Children nowadays use smartphones from a very young age. While phones offer many benefits, they also provide easy access to inappropriate content. Children might accidentally or intentionally open adult videos, inappropriate images, or obscene websites, which can impact their minds. Therefore, parents should adjust certain phone settings to prevent children from viewing adult content and maintain proper supervision.
First, it is important to understand that prevention is the best approach. Phones come with built-in features that give parents control. Let’s look at what can be done on both iPhone and Android devices.

How to change settings on iPhone

iPhones have an excellent feature called "Screen Time." Enabling this allows you to control your child's phone usage.

Go to **Settings** and open **Screen Time**.
Turn on **Content & Privacy Restrictions**. Set a passcode so your child cannot disable it.

Go to **Content Restrictions**. Under the **Web Content** option, select **Limit Adult Websites**. This will block obscene sites.
Go to **Apps** and set age-based restrictions; you can block apps rated 12+ or 17+.

You can also place restrictions on **iTunes & App Store Purchases** to prevent your child from downloading apps without permission.
Screen Time allows you to set daily usage limits and even lock the phone at bedtime.

Settings on Android phones

For Android, the **Google Family Link** app is the best solution. Parents can install Family Link on their own phones and link it to their child's phone. Family Link allows you to monitor which apps your child is using.

You can set screen time limits.
You can block apps.
You can track their location.
If you prefer not to use Family Link, go to the **Digital Wellbeing** settings.
There, you can use features like **Focus Mode** or **App Timers**.
You can also enable **Parental Controls** in the Google Play Store to filter apps based on age. Keep SafeSearch enabled in the Chrome browser to avoid inappropriate search results.

Other important settings:
Turn on Restricted Mode on YouTube; this reduces the visibility of adult videos.
Check privacy settings on WhatsApp, Instagram, and other social media apps.
Keep children's accounts private and teach them how to block messages from strangers.

Keep an eye on browser history and search queries. However, remember that merely checking isn't enough; talking to your children is also essential.

How to monitor:
Monitoring is necessary even after configuring the settings.
Spend some time with your child daily to observe what they are doing on their phone.
Instead of abruptly snatching the phone away, ask them gently which apps they use the most.
If you spot something inappropriate, explain why it is wrong rather than scolding them.
Do not allow phones in the bedroom.

Keep the charging point outside the bedroom at night. Set aside some phone-free time for the family; this helps improve the child's habits.
Children sometimes try to bypass restrictions using VPNs or other methods, so check the settings periodically.
Do not share passwords with your child.

Maintaining a balance is crucial:
Completely banning the phone or being overly strict isn't the right approach. Children use the internet for studies and to gain valuable knowledge. Therefore, grant them freedom alongside proper guidance. Teach them how to avoid inappropriate content and not to interact with strangers.
Online threats have increased these days; beyond adult content, there are risks like cyberbullying and making the wrong kind of friends. Parents need to understand technology.
If you aren't familiar with the settings yourself, seek help from someone who is. Ultimately, ensuring children's safety is the parents' responsibility. By adjusting a few simple phone settings and maintaining regular supervision, you can protect them to a great extent.
Instilling good habits early on minimizes future problems. A little vigilance today ensures a safer future for your children.

Disclaimer: This content has been sourced and edited from News18 Hindi. While we have made modifications for clarity and presentation, the original content belongs to its respective authors and website. We do not claim ownership of the content.