How to Block Inappropriate Content

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When browsing the Internet, it is all too easy to stumble across inappropriate content. Thankfully, there are a variety of tools specifically designed to prevent this content from appearing on your device. Whether you are tired of seeing it yourself or trying to keep your child safe online, there are a number of ways to attempt to block unsavory websites and ads. This wikiHow article will teach you how to maximize protection from inappropriate content on your devices, browsers, and apps.

1

Enable parental controls on Mac

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  1. You can open System Preferences by clicking the magnifying glass in the top right of the screen, typing in System Preferences , then hitting the Return key.
  2. The Screen Time category has a purple hourglass icon, while the Content & Privacy tab uses a circle with a slash through it.
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  3. After clicking the Turn On… button in the top-right of the window, set the desired restrictions under the Content , Stores , Apps , and Other tabs.
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2

Enable parental controls on iPhone

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  1. The Settings app icon is a series of grey gears. If you cannot find the app, try swiping down on the home screen and typing in Settings .
  2. The Screen Time category is depicted by an hourglass on a purple background.
  3. After choosing the Content & Privacy Restrictions category, which uses an icon of a circle with a slash through it, turn on the toggle on the next screen.
  4. Create a passcode you will use to access and change content restriction settings in the future, then customize restrictions for all desired categories.
    • If you are setting these restrictions on a family member’s phone, be sure to use a different passcode for the Content & Privacy Restrictions than the phone’s lock screen!
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3

Enable parental controls on Windows

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  1. The Start menu can be accessed by clicking the Windows icon in the bottom left of the screen. Next, click the gear icon to open Settings.
  2. You should now see a window in which you have the option to add a family member to your family. [1]
  3. This will allow you to add a child account on your computer with a specific set of parental controls.
  4. If your child does not currently have an email address, click The person I want to add doesn’t have an email address , then follow the steps on-screen.
    • You will likely have to accept an invitation to join the family group from your child’s email address.
  5. You may be prompted to log in, but once you have confirmed your identity, a web page will appear with a list of accounts in your family.
  6. From the list of accounts, click the account belonging to your child to access account-specific settings.
  7. From the dropdown menu under More options , choose Content restrictions to open a menu with a variety of content restriction options.
  8. Enabling this setting will block potentially graphic or offensive content on the selected account.
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4

Enable parental controls on Android

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  1. This app will provide a hub for you to register devices to your network and set content restrictions and screen time limits. It can be downloaded on the Google Play Store.
    • You will need to sign in with your Microsoft account and accept or reject a series of permissions before moving on to the next step.
  2. You will be prompted to enter the information for the account you would like to add.
  3. Either enter existing contact information for your child’s account or tap Create an Account to make an email address and account for them.
  4. You will have to accept the invitation to join your family group from your child’s account before their account will appear in the app.
  5. After pressing your child’s name on the home page of the app, click the box titled Content filters at the bottom of the screen. [2]
  6. This will only allow users to download apps and games with an equal or lower age rating.
  7. Enabling this filter will block websites that may contain inappropriate content on devices using that account.
    • Note that this only works through Microsoft Edge, so be sure that is the browser your child is using on their phone.
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5

Enable SafeSearch on Tablets and Phones

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  1. The Google app icon is a multicolored “G” on a white background.
  2. In the upper right corner of the app, press your profile picture or the bubble containing your initials, then select Settings . [3]
  3. Enabling this filter will turn SafeSearch on, allowing you to browse the Internet without explicit results.
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6

Enable SafeSearch on Google for Computers

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  1. Open the SafeSearch settings page , then enable the toggle next to Explicit results filter .
7

Enable SafeSearch on Microsoft Bing

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  1. Once you have opened Bing’s Settings , choose between Strict , Moderate , and Off SafeSearch levels.
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8

Enable SafeSearch on Yahoo for Tablets and Phones

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  1. The Yahoo icon is a white envelope on a purple background. If you are using a browser, you can open it here , then ensure you are signed in.
  2. In the mobile app, you can open Settings by tapping the gear icon in the bottom right. Settings can also be opened through the browser by tapping the Settings button at the bottom of the window.
  3. Choose between Strict , Moderate , and Off to adjust the level of protection offered by SafeSearch, then save your choices by tapping Done (only on the iOS app). [4]
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9

Enable SafeSearch on Yahoo for Computers

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  1. Go to Yahoo Search and check that you are signed in with your account.
  2. Click the grey circle with nine white dots, then press the Settings button.
  3. Select either Strict , Moderate , or Off to alter your SafeSearch settings, then click the purple Save button.
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10

Enable Safe Search on DuckDuckGo

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  1. After looking something up, open the dropdown menu under the search bar, then select either Off , Moderate , or Strict . [5]
11

Turn On Sensitive Content Control on Instagram

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  1. The Instagram app icon is a square white camera set on a multicolored background.
  2. Press the account’s profile picture in the bottom right of the screen to open the profile page.
  3. After tapping the three bars, a menu should appear. Choose Settings , listed at the top of the menu.
  4. After pressing Account , select Sensitive Content Control from the page that appears.
  5. Set the filter to either Allow , Limit , or Limit Even More to determine how aggressively Sensitive Content Control will block content.
    • Note that the Sensitive Content Control feature only affects your Explore page. It will not block content in Direct Messages, Reels, Stories, your Feed, or Account Recommendations.
    • You can also block specific accounts. Look them up with the Search function, then open their page, tap the three dots in the upper right, and click Block .
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12

