Guarding Your Kids in a Digital World: A Parent’s Guide   

By Kelsey Byrn, LPC-MHSP | HeartLife Counselor

Matthew 6:22–23 
“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” 

The past few weeks have been heavy. Many of us have seen or heard about violent videos circulating online, and parents are left asking: How do I protect my child from seeing something they can never unsee? If you feel overwhelmed, you are not alone. In the counseling room, I hear this concern often: the fear that our kids are being exposed to a world they are not yet ready to carry. 

Children’s brains are still developing, and they’re not equipped to process the overwhelming volume, intensity, or complexity of much of today’s online content. The internet wasn’t designed with young minds in mind. Constant exposure to unfiltered material can have lasting effects on their mental, emotional, and cognitive development.

If you have an elementary, middle or high schooler, you’ve likely already heard about (or battled over) Roblox, Minecraft, Fortnite, Call of Duty, Modern Warfare, Among Us, Rocket League, YouTube/YouTube Shorts, TikTok, Discord, Snapchat, and Instagram. These platforms are part of your child’s world — and with them come risks we didn’t grow up navigating.

Here’s the hard truth: even when kids aren’t looking for it, violent or sexual content can find them. Whether it’s a game chatroom, an airdropped image from a stranger, a social media feed, or even an online ad or profile picture — all of these can become entry points where kids may unexpectedly encounter violent or sexual content. Many kids are even now using AI chatbots to ask questions, get advice, and even find companionship (which is a whole other blog post!). These tools come with devastating risks. 

It is easier now more than ever for kids to see inappropriate content, receive wrong information, or rely on a “robot” that cannot understand real feelings. The data shows that around 25–30% of teens report seeing graphic violence online (Common Sense Media, 2021). About 72% of U.S. teens aged 13 to 17 have used AI companions at least once, and over half of those users engage with them regularly, according to a 2025 report (TechCrunch, 2025). But behind those numbers are real kids — our kids — who need help making sense of what they’ve seen.

As a counselor, I see how quickly these exposures impact kids: anxiety, nightmares, acting out, or even a shift in how they view the world. Kids and teens in my office often tell me about accidentally seeing scary, violent, or inappropriate content in media that leaves them feeling afraid and unsettled. Several say the fear and guilt stay with them long after, affecting their sleep, mood, and sense of safety.  Sometimes, they describe a cycle where they feel guilty after seeing something inappropriate, but then end up seeking out more content, which deepens their distress and they find themselves stuck and afraid to ask for help. For many, one accidental encounter leaves a lasting mark. This is why your role as parent or guardian matters so much...not only setting up safeguards but also being the safe place your child can come to when the world feels dark.

Scripture tells us to ‘guard our hearts’ (Proverbs 4:23). Giving children unrestricted access to the internet is like sending the young sheep to wander the wilderness alone, with no shepherd and no fence. The wild is full of wolves, not all visible at first glance, and the lambs are not yet strong enough to recognize danger (let alone run from it). Until they’ve grown, it’s our job to keep watch at the edge of the field, to build the fence, to train their eyes to see clearly, and to show them what it means to walk in the light. We are their shepherds as and they are still learning this world.

So, what can you do? Start with three steps: 

1. Talk early and often – Ask your kids what they’re seeing online, even if it’s uncomfortable. Listening matters more than lecturing.

2. Set clear boundaries – Devices in shared spaces, agreed-upon limits for screen time, and conversations about what to do if they see something scary or inappropriate.

3. Use safeguards wisely – Parental controls and filters don’t replace conversations, but they do make it harder for darkness to slip in unnoticed.

Below are some practical tools and resources (because yes, tech can help us build those fences). But let these be paired with empathy, prayer, and ongoing conversations at home. 

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/ 

Plugged In (by Focus on the Family) 

• Focus: Reviews of movies, TV, music, games, and apps from a Christian/family perspective. 

