Online movie and TV subscription services are wonderful sources of entertainment content, some of which isn't appropriate for younger viewers. With parental controls on subscription movie services, parents can protect their children from mature content.
What Are Parental Controls? Paid services typically offer parental controls. These settings allow you to block content according to its rating, which is issued by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) before a film is released in movie theaters.
Occasionally, you can also block content by keyword, genre or movie title. Most online movie sites maintain lists of recent movie downloads, which you can use to keep an eye on what your child is viewing.
The criteria for the MPAA's rating system can be found online, but you'll likely want to review the content of films your child wants to watch. A few online sites offer movie reviews from a family-friendly standpoint.
What About Free Services? Free services rarely have built-in parental control systems. Some require members to confirm that they're above a certain age, typically 13 or 18, and many websites will ask you to clarify that you're legally allowed to view mature content before you can make a selection. Unless the site is alerted that an underage child is misrepresenting his age, however, he'll be able to view the content.
How Else Can I Set Parental Controls? By setting up parental controls on your desktop, you can avoid these situations. Most Internet service providers can walk you through the process of adjusting parental controls and you can find free third-party programs online.
Because they frequently rely on keywords and domain tags, Internet parental controls may block entire domains on your computer. You can intentionally block domains or only allow specific websites that you know are appropriate for your child. Research the specifics of your program to decide the best options for you and your family.
Even the best parental controls can't entirely protect your child online; you're the greatest security protection for your child. Know the practices of popular websites for movie downloading before you click, and watch movies online together to ensure that your child is watching only age-appropriate content.