Increase Privacy Settings on Snapchat

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  1. The Snapchat app icon is a white ghost on a yellow background.
  2. Open the user’s profile by tapping their Bitmoji or silhouette at the top left of the camera screen.
  3. Press the gear in the top right of the screen, then scroll down to the “Who can…” section.
  4. Adjust which other users can contact this person, view their story, see their location, and see them in the Quick Add feature with the respective tabs.
    • You can also disable the ability to find this user through their phone number by clicking Mobile Number towards the top of the Settings page, then disabling the Let others find me using my mobile number toggle.
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13

Enable Restricted Mode on TikTok

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  1. The TikTok app icon is a white, blue, and red music note on a black background.
  2. Tap the Profile button in the bottom right of the screen, then open the “Settings and privacy” page by pressing the three bars in the top right.
  3. Restricted Mode attempts to limit the appearance of inappropriate content on the app.
  4. After tapping the red Turn on Restricted Mode button at the bottom of the screen, you will be prompted to create a 4-digit passcode.
    • If you are setting this up for a child on their device, be sure to use a different password from the phone password itself.
    • For additional security, you can go to the Privacy category to set the account to private and disable the in-app feature which suggests the account to other people.
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14

Adjust Privacy Settings on Twitter

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  1. The Twitter app icon is a white bird on a blue background.
  2. Tap the profile picture for the account at the top left of the screen, then select Settings and privacy at the bottom of the menu.
  3. The Privacy and safety category will allow you to manage the things you see and share on Twitter.
  4. This will prevent those who do not follow this account from sending a message request or adding it to group conversations, keeping the account holder safe from strangers.
  5. The Discoverability and contact category is marked by a small magnifying glass icon with a silhouette inside of it.
  6. On this screen, decide if you would like to allow others to be able to find this account through a linked email or phone number.
  7. This will let you manage what information other users can see about this account.
  8. Disable photo tagging for the account, or change the photo tagging settings to Only people you follow can tag you .
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15

Turn On Restricted Mode on YouTube

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  1. The YouTube app icon is a white play button inside a red rectangle.
  2. Press the account’s profile picture in the top right of the screen, then choose Settings from the menu that appears.
  3. With Restricted Mode enabled, YouTube will attempt to filter out potentially mature videos.
    • Additionally, if the account uses YouTube Kids, you can follow the instructions in this article to block videos or channels.
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16

Block Pop-Up Ads on Chrome for Desktop

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  1. The Chrome app icon is a red, yellow, and green circle with a blue dot in the center.
  2. Click the three dots in the top right of the browser window, then select Settings from the menu that appears.
  3. This will take you to a menu where you can control the information sites can use and show. [6]
  4. The Pop-ups and redirects button will be at the bottom of the page.
  5. This will prevent inappropriate pop-up ads on every site you visit.
    • For an additional level of protection from potentially undesirable ads, consider installing an ad blocker.
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17

Block Pop-Up Ads on Safari for Desktop

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  1. The Safari app icon is a blue compass.
  2. Click the Safari menu button at the top left of your screen, then choose the Preferences... category.
  3. Once you have the Websites tab open, click the Pop-up Windows tab in the bottom left of the window.
  4. Select either Block and notify or Block from the “When visiting other websites” dropdown menu in the bottom right to disable pop-up ads.
    • You can also open a site in Safari, then return to the Pop-up Windows tab to set specific pop-up settings for that site.
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18

Block Pop-Up Ads on Firefox for Desktop

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  1. The Firefox app icon is an orange fox curled around a bluish-purple orb.
  2. Click the Firefox button in the menu at the top of the screen, then click Preferences .
  3. After opening the Privacy & Security panel, check the box next to Block pop-up windows in “Permissions” to stop pop-up ads. [7]
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19

Install a Parental Control App

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  1. Before choosing a parental control app, do some research on what app might best suit your needs. Different apps will have different levels of control, different amounts of customizability, and different price points.
  2. Download the app from a browser, the App Store, or the Google Play Store depending upon the device. Be sure to download it on your device and the device you would like to protect for optimal control.
  3. Follow the in-app instructions to get started protecting your device and its user from inappropriate content.
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      Tips

      • If you are trying to keep someone else safe online, consider having a conversation with them about Internet safety. You can warn them about potentially dangerous practices, set ground rules, and open a channel of communication for future discussions on safety in the digital era.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.hellotech.com/guide/for/how-to-set-up-parental-controls-on-windows-10
      2. ↑ https://youtu.be/PyE5rtmV8wI?t=97
      3. ↑ https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/510?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DAndroid&oco=0#zippy=%2Cgoogle-app
      4. ↑ https://help.yahoo.com/kb/SLN2247.html
      5. ↑ https://help.duckduckgo.com/duckduckgo-help-pages/features/safe-search/
      6. ↑ https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95472?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop
      7. ↑ https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/pop-blocker-settings-exceptions-troubleshooting#w_pop-up-blocker-settings

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Turn on parental controls on your device.
      2. Enable safe search on your browser.
      3. Turn on restricted content mode and adjust the privacy settings on your social media.
      4. Block pop-up ads on your browser.
      5. Install a parental control app on your device.
      6. Have a conversation with your child about safe Internet practices.

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