Setting Up Web Safety in 5 Minutes
The 5-Minute Setup Promise
When you add your child's profile to ParentalEdge and select their age group, web filtering is automatically configured. No complicated setup required.
But understanding what's happening under the hood helps you customize it perfectly for your family.
How Age-Based Defaults Work
ParentalEdge organizes websites into 29 categories. When you select your child's age profile, we automatically configure which categories are blocked.
All Age Groups: Harmful Content Always Blocked
No matter which age profile you choose, these categories are always blocked:
- Adult Content
- Violence & Weapons
- Illegal Activities
- Substance Abuse
- Gambling
- Dating
- Hate Speech
- Games (browser-based gaming sites)
- Proxies/Loopholes (tools to bypass filters)
- Mature Content
- Profanity
This is the foundation. Your child is protected from harmful content regardless of age.
Elementary (5-10) & Pre-Teen (11-15): No Social Media
In addition to harmful content, these age groups also block:
- Social Media websites
- Private Messaging platforms
- Forums
Result: Your child can browse educational sites, watch streaming content, and access news — but can't access social platforms or chat with strangers online.
Teen (16-17): Social Media Access
Teens get everything above blocked, except:
- Social Media websites — allowed (with activity monitoring)
- Social media apps — allowed with 1-hour daily limit
- Private Messaging — allowed (with activity monitoring)
- Forums — allowed
Result: Older teens can participate in social platforms while you monitor their activity and they learn healthy habits with built-in time limits.
Safe Search: Always On
ParentalEdge enforces safe search on all major search engines:
- Bing
- DuckDuckGo
- Yahoo
- Yandex
This can't be bypassed. Even if your child types explicit search terms, the search engine filters results automatically.
Customizing for Your Family
Allow a Blocked Site
Maybe your child's school uses a site that falls under a blocked category:
- Go to Rules → Web Rules
- Tap "Add Website"
- Enter the URL (e.g., classroom.google.com)
- Set action to "Allow"
- Save
Block a Specific Site
Want to block a site that's technically "allowed" by category?
- Go to Rules → Web Rules
- Tap "Add Website"
- Enter the URL (e.g., addictinggames.com)
- Set action to "Block"
- Save
Get Notified Instead of Blocking
For some categories, you might want awareness rather than blocking:
- Go to Rules → Web Rules → Categories
- Find the category (e.g., "Gaming")
- Set action to "Allow with Notification"
- You'll get an alert when they visit gaming sites
The "Block Unsupported Browsers" Setting
Some browsers don't support content filtering properly. ParentalEdge can block these browsers entirely:
- Go to Rules → Web Rules → Settings
- Enable "Block Unsupported Browsers"
This ensures your child can only use browsers that respect your filtering rules.
Pro Tips
Start with defaults, then adjust. The age-based settings work for most families. Only customize after you see what your child actually tries to access.
Check the Activity tab. See which sites your child visits most. This helps you understand their online interests.
Whitelist educational sites proactively. If your child uses specific learning platforms, add them to the allow list before they get frustrated by blocks.
Common Questions
What if a site is miscategorized?
ParentalEdge uses industry-standard URL databases. If you find a miscategorized site, add it manually to your allow or block list.
Can my child bypass the filter with a VPN?
No. The "Proxy & VPN" category blocks VPN apps and websites. Combined with "Block Unsupported Browsers," bypassing is extremely difficult.
Do these rules apply everywhere?
Yes. Web filtering works on your home WiFi, mobile data, school WiFi — anywhere your child's device has internet.
What's Next: Now that web safety is set up, learn how to control which apps your child can use in App Controls That Just Work.