How Parental Controls Work
1 Introduction
Before You Begin:
- Have access to all the devices you want to setup.
- Have access to your device to setup the controls themselves.
What Parental Controls Are Not
It is vitally important to understand what all Parental Controls can't do, first, to make sure there's no false expectations or ideas on what these technologies will provide.
What Parental Controls Can Help With
There are areas where Parental Controls are great tools to help you in guiding your child to make better choices.
2 The Different Levels of Parental Controls
Where Parental Controls Work
There are multiple 'levels' or 'places' you can enact Parental Controls, and what each can provide varies wildly depending on the hardware and software being used.
3 Network Level Parental Controls
Settings at the Network level are taken care of using your Router's management interface, usually a webpage you visit. Changes you make will only effect devices connected to your home network.
In most cases, you can:
- See what devices are connected to your home network.
- Setup schedules for when devices will have Internet access.
- Completely block certain devices from accessing the Internet.
- Stop new devices from connecting to your home network.
In some cases, you can:
- Restrict content devices on your home network can access.
- Check logs to see what content has been accessed by devices on your home network.
We have multiple guides on specific router's parental controls to help you.
- How To Configure Parental Controls for your Asus Router
- How to Configure Parental Controls for Your Linksys Router
- How to Configure Parental Controls for Your Netgear Router
- How to Configure Parental Controls for Your D-Link Router
- How to Configure Parental Controls for Your Comcast Gateway
- How to Configure Parental Controls for Your Norton Core Router
4 Device Level Parental Controls
Settings at the Device level are usually taken care of on the device itself, using multiple profiles.
In the case of mobile devices like tablets or smartphones, it's usually taken care of by a separate app you install, then manage from your own device.
For game consoles, you manage the settings from a webpage or the device itself.
In most cases, you can:
- Restrict access to content based on ratings made by ratings boards
- Limit screen time
- Review recent activity
- Block purchases at integrated online stores
- Block certain Apps or Programs
In some cases (such as smartphones):
- Track the location of the device
- Make the device make a noise to locate it in your home
- Remotely wipe the data on the device
- How to Configure Parental Controls for Your PlayStation 3
- How to Configure Parental Controls for Your PlayStation 4
- How to Configure Parental Controls for Your Xbox 360
- How to Configure Parental Controls for Your Xbox One
- How to Configure Parental Controls for Your Nintendo Switch
- How to Configure Parental Controls for Your Nintendo Wii U
- How to Configure Parental Controls for Your Nintendo Wii
- How to Configure Parental Controls for Your Nintendo DS
- How to Configure Parental Controls for Your Nintendo 3DS
- How to Configure Parental Controls for Your Westinghouse Smart TV
- How to Configure Parental Controls for Your Samsung Smart TV
- How to Configure Parental Controls for Your LG Smart TV
- How to Configure Parental Controls for Your Element Smart TV
- How to Configure Parental Controls for Your TCL Smart TV
- How to Configure Parental Controls for Your Sony Smart TV
- How to Configure Parental Controls for Your Amazon Fire TV
5 Application Level Parental Controls
Parental Controls at the application level tend to be taken care of inside the application itself, or a website setup by the company.
In most cases, you can:
- Restrict purchases
- Restrict content based on ratings board recommendations
- Disable features
In some cases, you can:
- Disable online features
- Set up a special kid-friendly mode
Was this content helpful?
YesNoBefore You Begin:
- Have access to all the devices you want to setup.
- Have access to your device to setup the controls themselves.
What Parental Controls Are Not
It is vitally important to understand what all Parental Controls can't do, first, to make sure there's no false expectations or ideas on what these technologies will provide.
What Parental Controls Can Help With
There are areas where Parental Controls are great tools to help you in guiding your child to make better choices.
Where Parental Controls Work
There are multiple 'levels' or 'places' you can enact Parental Controls, and what each can provide varies wildly depending on the hardware and software being used.
Settings at the Network level are taken care of using your Router's management interface, usually a webpage you visit. Changes you make will only effect devices connected to your home network.
In most cases, you can:
- See what devices are connected to your home network.
- Setup schedules for when devices will have Internet access.
- Completely block certain devices from accessing the Internet.
- Stop new devices from connecting to your home network.
In some cases, you can:
- Restrict content devices on your home network can access.
- Check logs to see what content has been accessed by devices on your home network.
We have multiple guides on specific router's parental controls to help you.
- How To Configure Parental Controls for your Asus Router
- How to Configure Parental Controls for Your Linksys Router
- How to Configure Parental Controls for Your Netgear Router
- How to Configure Parental Controls for Your D-Link Router
- How to Configure Parental Controls for Your Comcast Gateway
- How to Configure Parental Controls for Your Norton Core Router
Settings at the Device level are usually taken care of on the device itself, using multiple profiles.
In the case of mobile devices like tablets or smartphones, it's usually taken care of by a separate app you install, then manage from your own device.
For game consoles, you manage the settings from a webpage or the device itself.
In most cases, you can:
- Restrict access to content based on ratings made by ratings boards
- Limit screen time
- Review recent activity
- Block purchases at integrated online stores
- Block certain Apps or Programs
In some cases (such as smartphones):
- Track the location of the device
- Make the device make a noise to locate it in your home
- Remotely wipe the data on the device
- How to Configure Parental Controls for Your PlayStation 3
- How to Configure Parental Controls for Your PlayStation 4
- How to Configure Parental Controls for Your Xbox 360
- How to Configure Parental Controls for Your Xbox One
- How to Configure Parental Controls for Your Nintendo Switch
- How to Configure Parental Controls for Your Nintendo Wii U
- How to Configure Parental Controls for Your Nintendo Wii
- How to Configure Parental Controls for Your Nintendo DS
- How to Configure Parental Controls for Your Nintendo 3DS
- How to Configure Parental Controls for Your Westinghouse Smart TV
- How to Configure Parental Controls for Your Samsung Smart TV
- How to Configure Parental Controls for Your LG Smart TV
- How to Configure Parental Controls for Your Element Smart TV
- How to Configure Parental Controls for Your TCL Smart TV
- How to Configure Parental Controls for Your Sony Smart TV
- How to Configure Parental Controls for Your Amazon Fire TV
Parental Controls at the application level tend to be taken care of inside the application itself, or a website setup by the company.
In most cases, you can:
- Restrict purchases
- Restrict content based on ratings board recommendations
- Disable features
In some cases, you can:
- Disable online features
- Set up a special kid-friendly mode