Use layers: switch on Screen Time (iPhone) or Family Link (Android) with web content limits, add family-safe DNS or router controls for home Wi-Fi, set app-install approval, and keep talking with your child. No single tool is perfect, so combine them and check settings from time to time.
Why layers work best
Adult sites like xHamster are for people aged 18 and over, but a child can reach them from a phone in seconds. Blocking one site is not enough, because there are many similar ones.
The best approach is to restrict adult content at the device, at the network, and in the browser, and to support those tools with conversation.
iPhone and iPad: Screen Time
- Open Settings, then Screen Time, and set it up for your child (use Family Sharing).
- Choose Content and Privacy Restrictions and switch it on.
- Open Web Content and pick Limit Adult Websites, or Only Allowed Websites for younger children.
- Set a Screen Time passcode your child does not know.
- Turn on Ask to Buy and app approval.
Android: Google Family Link
- Install Family Link on your phone and link your child's account.
- Open Controls, then Content restrictions.
- In Chrome settings, choose Try to block explicit sites.
- Turn on SafeSearch and require approval for new apps.
Remember that Family Link works best on the child's own signed-in account and apps.
Windows and consoles: Microsoft Family Safety
Microsoft Family Safety adds web filtering for the Edge browser and app limits on Windows and Xbox. Create a child account in your family group, then switch on the content filters. Other browsers can be blocked from installation.
Router and DNS controls
| Method | Covers | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Router parental controls | All home Wi-Fi devices | Not mobile data |
| Family-safe DNS | Network or device | Can be changed by a tech-savvy child |
| Device controls | Wherever the phone goes | Needs setup per device |
Many adult sites also label themselves with the RTA tag, which some filters use to recognise adult pages.
Talk, review and keep it calm
Explain in simple words that some sites are for adults only and why. Make it clear your child can come to you, and will not be punished for telling you about something they saw.
Review the settings every few months, since children change phones, accounts and browsers. If you find explicit material involving a child, report it rather than sharing it, using our reporting information.
Setting up a child account properly and more
Setting up a child account properly
Controls only work if the child uses the account you have set up. On Apple devices, create the child through Family Sharing. On Android, use a supervised Google account. On Windows, add the child to your Microsoft family group and have them sign in with that account.
Remove other browsers if you can, or require approval to install them. Many children discover alternative browsers or free VPN apps that skip filters, so approval for new installs is essential.
What filters cannot do
Filters sometimes miss new sites, and they can block harmless ones by mistake. A child may also see adult content on a friend's phone, in social media, or in messages. That is why talking matters as much as technology.
Agree some family rules, such as phones charging outside bedrooms overnight, and keep the conversation friendly. Children who feel safe telling you about problems are better protected than those who feel watched.
When to get extra help
If your child has seen something upsetting or has been contacted by a stranger, stay calm. Save evidence, block the account, and report it to the platform. Schools, family doctors and child-safety charities can offer support, and in serious cases the police should be informed.
Your child is not to blame. The aim is to help them feel safe, not to punish them.
Teenagers need a different approach. Strict blocking works well for younger children, but older teens often look for ways around it and may feel mistrusted. With teenagers, pair sensible filters with honest conversations about consent, privacy, scams and the way adult content can distort expectations. Agree on boundaries together and revisit them as they mature.
Schools and youth charities often provide free guides for parents, which can help you start conversations without embarrassment.
Key takeaways
- Layer device controls, router filters and browser settings.
- Use Screen Time on iPhone and Family Link on Android.
- Protect settings with a passcode your child does not know.
- Require approval for new apps, including browsers and VPNs.
- Keep talking; conversation works better than blocking alone.
Frequently asked questions
This article is general information, not legal, financial or medical advice. Details about third-party services are based on public information and may change.