Top 5 Parental Controls For Chrome: How To Block Websites And Protect Your Children

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It’s tough keeping kids safe online, even if they practice safe browsing. There’s no guarantee your children won’t accidentally encounter inappropriate content.

This is why it’s a great idea to enable parental controls for Chrome. After all, it’s one of the world’s leading search engines and browsers. So let’s talk about the top five ways parents can block unwanted websites on Google Chrome.

 

#1: Activate Chrome SafeSearch

Google Chrome has a feature called SafeSearch. This feature only applies to Google search, and it filters explicit and inappropriate content. SafeSearch filters both web and image search results. You can activate this function on any device that has Chrome installed, here’s how:

  1. Open Google Chrome and visit SafeSearch settings
  2. Toggle the “Explicit results filter” to turn it on

 

You can also turn on SafeSearch in the top-right of any Google search results page:

  1. Click “Settings”
  2. Select “Hide explicit results” under “Using search”

If your child uses Google Chrome, we recommend you turn on the “Explicit results filter.” This filter works across Android and iOS devices. However, it doesn’t filter inappropriate content across other browsers.

 

#2: Install Google Family Link

As well, we also recommend using Google Family Link as a parental control. It’s an app that lets parents monitor their kid’s phone activity. This includes:

  • Manage websites
  • Manage app use
  • Manage app downloads
  • Set screen time limits
  • Lock devices
  • Track location

Here’s how to set up Google Family Link:

  1. Create a Google Account if you don’t already have one
  2. Download the Family Link app on Android, iPhone, iPad, or Chromebook devices
  3. Open the app and tap on your child’s name, then choose “Manage settings”

From there, you can:

  • Allow all sites
  • Block explicit sites
  • Only allow approved sites

You can also manually block and allow sites under “Manage sites.”

Family Link is great for parents who are new to the world of parental control apps. It’s a free resource that’s easy to use and fast to set up. Plus, it’s a great way to set screen time limits and manage app downloads.

However, while we recommend Family Link, it’s important to note that it is a starter parental control app. In which case, there is limited functionality and browser compatibility. 

For example, parents can’t monitor messages, emails, and social media messages. You can find more information on parental control apps in this comparison guide.

 

#3: Enable BlockSite (browser extension)

BlockSite is a Google Chrome extension that prevents access to specific URLs.

Here’s how to download and install it:

  1. Head to the Chrome Web Store and search for BlockSite
  2. Tap “Add to Chrome” then “Add extension”
  3. Click “I accept”

Once you’ve installed the extension, tap the app icon up near the Chrome search bar. From here you can access extension settings, pin the extension to your nav bar, and more.

We recommend you pin the extension for easy use. This way you can simply tap on the extension icon to block URLs directly from the search bar.

BlockSite is great for parents who want to:

  • Restrict certain websites
  • Help kids stay focused (especially during remote learning hours)
  • Prevent kids from browsing when they should be sleeping

You can also set up block schedules. This only blocks certain URLs during certain time frames. For example, if you don’t want your child browsing Facebook in the middle of the night, you can set parameters via the BlockSite extension.

 

#4: Get MMGuardian

Another great way to block websites is with MMGuardian. It’s an app you install on your device and your child’s device. Parents can then control and monitor online behavior directly from their mobile device. Alternatively, parents can use the online portal from a desktop computer.

More specifically, MMGuardian has a web filter feature that’s compatible with Google Chrome on Android devices. Here’s how to enable it:

  1. Download the MMGuardian Parental Control app on your child’s device
  2. Follow the in-app prompts and register
  3. Download the MMGuardian on your device
  4. Log in on your phone
  5. Select “Web Filter” from the main menu and tap the toggle to turn it on

In addition, you can select an age range to automatically filter based on different age-specific categories. The lower the age range, the more restrictive the settings. Parents can also create overrides to always allow or block certain URLs. Best of all, MMGuardian offers a free 14-day trial.

 

#5: Set up Apple Screen Time

For children on iPhones, Apple Screen Time is another great parental control feature. This feature is built-in on most iOS devices, and it’s a free resource. Parents can use it to limit the amount of time their kids spend on screens.

In addition, Apple Screen Time can block access to certain websites. Here’s how to activate it on your child’s phone:

Open “Settings” and find the “Screen Time” tab:

Scroll down and tap the “Content & Privacy Restrictions” tab:

Use the different settings to customize your child’s content restrictions. This includes settings like location services, allowed apps, photos, and more.

We recommend you enable Apple Screen Time on your child’s iOS device. But, as you are probably already aware, Apple Screen Time isn’t available on Android devices.

In which case, we recommend apps like MMguardian. That’s because MMGuardian works across devices and browsers, including Google Chrome.

 

Final thoughts on parental controls for Chrome

When it comes to blocking websites on Google Chrome, parents have a lot of options. Here’s a quick recap of all the top strategies we recommend:

  • Activate Google Chrome’s SafeSearch on all devices
  • Download Google Family Link to block specific URLs in Chrome
  • The BlockSite Chrome extension is a great way to control which URLs your child can visit in Chrome (and when)
  • MMGuardian is a parental control app that lets you monitor online behavior across devices and browsers
  • Apple Screen Time is a free resource for parents who have children with iOS devices

Ready to learn more about who to keep your kid safe online? Visit the MMGuardian blog for tons of free resources, helpful guides, and critical safety updates.

Want to start protecting your child now? Sign up for the MMGuardian 14-day free trial today.

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