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​Understanding parental controls​

Key takeaways

  • Parental controls help keep kids safer online by blocking harmful content and limiting screen time. 
  • You can set them up on devices, apps, and even your home Wi-Fi to manage what your kids see and do. 
  • They work best when you also talk to your child and set clear family rules.
a parent and their child on a laptop that has a blocked website as part of their parental controls
Parental controls are tools that help you manage what your child sees and does online. They can be built into devices, apps, or added through special software.

What can parental controls do?

Depending on the tool, you can:

Where can you use them?

You can set parental controls on:

Why are they important?

Kids spend a lot of time online for learning, playing, and socialising. While the internet offers great opportunities, it also has risks like:
  • Seeing harmful or inappropriate content 
  • Talking to strangers 
  • Too much screen time 

Parental controls help reduce these risks by:

  • Creating safer spaces for kids to explore 
  • Supporting healthy screen habits 
  • Giving you peace of mind 

Tips for using parental controls:

Parental controls work best when you:
  • Use them on every device your child uses  
  • Review and update them regularly to keep up with new apps and features. 
  • Combine them with other strategies, like:

  • Talking about online safety.
  • Using technology together.
  • Setting family rules for when and where devices can be used.

     

Remember

No tool is perfect. Kids can find ways around parental controls.  Keep talking and encourage them to ask for help if something feels wrong. If they need extra support, visit eSafety’s help page.

Want to learn more?

Visit the eSafety website for step-by-step instructions on setting up parental controls on different devices, apps, and networks.
Visit eSafety

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