BlockMyself
Apps and platforms

Lock down the apps where content actually appears.

Device and DNS controls are the base. Platform controls help close gaps inside search, video, social, chat, and store apps.

Search Video Social apps Stores

Lock down the places where content actually appears

OS and DNS controls are important, but many people spend most of their time inside search, video, social, chat, stores, and feeds. Use platform controls as a layer on top of device controls.

  1. List the apps and sites that lead to bypassing.
  2. Turn on the platform's own safety setting where it exists.
  3. Remove apps that have unfiltered in-app browsers if you cannot control them.
  4. Use app limits only as a weak layer. App limits are not lockout if you can change them.
  5. Test from the app, the browser, private windows, and signed-out states.

Video platforms

  1. Turn on YouTube Restricted Mode or a supervised YouTube experience where appropriate.
  2. Test the YouTube app and YouTube in every browser.
  3. If the app is weaker than the browser setup, remove or block the app and use the managed browser only.
  4. Block shorts, reels, or infinite-scroll apps through app restrictions if they are the problem and the platform does not give enough control.
  5. For TVs and streaming devices, check the TV profile, app profile, store PIN, and router/DNS path separately.

Social, chat, and feed apps

RiskWhat to checkHardening step
In-app browsersLinks open inside the app and may not use the browser you locked down.Test each app. Remove apps that bypass filtering or require links to open in the managed browser if possible.
NSFW togglesSome platforms have account settings for mature or sensitive content.Turn them off, then move account recovery to the trusted person if changing them is a bypass.
Private groups and serversContent may arrive through chat or communities rather than websites.Leave risky groups, block invite links, and restrict app installs or accounts.
Alternate accountsA new account may have weaker settings.Use app/site blocking, not just account preferences, when alternate accounts are easy.

AI, chat, and generated-content tools

Some risky content does not come from a traditional adult website. It may appear inside chat, image, roleplay, search, or recommendation tools.

  1. List the AI, chat, image, roleplay, and recommendation tools that are actual bypasses for you.
  2. Block the app or site if account-level settings are not enough.
  3. Remove alternate accounts that can reset weaker preferences.
  4. Restrict app installs and extension installs so a replacement tool cannot be added casually.
  5. Move account recovery to the trusted person if changing the setting is the bypass.
  6. Test in the app, the web version, mobile browsers, in-app browsers, and shared devices.
Do not assume DNS category filtering will catch broad-purpose apps. If the content appears inside an otherwise general service, use app blocking, account control, or allowlisting.

App stores and extension stores

  1. Block or require approval for new app installs on iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows, Mac, and Chromebook.
  2. Block browser extension installs unless a trusted person approves them.
  3. Remove alternate app stores and side-loading tools.
  4. Remove package-manager paths that install browsers or proxies if they are not needed for work.
  5. Test by trying to install a new browser, VPN, proxy extension, and remote desktop client. Stop at the approval prompt.

TVs, consoles, and shared screens

Large screens often have separate browsers, app stores, casting, or profile controls.

Check these devices

  • Smart TV browser and app store.
  • Apple TV, Roku, Fire TV, Chromecast, Android TV, and game consoles.
  • YouTube, streaming apps, web browsers, casting, AirPlay, and screen mirroring.
  • Guest profiles and child profiles.

Typical controls

  • Profile PINs and content ratings.
  • Store purchase/install PINs.
  • Router DNS filtering for the device.
  • Removing the browser app where possible.
  • Trusted person holds the platform account and recovery.

Official platform references

Family Link Chrome and web controls

Google controls for Chrome, sites, permissions, extensions, and supervised accounts.

YouTube Restricted Mode

YouTube's restricted-mode and Family Link guidance.

Google SafeSearch

Google Search explicit-result filtering and account controls.

Microsoft Family Safety search filters

Microsoft web and search filtering for family members.

Use these when you need a checklist, a specific bypass closed, or a clearer handoff plan.

Test your setup

Browser, DNS, mobile data, recovery, and reset-path tests.

Setup recipes

Direct paths for phones, laptops, technical users, and whole-home setups.

Recovery audit

Find passwords, backup codes, router logins, and reset paths.

Browser policy

Chrome, Edge, and Firefox policy examples.

Mobile data

Close cellular, Private DNS, VPN, and hotspot gaps.

Apps and platforms

Search, YouTube, social apps, app stores, TVs, and in-app browsers.

Router recipes

DNS enforcement, guest networks, IPv6, Pi-hole, and AdGuard Home.

Urge plan

What to do before trying to bypass.

Trusted handoff worksheet

Printable inventory for passcodes, recovery paths, and refusal rules.

Glossary

Plain-language definitions for DNS, DoH, VPNs, MDM, recovery keys, and more.