• Pluggedin.com  

Internet Matters 

• Focus: Online safety, screen time, cyberbullying, gaming, parental controls. 

• Provides age-based guides and resources for families. 

• Internetmatters.org  

Pure Flix 

• Family-friendly movies, Christian TV shows, kids’ programming, and some Bible study series. 

• Pureflix.com  

Minno 

• Christian streaming service for kids; cartoons, Bible stories, and devotionals. 

• Gominno.com  

1. Social Media & Chat Apps (Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Discord, WhatsApp) 

• Bark 

• Monitors 30+ apps/social platforms for risky content. 

• Detects bullying, predators, self-harm, violence. 

• Sends parents alerts instead of giving full message logs. 

• ✅ Best choice if your child is active on chat-heavy apps or Discord. 

• https://www.bark.us/ 

• SafeToNet 

• AI analyzes what kids are typing in real time and warns them if unsafe. 

• Protects across messaging apps and chatrooms. 

• ✅ Teaches safer online behavior while protecting privacy. 

• https://safetonet.com/ 

2. Text Messaging & Calls 

• MMGuardian 

• Monitors SMS/MMS and some chat apps. 

• Detects risky words and conversations. 

• Also includes driving safety alerts for teens. 

• https://www.mmguardian.com/ 

• Qustodio 

• Can monitor SMS/calls on Android. 

• Tracks app usage and gives detailed activity reports. 

• ✅ Good balance between monitoring and screen-time control. 

• https://www.qustodio.com/en/ 

3. Web Browsing & General Online Safety 

• Net Nanny 

• Real-time filtering for harmful content (pornography, violence, profanity). 

• Alerts parents if kids attempt to access blocked sites. 

• ✅ Strongest web filter, especially for younger kids. 

• https://www.netnanny.com/ 

• CyberPurify 

• Focuses on filtering inappropriate websites, YouTube, and online chats. 

• ✅ Lightweight option for parents mainly concerned about harmful content slipping through. 

4. Screen Time, App Blocking & Location 

• OurPact 

• Simple app blocking and scheduling (bedtime, school hours). 

• Parents can instantly block/unblock internet. 

• ✅ Great for younger kids just starting with devices. 

• https://www.ourpact.com/ 

• FamilyTime 

• Location tracking, SOS/panic button, geo-fencing alerts. 

• App blocking and time limits. 

• ✅ Strong choice for families focused on location safety. 

• https://familytime.io/ 

• Google Family Link (Free)  

• Works on Android/Chromebook. 

• Parents can approve apps, set screen time, and see location. 

• ❌ No chat monitoring. 

• Apple Screen Time (Free, built-in) 

• App limits, downtime schedules, content restrictions. 

• ❌ No chat monitoring. 

⌚ Safe Kids’ Smartwatches (Text + Call Only) 

1. Gabb Watch 3 

• What it does: Calling + preset safe contacts, voice messages, GPS tracking. 

• What it doesn’t do: No internet, no app store, no social media. 

• Extras: SOS/emergency button, step tracker, parent app control. 

• Best for: Kids age 5–11. 

2. TickTalk 4 

• What it does: Video/voice calling, preset texting with approved contacts. 

• Extras: GPS location tracking, parental controls, music streaming (if enabled). 

• Limits: Parents can disable features — can be stripped down to just calls/text. 

• Best for: Families wanting flexibility (basic now, more later). 

3. Verizon GizmoWatch 3 

• What it does: Calls + preset text messages to approved contacts, GPS tracking. 

• What it doesn’t do: No internet or social media. 

• Extras: Fitness tracker, reminders, school mode (limits use during class). 

• Best for: Verizon customers or parents wanting simple control. 
   

Sources: 

Internet Matters. (2023, November 21). New report reveals how risky and unchecked AI chatbots are the new go-to for millions of children. Internet Matters. https://www.internetmatters.org/hub/press-release/new-report-reveals-how-risky-and-unchecked-ai-chatbots-are-the-new-go-to-for-millions-of-children/