In today’s world, the internet offers countless opportunities for growth, education, and connection. However, it also presents significant challenges, especially when it comes to managing distractions, harmful content, and unhealthy habits. As a church and community, we are committed to supporting families in navigating this digital landscape. Below are some free resources, tools, and strategies that can help protect your family and strengthen accountability.
Practical Tools for Managing Online Content and Screen Time
Encouraging Healthy Screen Time Habits
While not a specific tool, setting up daily routines and boundaries for screen time can help families stay balanced in their online habits. Consider using the following tips to encourage digital mindfulness:
"Everything is permissible for me—but I will not be mastered by anything." – 1 Corinthians 6:12
While not a specific tool, setting up daily routines and boundaries for screen time can help families stay balanced in their online habits. Consider using the following tips to encourage digital mindfulness:
- Set specific times of day for internet use, and ensure that family members stick to the schedule.
- Keep devices in a shared, visible space to promote transparency.
- Encourage non-screen activities such as family walks, reading, or church events.
"Everything is permissible for me—but I will not be mastered by anything." – 1 Corinthians 6:12
Embracing Accountability with Covenant Eyes
Watch this video to learn more about the app Covenant Eyes, a powerful tool that helps promote digital accountability and provides families with a way to combat online temptation. This app helps users monitor internet activity and provides transparency in browsing, which is essential for fostering accountability within households and communities.
Watch this video to learn more about the app Covenant Eyes, a powerful tool that helps promote digital accountability and provides families with a way to combat online temptation. This app helps users monitor internet activity and provides transparency in browsing, which is essential for fostering accountability within households and communities.
Google Safe Search: Ensuring a Family-Friendly Experience
One of the easiest ways to protect your family from inappropriate content while browsing is by enabling Google Safe Search. This feature ensures that explicit content is filtered out of search results, offering an added layer of security for children and young adults.
"I will set before my eyes no vile thing." – Psalm 101:3
One of the easiest ways to protect your family from inappropriate content while browsing is by enabling Google Safe Search. This feature ensures that explicit content is filtered out of search results, offering an added layer of security for children and young adults.
- How to lock Safe Search:
- first check if safe search is locked
- Open the Google homepage
- Go to "Settings" at the bottom of the page
- Select Search Settings and check the box for SafeSearch
- For permanent protection, consult a basic computer technician to lock this setting on each device.
"I will set before my eyes no vile thing." – Psalm 101:3
Turning Off Personalization on Google and YouTube
Both Google Search and YouTube track user activity to personalize ads and recommendations. This can create unwanted distractions and expose your family to harmful content. Here’s how to limit this data collection:
"But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified." – 1 Corinthians 9:27
Both Google Search and YouTube track user activity to personalize ads and recommendations. This can create unwanted distractions and expose your family to harmful content. Here’s how to limit this data collection:
- Google Search:
- Click on your Google account (upper right corner)
- Go to “Manage Your Google Account”
- Select the Data & Privacy tab and turn off all history and personalized settings
- YouTube:
- Turn off YouTube History to stop suggested videos on your home screen
- This will remove distractions, helping to focus on what matters.
"But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified." – 1 Corinthians 9:27
Ad Blocking: Minimizing Distractions and Protecting Content
While ads are an integral part of the internet experience, they can also lead to distractions and expose children to inappropriate content. Below are tools to help block ads from your browsing experience:
"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up." – Ephesians 4:29
While ads are an integral part of the internet experience, they can also lead to distractions and expose children to inappropriate content. Below are tools to help block ads from your browsing experience:
- SurfShark Cleanweb:
A third-party ad blocker that removes annoying ads, pop-ups, and trackers from your browsing experience. It’s available for multiple devices and is easy to use with a simple browser extension. While SurfShark offers additional features, you can disable these to focus only on the ad-blocking function. - Note: SurfShark does not work on YouTube, but it can block ads across other websites.
- Ad-Blocking Extension:
Paid subscription that removes all ads from browsing experience - Other Ad Blocking Extensions:
Other free browser extensions (such as uBlock Origin) can also help block intrusive ads. These extensions are lightweight and can be easily added to most browsers.
"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up." – Ephesians 4:29