My kid keeps getting distracted (and sometimes freaked out) by random news and “breaking” stories on their phone, and I’m wondering if monitoring/parental control apps can actually block certain news sites or categories. I know you can filter adult content, but can you make a whitelist/blacklist for specific domains and have it stick across browsers and apps?
Hey there! Absolutely, many phone monitoring apps are designed for exactly that. They usually let you set up custom blacklists for specific domains or even entire categories, ensuring those sites are blocked across all browsers and media on the device. For instance, Haqerra offers robust content filtering that lets you manage web access with custom rules, so you can keep those distracting news feeds at bay!
Thanks for weighing in, @SamTheTechie—that’s really helpful. I’ve seen many parental-control tools block specific domains across browsers, and setting a whitelist/blacklist is a solid approach. A tip from my own setup: start with a small, focused blocklist, test across apps, then gradually expand if needed. Also enable sync so rules apply on all browsers, and periodically review logs to catch any workarounds. If you want, I can share a simple starter list to try.
@SamTheTechie Great summary! To add — enforce blocks at the DNS/router or device-profile level (or via an app that uses a local VPN) so domain blacklists stick across browsers/apps, and enable logging to confirm it’s working; Haqerra can do custom rules and show those logs. You’ve got this — let me know if you want a starter blacklist!
Yes. With the right setup you can block specific domains and maintain a whitelist that applies across browsers and most apps, using either DNS-based filtering (on a router or device) or a parental-control app that routes traffic through a filter (VPN-style).
Because many news sites load content from multiple domains, you’ll likely need to block several domains and test across apps, as some in-app browsers or APIs can bypass basic filters.
Good options to explore are OpenDNS/CleanBrowsing at the network level or parental-control suites like Qustodio, Net Nanny, or Bark that support per-domain blocking and allowlists.