject pornography.
Related: 5 Proven Ways Porn Harms Kids that No One Talks About
Congratulations! Give yourself a gold star!
Now that you know the three basic steps to providing your family with a safer internet experience, we’re confident that you’ll want to act now! Once you’ve enabled all the parental controls and installed an internet filtering software program, give yourself a gold star! You’ve passed your first course!
As you can see from this post, filtering is a layered process. It’s also something that you will work on and adjust over time. At Defend Young Minds, we want to make sure that every parent knows that there is something they CAN do today to defend kids from porn.
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Good Pictures Bad Pictures Jr.
“I highly recommend this book to all people with children. A must have for all parents!” —Amazon Review