4 Necessary Parental Control Methods in 2025

The internet can be a truly terrifying place.

05:34 14 February 2025

The internet can be a truly terrifying place. Sure, it’s an environment where your kids can learn and have fun and play their favorite games with their school friends, but it’s also an environment where they can encounter a lot of dangerous content and malicious strangers. 

Sure, trust is essential, but you don’t just trust your kid around power outlets, sharp objects, and next to an open pool. You keep an eye on them, subtly when you can and directly when you cannot. Just trusting the judgment of a nine-year-old to figure out on their own that the stranger they’re talking to on Discord wants them harm is not just reckless - it’s outright dangerous.

You must monitor them. Here are the top four parental control methods for 2025. 

1. Set up device-level parental control

Every modern device has built-in parental controls, but most parents either don’t know about them or never bother setting them up. That’s a mistake. These settings let you restrict content, limit screen time, and block certain apps altogether. Companies know kids use their devices, so they give you tools to manage access - use them. 

It’s not just about keeping them from stumbling onto something inappropriate. You can stop them from installing shady apps that harvest data or running up insane in-game purchases. Android, iOS, Windows, and even macOS all let you lock down specific features. Even smart TVs have parental control settings, and if you’re not using them, you’re basically giving your kid unrestricted internet access on a bigger screen. 

Even gaming consoles aren’t just for playing harmless games anymore. Many modern ones connect directly to the internet, meaning your kid can talk to strangers while playing. You can restrict communication, set up age-appropriate filters, and even limit how much time they spend gaming daily. If your child is spending hours on Fortnite chatting with people you don’t know, maybe it’s time to check what parental controls exist on that system. 

These settings aren’t a one-and-done kind of thing. Developers update them, new features come out, and kids find ways to work around them. Make it a habit to check in every now and then to see what’s changed. The last thing you want is to assume everything is locked down when, in reality, your kid has already figured out a way around it. 

1. Monitor their social media

Sure, most social media platforms claim to restrict access to kids under 13, but let’s be honest: No one checks IDs at the door. Kids figure out how to sign up by fudging their birthdate or using a family member’s account. If you assume your child isn’t on social media just because they technically shouldn’t be, you’re making a dangerous mistake. 

Most of their online interactions happen on social media, which means it’s also where most of the risks are. Strangers, cyberbullies, inappropriate content - it’s all there, wrapped up in an app they’re probably using daily. If they spend hours scrolling through feeds, chatting in DMs, or watching endless TikTok videos, you need to pay attention to what’s happening on those screens. 

New friends and followers aren’t just harmless profile pictures. You need to know who’s adding your kid, what kind of content they’re posting, and what kind of messages they’re receiving. Just because someone looks like a peer doesn’t mean they are one. A lot of dangerous situations start with what seems like an innocent online friendship.

Apps like Snapchat make this event trickier because messages disappear after being read. That feature isn’t just a novelty - it’s an easy way for kids to hide conversations they don’t want you to see. Suppose you’re worried about what’s happening in those chats; looking into Snapchat spy apps that actually work can help you stay informed. Some parents hesitate to use monitoring tools, but the alternative (turning a blind eye) is far riskier. 

1. Restrict app downloads and in-app purchases

Kids love downloading apps - games, social media, and random nonsense that eats up storage. The problem is that not all apps are safe, and some are explicitly designed to trick users (including kids) into spending money. If you don’t want to wake up to a bank statement full of microtransactions, lock this down. 

A lot of these so-called “free” games come packed with in-app purchases that are anything but cheap. They sell skins, extra lives, and “premium” content - all things that kids can easily click on without realizing it’s real money. Worse, some games use predatory tactics, like making slow progress unless you pay. Kids don’t see this as spending money - they see it as getting past a frustrating roadblock. 

Subscription-based apps are another trap. Some apps offer free trials that automatically roll into expensive subscriptions if you don’t cancel in time. Guess what? Kids aren’t going to cancel. They’ll forget, you’ll forget, and then suddenly, you’re paying for some random service you never wanted in the first place. If you don’t want that headache, set up purchase restrictions or require approval before anything gets added to your account. 

The best approach? Talk to your kid about this. They should know that not everything online is free, and some apps will do whatever they can to get your money. Combine that with restrictions, and you’ll avoid a lot of unnecessary frustration.

1. AI tools: Creativity boost or a hidden risk?

AI is everywhere now, and kids are catching on fast. Whether they’re using AI to generate art, write stories, or even get help with homework, the technology is giving them tools that weren’t available just a few years ago. For creative kids, this is huge. They can turn their ideas into polished projects without needing advanced skills. AI isn’t just some futuristic concept - it’s already part of their daily online experience, and in many ways, that’s a good thing.

However, not all AI-generated content is harmless. Some AI tools pull information from unreliable sources, meaning kids might learn and repeat untrue information. Worse, AI-powered chatbots and image generators can sometimes produce inappropriate or misleading content. Just because an AI tool is marketed for kids doesn’t mean it’s entirely safe. Parents need to know what these platforms can do, how they work, and, most importantly, what their kids use them for. 

Also, there’s the issue of over-reliance. AI can make things easier, but if kids start depending on it too much, they might stop developing their own critical thinking and creativity. A child who leans on AI for every school assignment isn’t really learning - they’re just letting a program do the work. The key here is balance. AI should be a tool, not a crutch.

Parents can help by setting clear guidelines. Encourage kids to use AI for inspiration rather than shortcuts. Teach them to fact-check AI-generated information and discuss the ethical side of artificial intelligence - like why some artists are against AI-generated art. More importantly, stay involved. AI is evolving quickly, and if you’re not keeping up, you won’t know what your kids are really getting into.

Conclusion

Keeping kids safe online isn’t about spying on them or locking everything down - it’s about giving them the right tools and guidance. Parental controls, web filters, and monitoring apps help, but the most important thing is teaching kids how to be smart digital citizens. Technology will keep changing, and they’ll eventually make their own decisions online.