Keep your kids mobile and laptop safe for surfing

Google knows everything, we usually use this saying. It is indeed true up to an extent but more bitter truth is the availability of negative and adult contents and hence Internet can be a bad teacher if our kids and children are exposed to the contents which they are not supposed to access as per their age.

Let me ask you a question, is your kids mobile safe from such worst contents available on the web even if they willingly or accidently try to open such sites / apps? No ? then…. Worried? I was worried when I thought of this and hence I figured some simple steps that every non-techy parents can apply. Being parents it is our responsibility to keep our kids safe from any such negative and explicit contents.

Safe Browsing & OPENDNS:
First step you shall take is to use opendns DNS Servers in your Wi-fi or kids mobile to make you control the sites/apps they can open and it may automatically keep blocking the adult contents. Kindly google for “How to use opendns”.

Additionally as second and very basic step, you shall enable safe browsing on google.com as well as on google.co.in by opening these 2 sites on web browser and click on settings tab at bottom then search settings and choose safe search ON. This is browser specific setting and has to be done in all web browsers installed n mobile/PC.

Restricted Mode on Yourtube videos: On Laptop/PC type Yourtube.com and on mobile type m.youtube.com in all web browsers installed and then go to settings and make sure the restricted mode is enabled. The same has to be done in youtube app installed on kid mobile.

Apple & Google Free Apps to Control your kids mobile:
If your child has apple iphone, then you must enable Screentime (available in IOS12+) or Restrictions for earlier IOS versions. This way you can limit adult contents, block sites, apps, set time limits etc.

If you child uses android smartphone then you can try the app called google family link.

Finally if you need more detailed reporting and control you’re your child mobile, then you can try free version of the mobile app named kidslox.

I am glad to sum-up my research in this matter as explained above the simple methods to make your kids mobile less prone to such threats. I have shared my experience only, I am not recommending or endorsing any of these product though, please do your own detailed research before adapting the best fit for your needs. I hope my efforts will help you somehow.

Happy and safe surfing!
Best Regards,
Shri Pal Singh