The Internet is a wonderful resource for learning, entertainment, and communication, but it also comes with some risks and dangers, especially for young children.
As a parent, you want to protect your kids from inappropriate or harmful content, such as violence, pornography, cyberbullying, or phishing.
Fortunately, if you use Safari as your web browser on your Mac or iOS device, you can set up parental controls to limit what your kids can see and do online.
In this article, we’ll take you step by step through setting up parental controls for Safari and discuss some additional tips for keeping your kids safe online.
Ready to get started? Let’s dive in!
Safari Parental Controls
Safari is the default web browser for Mac and IOS devices developed by Apple Inc.
Apple devices have a built-in parental control app called “Screen Time”. When you enable this feature, you can prevent your children from accessing inappropriate content in Safari and other apps on their devices.
How to Set Up Parental Controls on Mac and IOS Devices
Here are the steps to setting up parental controls for your Apple Devices.
Step 1: Enable Screen Time
With Screen Time, you can set limits on all your Apple devices.
Setting Up Screen Time on Mac Book (Catalina OS or later)
- Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Screen Time.
- Click Options in the lower-left corner.
- Click Turn On.
Setting Up Screen Time on IOS Devices (iPhone, iPad)
- Open Settings and select Screen Time.
- Tap Turn on Screen Time and tap it again.
- Choose either “This is My [Device]” or “This is My Child’s [Device].”
Step 2: Create a Screen Time passcode.
A Screen Time passcode is a four-digit code that you need to enter to change the Screen Time settings or to allow more time for an app or website.
To create a Screen Time passcode on a standard account on Mac, choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Screen Time. Then check the box next to Use Screen Time Passcode and enter a four-digit code.
To create a Screen Time passcode on your iOS device, go to Settings > Screen Time and tap Use Screen Time Passcode. Then enter a four-digit code. Re-enter the passcode to confirm, and then enter your Apple ID and password
If managing your kids’ devices from Family Sharing, follow these steps:
- Click on the Apple menu, select System Preferences, then choose Screen Time.
- From the menu in the upper-left corner, select your child’s name.
- Click on Options, located in the lower-left corner.
- Select “Use Screen Time Passcode” and enter a passcode when prompted.
- If you’re using the latest macOS, you can choose to enter your Apple ID to enable Screen Time passcode recovery in case you forget your Screen Time passcode.
Step 3: Turn On Content & Privacy Restrictions
Content & Privacy Restrictions let you block or limit specific apps, features, content types, ratings, websites, and privacy settings on your device.
To turn on Content & Privacy Restrictions on Mac, go to System Preferences > Screen Time and click Content & Privacy in the sidebar. Then check the box next to Turn On Content & Privacy Restrictions and enter your Screen Time passcode if prompted.
To turn on Content & Privacy Restrictions on your Kids’ iOS devices, go to Settings > Screen Time and tap Content & Privacy Restrictions. Then enter your Screen Time passcode if prompted.
Step 4: Configure the Web Content settings
Web Content settings let you control what websites your kids can access on Safari.
You can choose from three options: Unrestricted Access, which allows all websites; Limit Adult Websites, which blocks websites that are not appropriate for children; or Allowed Websites Only, which only allows websites that you specify.
To configure the Web Content settings on your Mac, go to System Preferences > Screen Time > Content & Privacy > Content > Web Content and choose an option.
If you choose Limit Adult Websites or Allowed Websites Only, you can customize the list of allowed or blocked websites by clicking Customize in the bottom right corner.
To configure the Web Content settings on your iOS device, go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Content Restrictions > Web Content and choose an option.
If you choose Limit Adult Websites or Allowed Websites Only, you can customize the list of allowed or blocked websites by tapping Add Website under Always Allow or Never Allow.
Step 5: Review and adjust the other Content & Privacy settings as needed
Besides Web Content, you can also control other aspects of your kids’ online experience with Safari parental controls, such as app limits, communication limits, location services, contacts, photos, microphone, camera, Siri, and more.
To review and adjust these settings on your Mac, go to System Preferences > Screen Time > Content & Privacy and explore the different tabs and options available.
To review and adjust these settings on your iOS device, go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions and explore the different sections and options available.
You can also use the Screen Time app on your device or the Family Sharing feature to view reports and manage settings for your kids’ devices remotely.
Other Ways to Block Inappropriate Content on Safari
If you want to block inappropriate content on Safari, using screen time is not the only option. There are other ways to filter out unwanted websites and protect your privacy online. Here are some of them:
Use a Third-party Parental Control App
There are many apps that can help you monitor and restrict your child’s internet usage on Safari. Some of them are Qustodio, Bark, Net Nanny, and Kaspersky Safe Kids.
These apps can block adult content, limit screen time, track location, and more. However, they may require a subscription fee or have some limitations on iOS devices.
Block Specific Sites from the Router
You can also block specific sites on your kids’ devices from the router.
To do this, you need to log in to your router’s web interface by typing 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 into your web browser’s address bar and press Enter, and then use your username and password on the interface.
Once logged in, look for the settings that allow you to block websites. This is different for every router. It may be under parental control, access control, security, etc.
Additional Tips for Keeping Kids Safe Online
No matter what parental controls have been installed, it is important to keep talking to your children about the dangers of the internet. The following tips can help you safeguard your kids’ online experience:
Establish rules for Internet Use
Ensure your kids know the rules you have set for their internet use, such as how long they can stay online and what type of websites they are allowed to visit.
Monitor Internet activity
Make sure to check what websites they are visiting and what content they are uploading on social media.
Teach your kids to be aware
Teach your kids to always be aware of what they do online, such as not posting personal information, not engaging in cyberbullying or other online misconduct, and not clicking on questionable links.
Regularly update security settings
Ensure that the security settings of their computers and devices are regularly updated. It is important to enabling auto-updates to keep their online presence secure.
Conclusion
By following the steps outlined above, you can set up Safari parental controls to keep your kids safe online.
Remember that parental controls are not a substitute for parental supervision and guidance. You should also talk to your kids about online safety and etiquette and encourage them to share any concerns or questions they have with you.
With the right guidance and supervision, you can keep your children safe and provide them with a safe and secure online experience.