As a Managed Services Provider (MSP) owner, I’m always focused on solving complex IT challenges for my clients. However, one day, my wife and I found ourselves facing a growing concern much closer to home: our three children were spending too much time on their devices. We knew they loved YouTube, gaming on Roblox and Minecraft, and chatting with friends on Fortnite. But we also knew the internet could be a rabbit hole of inappropriate content, harmful interactions, and hidden dangers. So, we knew we needed to find ways to protect our kids online.

Our goal was clear: we wanted to ensure our kids were safe online, limit their exposure to inappropriate material, and ensure they only interacted with friends we personally knew. Between my work commitments and our busy family life, we needed a straightforward, effective solution to regain control. Here’s what we did, step-by-step, to secure each platform they loved. This blog is the second in our series regarding protecting your kids online, and delves a little bit deeper into some specific actions you can take online to protect your children.

Protecting Your Kids Online

1. YouTube: Filtering Out the Rabbit Hole 

YouTube is a favorite in our household, but it’s easy for kids to stumble upon inappropriate videos. Here’s how we set up YouTube to ensure our children only saw content tailored for their age. 

Steps We Took: 

  1. Downloaded YouTube Kids: 
  • YouTube Kids provides a curated library of videos for children. We set up separate profiles for each child based on their age. 
  1. Enabled Restricted Mode: 
  • On the regular YouTube app, we enabled Restricted Mode (Settings → General → Restricted Mode) to filter explicit content. 
  1. Turned Off Autoplay: 
  • Autoplay can lead to unrelated and sometimes inappropriate content. Disabling it ensures the kids don’t wander off-topic. 
  1. Disabled Comments: 
  • Comments can be a source of bullying or exposure to harmful language. We turned off comments on their accounts. 
  1. Monitored Viewing History: 
  • Periodically, we reviewed their watch history to understand what they were engaging with. 

2. Roblox: Managing Multiplayer Safely 

Roblox is an interactive platform where kids can play games and socialize. While it’s fun and educational, it can also expose children to strangers or inappropriate games. We took these steps to make it safer. 

Steps We Took: 

  1. Enabled Account Restrictions: 
  • Under Settings → Security, we turned on Account Restrictions to ensure they could only access age-appropriate games. 
  1. Controlled Communication: 
  • In Privacy Settings, we restricted who could chat, send messages, or invite them to join games to Friends Only. 
  1. Reviewed Friend Requests: 
  • We enabled notifications for friend requests and only approved connections with kids we personally knew. 
  1. Disabled In-Game Purchases: 
  • We turned off payment methods linked to their accounts to avoid unexpected charges. 
  1. Regular Game Audits: 
  • Periodically, we checked the games they were playing to ensure they were appropriate. 

3. Minecraft: Building a Safe World 

Minecraft encourages creativity, but it’s also a multiplayer environment where strangers can join games. We took these steps to ensure their Minecraft experience remained safe and fun. 

Steps We Took: 

  1. Used Bedrock Edition: 
  • The Bedrock Edition offers better parental controls, so we installed it on all their devices. 
  1. Linked to Microsoft Family Account: 
  • We connected their Minecraft accounts to our Microsoft Family account, giving us control over privacy settings. 
  1. Adjusted Multiplayer Settings: 
  • In their profiles, we allowed multiplayer access only with Approved Friends. 
  1. Disabled In-Game Chat: 
  • To prevent exposure to inappropriate language or behavior, we turned off in-game chat entirely. 
  1. Enabled Realms for Family Play: 
  • We set up a private Minecraft Realm where only family members could join and play. 

4. Fortnite: Taming the Battleground 

Fortnite is popular for its fast-paced action and social interaction. However, open voice chat and public lobbies can introduce risks. Here’s how we made it safer. 

Steps We Took: 

  1. Activated Parental Controls: 
  • We went to Settings → Parental Controls, set up a unique PIN, and locked the controls. 
  1. Restricted Voice Chat: 
  • We disabled voice chat entirely or limited it to friends only. 
  1. Filtered Content: 
  • Enabled the Mature Language Filter to block inappropriate text communication. 
  1. Approved Friend Requests: 
  • All friend requests needed our approval before being added to their account. 
  1. Monitored Purchases: 
  • We set up a system where in-game purchases required parental approval. 

5. Apple Devices: Setting Family Boundaries 

Our children used iPads and iPhones from Apple daily, so we needed to ensure these devices were safe, too. 

Steps We Took: 

  1. Set Up Family Sharing: 
  • We created a Family Sharing group, linking their Apple IDs to ours. This let us manage app purchases and subscriptions. 
  1. Enabled Screen Time: 
  • We set daily limits on app usage and blocked explicit content in Settings → Screen Time → Content & Privacy Restrictions. 
  1. Controlled Communication: 
  • Restricted their communication settings to allow calls and messages from Contacts Only. 
  1. Monitored Location: 
  • Using Find My, we ensured we always knew where their devices were. 

Final Thoughts: A Safer Digital World 

After setting up these safeguards, my wife and I finally felt peace of mind. Our children could still enjoy their favorite games and platforms, but they were protected from harmful content and interactions. These changes weren’t just about security — they gave us a way to teach our children responsible internet habits. 

At Symmetric IT Group, we understand the importance of balancing safety and technology and protecting your kids online. Just as we work tirelessly to secure our clients’ business, we want to help families like yours create safer digital environments at home. If you need advice or tools to secure your family’s online presence, reach out to us. We’re here to support you every step of the way. 

Stay tuned for more tips on family cybersecurity! 

The post Protecting Your Family In The Digital Age: Part 2 appeared first on Symmetric IT Group.