As parents or guardians, it is essential to ensure your child’s online safety is protected. Since the web is vast, it’s crucial to be able to block dangerous or harmful content. One of the excellent methods to accomplish this is by controlling the activities your child is able to do when using Google Search on their Android device. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore a variety of methods to control Google search capabilities on Android to allow you to control your child’s online activities.
How to block Websites for Android with an App
Many people have experienced the inconvenience of visiting some websites. So, many apps online have options that benefit from stopping websites. Because the majority of websites are accessible via web browsers, applications that stop websites are web browsers or can manage the web browsers’ activities.
How to block Websites for Android with an App
Many people have experienced the inconvenience of visiting some websites. So, many apps online have options that benefit from stopping websites. Because the majority of websites are accessible via web browsers, applications that stop websites are web browsers or can manage the web browsers’ activities.
Third-Party Website Blockers
Third-party website blockers efficiently regulate access to particular websites. They provide a simple interface and features that ease the process and do not require a technical background. Many such applications, such as BlockSite, are available in the Google Play Store.
BlockSite will block any site that you want to block. Additionally, it lets you set up the time when specific websites are blocked. This can benefit from focusing on studying or working or studying. In addition, from the sites themselves, it is also possible to restrict specific applications from your phone. Use the following instructions to block particular sites with BlockSite.
- Open the BlockSite application. It might prompt permissions that are needed to run properly.
- Press the “+’ icon at the bottom right corner. Add the sites you wish to be able to block.
- It is also possible to set up time frames for when your block is active.
Use Google Family Link
Google Family Link is a full parental control tool which lets you manage your child’s online activity through a variety of Google services, such as Search. This is how you can create it:
- Download your Google Family Link app on both of your children’s Android devices.
- Set up a Google Account for your child If they don’t already have one.
- Follow the screen instructions for setting up Family Link, and then link your child’s account to your account.
- Once you’ve set everything up, start your Family Link app on your device.
- Make sure you select the child’s account.
- Click on Controls and the Content restriction.
- In Google Play, toggle on the Restrict Internet Material opportunity.
- Pick the appropriate level of material blocking (e.g., try to block mature sites and only allow sites that are safe for children or sites for children ).
Through Family Link, you can restrict not only Google Search but also control the download of apps, define screen time limits, and track your child’s activities online across different Google services.
Antivirus Apps
The majority of Android antivirus programs, including AVG AntiVirus, offer the option to block potentially harmful sites. Based on the application that you choose to use, you can either add the websites you’d like to stop on a list or turn to a choice to block these websites from loading.
AVG AntiVirus does not just defend against malware and viruses; it also has a website-blocking feature. It’s great that it allows you to use the blocker feature on websites in its free version. There is no need to pay to use it.
- Launch the AVG AntiVirus application.
- Explore the section.
- Select ‘Web Shield’ and select ‘Block or Allow websites.’
- You can then add the websites you’d like to block into the section ‘Blocked.
Parental Control App
Apps for parental control, like AirDroid Parental Control, can be a great option for parents to block youngsters from using harmful or inappropriate websites on their Android smartphones. The apps let parents restrict content, block improper websites, and establish Internet time limits.
Parents may create an acceptable list of websites (allowlist) as well as a listing of websites that have been blocked (blocklist) and stop certain websites, too. They can also monitor the activities of their children and block websites in the event that they believe it’s inappropriate.
- Install and then launch AirDroid Parental Control.
- Select the ‘Managed browser’ opportunity.
- Click “Block Mode under the Management Mode option.
- You can add websites you would like to exclude from the “URL Blocklist.’
Important: If you want to block sites, be sure to make AirDroid Browser the sole web option on your child’s smartphone.
Use a DNS-Based Content Filtering Service
The DNS-based material filtering service is also an option to reduce Google Search and other online content. The traffic you browse through goes via these servers’ computers, which stop unneeded material according to specific categories that they’ve established or a set of rules you’ve created yourself.
OpenDNS and CleanBrowsing are well-known DNS-based material-blocking applications. If your child has an Android phone, you can follow this guide to configure it.
- Visit the device’s Settings application.
- Go to the Wi-Fi section.
- Press long-press to your Wi-Fi network, and then select Modify network.
- Set the IP settings to Static.
- You must enter the DNS servers’ addresses provided by the material filtering service you’ve chosen (e.g., OpenDNS or CleanBrowsing).
- Make the necessary changes, then reconnect to Wi-Fi.
Final Remark
The web is loaded with hazardous, malicious, and inappropriate material. Thus, it is imperative to limit users’ exposure to this material. In this piece, we’ve discussed a number of the aspects associated with blocking sites for Android devices and phones.
A variety of third-party apps and options, including AirDroid Parental Control, help provide this feature. However, similar functions can be accessed on your phone without the need to download another application. Thus, we showed you not only how to block websites but also ways to block notifications from websites.