Whether you saw the Connect documentary or not these are two practical settings to help safeguard your family online today and best of all, they are free. With 79% of our children being exposed to explicit material at HOME, the dark side is seeping through our computers, cell phones and tablets. This means that our kids are just stumbling on it.
The Force has a light side and these settings will help fight the dark side on every phone, tablet or computer. Want more suggestions/tips, etc.? Click here for info on our Parenting Techies workshop and read many reviews from parents as well as our promo video, fliers, description, etc.
1. Google’s Safe Search. Make sure your browser’s search engine is set to Google (instead of Bing or Yahoo, for example) On each device, type in https://www.google.com/preferences. At the top is SafeSearch Filters. Set it to “Filter explicit results”. When you are on a pc, you will see the option on the right to lock this setting. Click it and follow instructions to keep it locked on that browser. You will need to do this on each pc.
When you are on a portable device, remember to click “save.” On portable devices, there isn’t a way to lock this setting. Which means this will work for the little ones, but if your teen chooses to look into the ways of the dark side, they will probably figure it out. This is why many people use the highly recommended software, Mobicip to assist in keeping the bad stuff away. (Trust me. It works. Just ask my kids.) 🙂
2. Youtube: Restricted Mode.
In an effort to appease the light side, Youtube has a Restricted Mode. On a computer, as with Google, you can lock this in your browser. At Youtube’s home page, look for your icon on the very top right. (You have to be logged in. If you aren’t signed in, you will see SIGN IN.) At the bottom of the drop down, you will see Restricted Mode. Follow the steps to lock it. Once it’s locked, it will ask you for your Google password to turn it off. (Note: This will filter out most pornography, but Mobicip will be MUCH more thorough.)
On portable devices, the app has the same setting. It’s easy to turn on, but also easy to turn off and doesn’t include a way to password protect it. Open the Youtube app, click on the upper right hand icon and go to Settings>General>Restricted Mode. Again, great for the little kids, but easy enough for teens to step over to the dark side. How can the light side win? With the Force on your side, you could block the Youtube app altogether and only allow access to Youtube through your filtering browser, like Mobicip. (Another insight we share in our workshop is that NO filtering app can infiltrate the dark side of the Youtube app. Confused? Have I mentioned that we do a workshop?)
Questions? Comments? Post below so I can help.
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Helping you have a Homes Devoted,
Jonathan
Written by Jonathan
Rev. Jonathan Cronkhite has been serving youth and families in full time
ministry for the last 23 years. With the heart of a pastor, he encourages and equips families to have Homes Devoted, through conferences, workshops, coaching and writing. Married to Carrie for 22 years, they have 5 children, run a home school co-op, drama club and invite 50 people over once a month for airsoft battles.
