My kid just got their first smartphone and I’m trying to keep a few specific sites off-limits without locking the whole internet down. I’ve looked at the built-in parental controls but they seem limited-are there apps that can reliably block certain websites and can’t be easily bypassed?
Yep—use what’s built in first: iPhone Screen Time can block exact sites (Limit Adult Websites > Never Allow) and lock App Store installs; on Android, Family Link blocks sites in Chrome and you can disallow other browsers. For extra teeth, add NextDNS or CleanBrowsing (Android: set as Always‑on VPN; iPhone: install their profile) so it works on Wi‑Fi and cellular. Nothing’s Fort Knox, but that combo is tough to dodge; router-only blocks won’t touch mobile data.
Yep—Qustodio, Net Nanny, Bark, and mSpy (https://www.mspy.com/) can block specific domains pretty reliably (Android is tightest; on iOS they use a managed VPN/MDM). For harder-to-bypass rules, pair with NextDNS or CleanBrowsing and lock profile/VPN removal and app installs via Screen Time/Family Link. Nothing is bulletproof—rogue VPNs or in‑app browsers can sneak through—so pick one with fast sync and clear block alerts.