How can I help to protect my kids from inappropriate internet content using parental controls?

At a glance

• Start with the screens that matter most. Think about where your child actually spends their time online, then focus on the controls available on those devices, apps and services.
• Add a second layer of parental controls. Install a parental control app on their phone and your phone so you can apply an additional layer of blocks and content filters.
• Revisit parental control settings as they grow. The right boundaries for a younger child may not fit a teen. Check settings periodically and adjust them as their independence changes.

Kids can run into inappropriate content almost anywhere they spend time online. The harder task for parents is determining where and how to start blocking it.

A child might watch videos on the TV, play games on a tablet, scroll through a group chat on a phone and use an AI chatbot on a laptop — sometimes in the span of “five more minutes.” Each of those screens comes with different apps, settings and ways of limiting what kids can see or access.

That’s why the first step in trying to block inappropriate content isn’t locking down everything. It’s figuring out where your child spends the most time — and what they’re doing while they’re there. Start with that screen, set the controls that address the risks you’re most concerned about and then work your way out.

How can I block inappropriate content on my child’s phone?

Start with what’s already built into the phone’s settings. Apple’s Screen Time and Content & Privacy Restrictions and Google Family Link can help you manage things like apps, screen time, purchases and content.

Then decide whether you want another layer you can manage from your own phone. For example, Verizon Family Plus can add content filters, app and website controls, activity insights, screen-time limits and alerts. Install the app on your child’s phone and your phone, and you can manage those controls from the app’s dashboard.

Knowing how to set up parental controls is only the first step — as kids get older, the apps they use, the people they communicate with and the content that’s appropriate for them will change. Check the settings periodically and talk with your child about why the boundaries are there.

How can I protect my kids from mature content on TV?

Start with the TV itself. Many smart TVs and streaming platforms have built-in controls that can restrict shows, apps or channels by rating or PIN.

Then think about what happens when your kid switches screens. If they move from the TV to a tablet or game console, Fios Router controls can help keep the same content filters, schedules and daily internet limits in place across the devices assigned to their profile.

Can AI chatbots expose kids to inappropriate content?

Websites and apps aren’t the only places where kids encounter inappropriate content anymore. AI chatbots are increasingly built into tools and social media platforms kids may already use.

Unlike traditional web browsing, interacting with a chatbot can feel like having a conversation. Kids may ask AI questions they’re curious about — or questions they feel uncomfortable asking an adult. And some responses could potentially be inappropriate for a child.

To set controls on AI, start with the chatbot or platform itself: Check its age requirements, safety settings and parental controls. Beyond that, talk with your child about what kinds of questions are — and aren’t— appropriate to ask a chatbot. And remember to remind them that AI isn’t a person or a substitute for a trusted adult.

Most importantly, make sure your child knows what to do if an AI conversation — or anything else online — makes them uncomfortable: Stop the interaction and talk to you or another trusted adult.

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