Almost all systems and platforms have some sort of built-in parental controls that we encourage you to turn on. For example: iPhone or Android restrictions, using Safe Search on Google, parental controls on videogame systems, restricting mature rated content through your cable/satellite provider, etc.

Learn about the built-in protective measures provided by many of the popular systems used today:

• Google’s Safety Center – https://www.google.com/safetycenter/families/start/
• Apple’s Parental Controls – https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201304
• Snapchat Safety Center – https://www.snapchat.com/safety
• Facebook Safety Center – https://www.facebook.com/safety/resources
• Instagram Safety Center – https://help.instagram.com/377830165708421
• Twitter Safety Center – https://about.twitter.com/en_us/safety.html
• Music.ly for Parents – https://support.musical.ly/knowledge-base/for-parents/
• Xbox 360 Parental Controls – https://support.xbox.com/en-US/xbox-360/security/xbox-live-parental-control
• Nintendo and Wii Parents Guide – https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Support/Parents/Parents-642522.html
• Comcast & xfinity – http://parents.xfinity.com/tv/parental-controls.html
• Neftlix Help Center (You’ll have to dig for specific questions) – https://help.netflix.com/en
• Amazon Prime Video Parental Controls – https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=201423060
• Verizon Smart Family – https://www.verizonwireless.com/solutions-and-services/verizon-smart-family/

Here are how-to guides on how to turn these on for different systems.

• How to turn on SafeSearch for Google

• How to turn on the built-in filters for Xbox, Wii, and Playstation

Here are third-party systems that may also be a help to you and your family:

• Covenant Eyes – http://www.covenanteyes.com/
• Circle by Disney – https://meetcircle.com/
• Google WiFi – https://store.google.com/gb/product/google_wifi
• Net Nanny – http://www.netnanny.com/mac
• Total Net Guard – http://afo.net/
• K9 Web Protection – http://www1.k9webprotection.com/(This is a free program)
• Safe Eyes – http://www.internetsafety.com/
• Cyber Sitter –  http://www.cybersitter.com/
• Pure Sight – http://www.puresight.com/
• Cyber Patrol – http://www.cyberpatrol.com/
• iShield – http://www.guardwareinc.com/ishield
• WebWatcher – http://www.webwatcherkids.com/ 
• OpenDNS – http://www.opendns.com/

Please check our resources page on Technology Solutions and Tools for a more comprehensive and a constantly updated list.

Safety Centers by Social Media or Digital Tools

• Google’s Safety Center – https://www.google.com/safetycenter/families/start/
• Apple’s Parental Controls – https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201304
• Snapchat Safety Center – https://www.snapchat.com/safety
• Facebook Safety Center – https://www.facebook.com/safety/resources
• Instagram Safety Center – https://help.instagram.com/377830165708421
• Twitter Safety Center – https://about.twitter.com/en_us/safety.html

The following organizations regularly feature Internet Safety updates as well as other parenting tips on their blogs:

• Educate and Empower Kids Blog – http://educateempowerkids.org/
• Protect Young Minds – https://protectyoungminds.org/
• Covenant Eyes – http://www.covenanteyes.com/blog/
• National Center on Sexual Exploitation – http://endsexualexploitation.org
• Protect Young Eyes – https://protectyoungeyes.com/
• eChildhood – https://www.echildhood.org/
• Culture Reframed Parents Program – https://parents.culturereframed.org/
• Enough Is Enough –  http://www.enough.org/
• iKeepSafe – http://www.ikeepsafe.org/

Other Internet Safety Resources:

• National Center for Missing and Exploitation Children’s Net Smartz – https://www.netsmartz.org/Home
• Stop Cyberbullying http://www.stopcyberbullying.org/
• Make a Difference for Kids http://www.makeadifferenceforkids.org/
• Cybersafety Prevention 101 http://www.datehookup.com/content-cybersafety-prevention-101.htm
• Facebook for Parents http://facebookforparents.org/
• Be Smart, Be Safe! http://www.edmondschools.net/cheyenne/MediaCenter/InternetSafety.aspx
• Internet Safety Resources http://www.txssc.txstate.edu/K12/internet-safety
• Online Predators and Their Victims http://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/releases/amp-632111.pdf
• Common Sense Media – http://www.commonsensemedia.org/
• Internet Safety 101 –  http://www.internetsafety101.org/

Google’s Safety Center – https://www.google.com/safetycenter/families/start/

Apple’s Parental Controls – https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201304

Snapchat Safety Center – https://www.snapchat.com/safety

Facebook Safety Center – https://www.facebook.com/safety/resources

Instagram Safety Center – https://help.instagram.com/377830165708421

Twitter Safety Center – https://about.twitter.com/en_us/safety.html

Music.ly for Parents – https://support.musical.ly/knowledge-base/for-parents/

Xbox 360 Parental Controls – https://support.xbox.com/en-US/xbox-360/security/xbox-live-parental-control

Nintendo and Wii Parents Guide – https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Support/Parents/Parents-642522.html

Helpful apps available in Google Play and App Store

• YouTube for Kids
• MovieGuide
• eBlaster Mobile

Learn about Google’s Safety Center here.

Learn about Apple’s Parental Control Features here.

Many of the filtering companies now provide filters for smartphones and tablets. We recommend Covenant Eyes and Net Nanny, but check out a list of filters here. 

Teen Safe

Tool to allow parents to monitor their children’s texts, calls, social media, location and more. The blog has helpful information about many of the dangers they face in the digital world.

Many of the devices that we use daily have built in controls to manage what type of content the user is able to access. Here are how-to guides on how to turn these on for different systems.

• How to turn on SafeSearch for Google and Bing

• How to turn on the built-in filters for Xbox, Wii, and Playstation

Info coming soon

• Porn Harms Research – NCOSE’s archives offer the most comprehensive look at available research on pornography, with an easy to search database.

• National Center on Sexual Exploitation’s Talking Points Webpage – Find summarized talking points backed by credible research and surveys, along with video presentations led by experts, on the topics of pornography and addiction, marriage, brain science, impact to children, links to sex trafficking and prostitution, increased violence and more.

• Fight the New Drug – This organization targets teens and young adults and provides clear education, tools, and resources to avoid and overcome pornography addiction.

• Your Brain on Porn – This site will help you understand exactly how today’s extreme Internet porn can alter the brain. In our view, porn use isn’t a moral issue. This site grew out of a decade of research analysis on the effects of sex on the brain, and six years of listening to recovering porn addicts.

• Pink Cross Foundation – This web site contains large doses of truth about the sex industry for purposes of education… Men and women addicted to porn need to hear it straight from the women who were there.

• Covenant Eyes – This website has resources about the consequences of pornography and it regularly updates its blog to help provide understanding on latest information and dangers.

• Internet Safety 101 from Enough Is Enough – Provides updates and help to adults for protecting children online. Site exists to educate you about the dangers; to empower you with the ability to recognize the warning signs and with helpful ways to discuss Internet safety with your kids; and to equip you with the safety resources you need.

• Coalition to End Sexual Exploitation – A loose-knit coalition of multi-disciplinary NGOs and advocates collaborating and sharing information to end sexual abuse and exploitation.

• Reboot Nation – Reboot Nation provides a community for those who struggle with porn addiction and/or porn-induced sexual dysfunctions.

• National Center on Sexual Exploitation – Founded in 1962, National Center on Sexual Exploitation is the leading national organization opposing pornography by highlighting the links to sex trafficking, violence against women, child abuse, addiction and more. NCSE works to expose the seamless connection between all forms of sexual exploitation.