Internet filters for tablets? Reader Q+A
Q: My pre-teen wants an iPad or Kindle Fire for Christmas. Are there good Internet filters available for these devices? -Karen Hi Karen, great question! Yes, with kids bogarting our
tablets and quite a few getting one for the holiday, we think it's super important that they are sufficiently protected while browsing. There are lots of great security options out there for tablets, which interestingly, a lot of parents don't think about.
Net Nanny, still probably the best recognized name in Internet protection, has an Android-based
Net Nanny mobile app that will work on the Kindle Fire. After downloading the app, you can select Internet
filters to put in place (for profanity, inappropriate content, and more)
and enter keywords like a
lcohol, mature, drugs, to block. Another nice feature: if
you have multiple kids using your device, you can create profiles for
each to customize the settings based on their ages, while managing which apps kids are blocked from on your Fire.
It's pricier than your standard app at $19.99 because it's more like software. The fee protects one device for a year and considering the security you get with it,
it's worth it.
If you end up with the iPad, the
Mobicip mobile app
is an option I like a lot. For $4.99 as a one-time download fee, you get a whole
range of options like age-based filtering and safe browsing. The
customization features make it flexible enough for kids of all ages who
are using the tablet. Similar to Net Nanny, you can designate categories
that are off-limits, and with Mobicip, you can also filter YouTube
videos.
However if you already have a security solution in place for your home computer, be
sure to check the manufacturer's website for mobile options as well. For
instance, there's a
free mobile app from Norton for existing account holders, saving you the expense of having to buy a whole new bunch of software
-Jeana
Find More: Ask Cool Mom Tech, Internet Safety, Parents' Lifesavers, Software, Tips and Tricks, Tweens + Big Kids, iPads + Tablets
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