Feature Spotlight: Advanced Blocking

Web Protection has always been straightforward: toggle a category on to block harmful content like adult sites, gambling, or hate speech. This approach works perfectly for content that's clearly inappropriate.

But some categories are different. Social media, video platforms, and AI chatbots can be valuable tools - or potential distractions. Not every platform is appropriate for every kid, and not every platform fits your family's rules.

That's why we've introduced Advanced Blocking for these three categories. It's an update to Web Protection that lets you block or allow platforms selectively, rather than all at once.

With Advanced Blocking, you can:

• View a list of platforms within each category
• Choose individually which ones to allow or block
• Adjust your selection anytime as your kid grows or your rules change

You think YouTube is helpful, but would rather block Twitch? Snapchat is fine, but TikTok is off limits? And you want to turn off every AI platform except for ChatGPT? No problem. This flexibility recognizes that within these categories, some platforms might align with your family's values and needs while others don't.

1. Open the Ohana app on your parent device
2. Go to your kid's profile and tap Internet
3. Select Social Media, Video Platforms, or AI Chatbots
4. Toggle individual platforms on or off

When you block a platform's website, the corresponding app often stops working properly too. For example, if you block instagram.com, your kid might still open the Instagram app - but the feed won't load. No content will appear.

That's true for many platforms, but not all. Some apps use alternative ways to access content and might still work even if the website is blocked. If you really want to make sure your kid can't access a certain platform at all, we recommend blocking the app as well. It only takes a few taps, and here's how to do it in Ohana.

What works for one family might not work for another. And every kid is different. Advanced Blocking helps you fine-tune online access to reflect both your family’s rules and your kid's age, habits, and needs.

Some platforms might be okay for a 15-year-old, but not for an 11-year-old. Some might be allowed on weekends, but not on school nights. And sometimes, those rules change over time. Advanced Blocking lets you respond to those changes and set clear boundaries that grow with your family.