DNS is the internet's phone book. When you type a web address like "google.com," your device asks a DNS server to look up the actual numerical address (like 142.250.80.46) it needs to connect. DNS filtering works by intercepting these lookups — if the address is on a blocked list, the lookup fails and the website doesn't load. This is how services like OpenDNS and NextDNS work.
A feature in Apple's Screen Time that schedules hours during which most apps are unavailable. During Downtime, only apps you've specifically approved — plus Phone for emergency calls — remain accessible. Useful for creating phone-free overnight periods without daily manual intervention.
Encryption scrambles data so that only the intended recipient can read it. "End-to-end encryption" (used by WhatsApp and iMessage) means only the sender and recipient can read messages — not the company's servers, not monitoring tools, and not parents. HTTPS (the padlock in a browser's address bar) means the connection between your device and a website is encrypted. This is why your router can see that your child visited YouTube but can't see what they watched there.
A setting that hides or blocks content tagged as explicit — typically music with strong language, adult themes, or graphic content. Platforms like Spotify and Apple Music allow artists and labels to tag content as explicit; the filter relies on this tagging being accurate and complete, which it isn't always.
Google's parental control system for Android devices. Family Link creates a supervised Google account for a child that a parent manages via the Family Link app. It controls app downloads, screen time, content filters, and location. For children under 13, Family Link supervision is mandatory for Google accounts. For teens 13 and older, supervision is optional and the teen can remove it.
Apple's system for linking family members' Apple IDs together. Family Sharing enables the parental management features of Screen Time, allows sharing of purchased apps and subscriptions, and lets parents approve purchases made by children. Setting up Family Sharing is a prerequisite for remotely managing a child's Screen Time settings from your own device.
A security system that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic based on rules. Home routers include a basic firewall by default. In consumer parental control contexts, "firewall" is sometimes used loosely to describe content filtering — but technically a firewall manages network connections, while content filtering manages what sites or content are accessible.
HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure — the standard for secure communication on the web. When you see "https://" in a browser address bar (or a padlock icon), the connection is encrypted. This is good for privacy and security, but it means your router can see that a device connected to a website, without being able to see what content was accessed once connected.
A purchase made from within an app or game, charged to a connected payment method. Common in games (extra lives, cosmetic items, virtual currency) and apps (premium features). Parental controls on iOS, Android, gaming consoles, and streaming services all include options to require approval for in-app purchases — one of the most financially important settings to configure.
A unique identifier assigned to every network-connected device — think of it as a serial number for the network card. Routers use MAC addresses to identify which specific device is making a network request. When you configure per-device parental controls in your router (different rules for your child's phone vs. the family TV), the router uses MAC addresses to tell the devices apart.
A broad term for any feature or tool that allows parents to manage what their children can access, how long they can use a device, and what they can do online. Parental controls exist at the router level, device level (phones, tablets, consoles), and app level. The most effective approach layers controls from multiple levels.
A PIN or password that locks parental control settings so a child can't change them. The Screen Time Passcode on iOS is separate from the device's regular passcode — it specifically prevents changes to Screen Time settings. Setting a strong, unique Screen Time Passcode is essential; without it, children can simply walk into Settings and disable all restrictions.
A YouTube setting that hides videos flagged as containing mature content. It's less comprehensive than a supervised account — it relies on automated systems and community flagging, and doesn't catch everything. Restricted Mode can be enabled in the YouTube app or website, but can also be disabled by the user unless locked at the account or network level.
The device that connects your home to the internet and distributes that connection to all your devices via Wi-Fi and ethernet cables. Every device in your home — phones, tablets, smart TVs, gaming consoles — communicates with the internet through the router. This central position makes the router an effective place to apply parental controls that cover all devices at once.
A Google feature that filters explicit images, videos, and websites from search results. When enabled, searches that would normally return explicit content show filtered or empty results instead. SafeSearch can be enabled for any user but is only truly locked — meaning a user can't turn it off themselves — when the account is supervised via Family Link or enforced at the network level by a DNS filtering service.
Apple's built-in parental control and usage management system for iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV. Screen Time enables app limits, Downtime schedules, content restrictions, communication limits, and usage reporting. Managed remotely from a parent's device when set up with Family Sharing and a Screen Time Passcode.
Installing an app on a device from outside the official app store — bypassing the store's review and restriction systems. On Android, sideloading is possible by enabling a setting called "Install from unknown sources." This is how children can sometimes install apps that the Google Play Store or parental controls would normally block. iOS makes sideloading significantly harder, though not impossible on jailbroken devices.
A service that routes internet traffic through a server in another location, encrypting the connection in the process. VPNs have legitimate uses — privacy, security on public Wi-Fi, accessing services in other countries — but are also used by children to bypass router-level content filters. A VPN makes it appear to your router that all traffic is going to the VPN server, hiding what sites are actually being visited. Some routers can detect and block VPN traffic; this is an ongoing technical cat-and-mouse situation.
Wireless networking technology that connects devices to your router without physical cables. Router-level parental controls only apply to devices using your home Wi-Fi — they have no effect when a device uses cellular data (LTE/5G) or connects to a different Wi-Fi network (a friend's house, coffee shop, school). This is the most significant limitation of router-based controls for families with older children who have smartphones.