Browser controls: Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge

Safe Search basics

• Google Search: SafeSearch at google.com/preferences. On supervised accounts (Family Link), parents can lock SafeSearch on.
• Bing: Settings › Search › Adult › Strict.
• DuckDuckGo: Safe Search › Strict. Kids often switch to DuckDuckGo specifically to bypass parental controls.

Chrome

• Supervised Google accounts: Family Link handles web filtering and blocks incognito mode.
• Standard accounts: use SafeSearch + DNS-level filtering.
• Disable “Use secure DNS” (Chrome setting) if you want your router’s DNS filtering to take effect.

Safari

• Screen Time › Content & Privacy › Web Content — Limit Adult Websites.
• Disable private browsing mode for kids (same settings area).
• Block specific sites by URL pattern.

Firefox

• No built-in parental controls.
• Use the Blocksi extension or rely on DNS-level filtering.
• Consider blocking Firefox installation entirely on kid devices.

Edge

• Microsoft Family Safety controls Edge filtering on Windows.
• Kids Mode on Edge blocks unapproved sites by default.
• Works only if the kid is actually using Edge — if they install Chrome, it doesn’t help.

Extensions: the quiet bypass

Kids add VPN extensions, proxy extensions, or “unblocker” extensions to get around filters. On supervised accounts you can disable extension install; on unsupervised accounts, spot-check monthly.

Truly bulletproof? Only at the network level.

Because browsers change, incognito modes persist, and kids can install new browsers, the only filter that works across everything is a router/DNS filter. Use browser controls on top.