1. Parental controls 101
Most parents know there are technical tools out there to help them manage what their child does online, but there are so many types of controls available that you might not always know what they do, how to set them up or if you should use them.
This presentation covers the basics of parental controls – what they are, the benefits and limitations – and briefly introduces some of the most common types.

2. What are they?
Tools to help parents regulate their children’s internet use.
You can set them:
At network level.
On your child’s device.
In an individual app or service.
Parental controls can:
Filter and block inappropriate content.
Restrict what information can be shared.
Control when and for how long your children can go online.
Be customised for each family member.
There are different types of parental controls – they can be applied to broadband, on a device or even in an individual online service.
And there are lots of things you can do with controls. Lots of people associate them with blocking inappropriate content (like sexual images), but you can also use them to do other things – like set a time limit on your child’s internet use.

3. Should you use them?
Parental controls can be a valuable tool BUT they’re not a perfect solution:
Children sometimes figure out a way to get around them.
They might go online using a friend’s device, without controls in place.
Controls might not block everything you’d like or could block useful resources.
Research shows too much restriction might actually make young people more vulnerable – think carefully about what you’re blocking.
Parental controls are most effective when combined with clear family rules and regular conversations.
A lot of the discussion about parental controls makes them seem like the obvious choice for parents who want to protect their children online, but the reality might not be that simple.
Parental controls can be really useful, especially for parents of young or vulnerable children who could easily come across inappropriate or upsetting content by accident, or might not understand why it’s not OK to share certain things online. But they’re not necessarily a complete solution, especially as children grow up.
Most parents know young people can be quite tech-savvy, and could figure out a way to get around some of the controls you set up. Even if they’re not explicitly trying to avoid restrictions, the popularity of portable devices like smartphones and tablets means they might well be able to go online without any controls – using a friend’s device, for instance.
You might also discover that parental controls aren’t blocking everything you think is inappropriate – or the opposite, that they’re blocking information you think is useful or perfectly fine for your child.
Perhaps most worryingly, new research ( out of the Oxford Internet Institute is showing that being overly restrictive about what your child sees and does online could actually put them at risk in the future. Young people who aren’t allowed to take some risks (within reason) may have a harder time developing resilience and being confident and creative online.
So are parental controls a bad thing? No, but like anything else in parenting there’s no simple answer. The way you use parental controls will depend on your family and your children. But the basic fact is that while parental controls can be useful as one part of an online safety strategy, they’re no substitute for regular conversations with your child and agreed family rules and boundaries.

4. Setting them up
The rest of the presentation offers simple guidance on setting up parental controls on some of the major devices and online services you might use.
It’s not a comprehensive list, but should help you start thinking about what tools are available and how you might be able to use them.

5. Computer operating systems
Windows
You can manage when your child can log in, filter online content and get reports on your child’s use.
To access parental controls, set up a separate account for your child (indicate that it’s a child’s account).
Manage settings on Microsoft’s Family Safety site: bit.ly/windows_safety
Mac OS X
You can block certain apps and websites, set time limits and turn off webcam access.
Find parental controls in System Preferences – click the lock icon to make changes.
Enter an admin username and password and select your child’s profile to apply controls.
Find more information here: bit.ly/OSX_controls

6. Searching online Google SafeSearch: Yahoo: In your browser:
Blocks adult content from showing up in web searches.
Can be found in Settings -> Search Settings.
Lock SafeSearch by following the instructions in your Google/Gmail account.
Yahoo:
Sign into your Yahoo account.
Enter a search term in the box and click search.
When results show up, hover over the gear icon and click Preferences.
In your browser:
You can also set controls in most web browsers to block inappropriate online content – often this is found in the Settings section or by clicking a gear icon.

7. Third party solutions
You can also use a specific third party solution to block inappropriate content at home.
Some are free and some have a cost, some are stand alone and some are part of a broader internet security software package.
Examples include:
Net Nanny: bit.ly/Nncontrols
Norton Family: bit.ly/nortonfamily
McAfee Family Protection: bit.ly/mcafee_controls

8. Video websites YouTube: Netflix:
Restricted mode screens out inappropriate content (based on community flagging, age ratings etc).
Set it up on a computer by going to the bottom of the page and selecting On from the drop down menu in the Safety section. Lock restricted mode to enable it for anyone using your browser.
Set it up on a smartphone in the top left menu – tap the gear icon (iOS) or Menu, then Settings and General (Android). Select the mode you’d like to use under Restricted Mode Filtering.
Netflix:
Set up a separate profile for your child within your own account.
Choose one of four maturity levels for the profile – kids, older kids, teens and adults. Only TV and films that are appropriate for the age range will appear.
Remember you can’t lock a device to be used with one profile only – there’s nothing to stop your child switching from their profile to yours or an older sibling’s.

9. Smartphones and tablets
Android:
Set up a restricted account under Settings – select Users in the Device section.
Select Add User or Profile, select Restricted Profile and enter your passcode.
Next to New Profile, tap the round icon to change the profile name and then tap OK.
Choose which features your child can access by going through a list and turning them on or off.
iOS:
Tap Settings, General, Enable Restrictions and enter your passcode to set up restrictions on an iPhone or iPad.
Turn off features you don’t want your child to access using the toggle buttons.
Windows Phone:
Select My Family on the Windows Phone website and sign in with your Microsoft account.
Click Get Started and Go to enter your child’s name. Enter the Microsoft account your child uses on their phone.
Change app download settings by going to the My Family homepage, clicking your child’s name and Change Settings and choosing from the options listed.

10. Games consoles Xbox One: Playstation 4:
Find these settings by selecting Menu, Settings, Family and the child profile you want to manage.
You’ll be able to customise a range of controls including privacy and online safety.
Playstation 4:
Find Parental Controls menu under Settings on the home screen.
Select Sub Account Management to create a profile for your child and choose which features that profile can access.

11. Home broadband
BT – three pre-set filters plus the option to create your own come free with any broadband package. You can also set filters for certain times. bit.ly/BTParentalControls
Virgin – Web Safeworks is free with any broadband package. It includes Child Safe (blocks unsuitable content) and Virus Safe (blocks sites with security issues). bit.ly/VM_security
Sky – Sky Broadband Shield is included with no extra charge. Choose between three age categories (PG, 13 and 18) or customise. Also includes a feature to set stricter controls by time of day. bit.ly/skybroadbandshield
TalkTalk – HomeSafe comes with no extra charge. Customise filters from nine categories and block individual websites. Includes a tool to restrict content that might distract children during homework hours. bit.ly/VF_safety
Vodafone – All Vodafone broadband customers can access parental controls that block access to inappropriate content as well as sites with security issues. bit.ly/TTprotect_your_family

12. Reporting
CEOP is the child protection division of the National Crime Agency. Report adults behaving inappropriately towards a child online to them. bit.ly/CEOP_report
The IWF handles reports of child sexual abuse images or criminally obscene adult content anywhere online. Reports are confidential and can be anonymous. iwf.org.uk
Even if you do use all the parental controls and filters available, you should make sure your child knows how to report inappropriate, upsetting or illegal content.
No controls are 100% effective and your child may still come across inappropriate content online – if not on their own device or on your home broadband, then possibly at a friend’s house.
ParentPort is run by UK media regulators. You can make complaints about inappropriate content in media to them. parentport.org.uk