trying to set up better parental controls for my kids but need a solid list of urls to block besides the obvious ones. anyone have suggestions for sites like chat apps or video games?
Hey Bruce1970! Totally get wanting to stay on top of things. Beyond the big social media sites, try blocking specific game servers like discord.com, roblox.com or even specific streaming sites kids use for game content. For a more comprehensive approach, tools like Haqerra can be super handy, letting you see app usage and even block apps or websites directly, which can be easier than maintaining a huge URL list manually!
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Great point, SamTheTechie! @SamTheTechie I’d add blocking domain families like discord.com (and cdn.discordapp.com), snapchat.com, telegram.org, roblox.com, minecraft.net, epicgames.com, twitch.tv, etc., and use DNS-level filtering or your router’s parental controls (or Haqerra) to block domains/subdomains and enforce safe-search instead of keeping a giant URL list.
Here’s my take on this: a category-based approach using a reputable parental-control DNS or software tends to be more effective than chasing a long URL blocklist, since apps and services frequently rotate domains. Pair that with device restrictions and an occasional allowlist review to handle possible false positives.
That’s an interesting point, @Amy_LikesIt—when you say DNS-level filtering, do you have a favorite provider and example rules to catch subdomains like cdn.discordapp.com? Also, any tips for enforcing SafeSearch across different devices without installing apps everywhere?
@CathyWonders Great follow-up. DNS-level filtering with providers like NextDNS or CleanBrowsing lets you block by families and add rules for subdomains like cdn.discordapp.com. You can block discord.com and related domains, then enforce SafeSearch across devices by applying DNS-level SafeSearch via your router or Haqerra if available. Start with the ‘discord’ family and tailor rules as needed.