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Ah, the turbulent joys of proper parenting in the digital age. There was once a time, prior to the Internet, when a social network strictly referred to you and your band of cohorts, when the Silk Road was merely a cross-continent trade route, and when the only pornographic images available lined the glossy interior of publications likePlayboy,Hustler,and Penthouse. However, that time has passed, and most kids these days are well versed in the tech-savvy art of computing (even more so than their parents). That said, many of us wouldnt mind a little protection when it comes to curtailing cyber bullying, blocking inappropriate websites, and simply limiting our childrens computer usage to something far less than the norm which, as of several years ago, hovers around eight hours a day. Thankfully, there is plenty of free software available to help in doing so.

Most parental-control software is primarily concerned with blocking and restricting Web content, but luckily, thats likely the area of biggest concern. Other programs offer tools for monitoring daily activities such as video and game usage, scheduling time constraints, and overseeing chat functionality, while others find their stride when it comes to hampering specific desktop applications and discretely notifying parents of ongoing computer habits. They may not offer the same, robust analytics and innate functionality as their premium counterparts, but theyre more than capable of becoming an nuisance for your adolescent child or rambunctious tween. That is, assuming you should you decide to bethatparent. We reserve judgement either way.

Here are our top picks for the best free parent control software money doesnt have to buy. Also, check out our guides on how to block a website and how to enable parental controls on the PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, and Xbox 360. They wont stay young forever, but at least you can prolong the inevitable just a bit longer. They wont always hate you.

Skip ahead to the best parental-control desktop programs or the best parental-control browsers, add-ons and extensions.

Your computer is seemingly connected to everything, and that being the case, its not a bad place to begin exercising a little parental caution on behalf of your kids. The parental controls for both Windows and Mac OS X are built directly into each operating systems innate preferences, providing a convenient and acceptable means for restricting Web access and chat functionality, along with viewing detailed logs and monitoring email exchanges.

Windows

Windows has never one to offer the most comprehensive set of parental controls, but there a few noteworthy options available through theParental Controlsportion of the main Control Panel, nestled within theUser Accounts and Family Safetysection. The options are fairly basic, allowing users to block objectionable TV shows and movies, limit game usage based on age-rating level, and set specific time limits and login times when the child is able to access various content.

Moreover, the software comes with options for blocking specific programs, and as you might expect, options for filtering Web content and preventing downloads. Users can also view activity reports detailing their childs browsing habits and various computer activity, and said reports can be automatically set up as a weekly email reminder. The application filter is powerful, its coupled integration with the Windows ecosystem substantial, and the software is directly bundled with the OS from the beginning so theres no need to seek third-party support.

Parental controls (Windows)

Mac OS X

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Best free parental control software