Whether it is the suggestive lyrics in music, graphic scenes in movies, or the uncensored nature of online media, explicit content is becoming more and more available in digital media today.
With increasing digital access, understanding what constitutes explicit content and how to deal with it is crucial in ensuring a healthy and safe environment for children.
This article will examine some of the tools and strategies that parents can employ to protect their children online. At the same time, we are encouraging responsible media use.
What does explicit content mean?
Explicit content refers to material that features subjects or images unsuitable for everyone, especially children and those with sensitive issues.
If the content leaves very little to the imagination when it comes to mature or offensive topics, it is regarded as explicit.
- Strong Language. This includes profane words, vulgar or abusive slang, and curse words.
- Sexual References/Content. This ranges from anything suggestive or innuendo to explicit descriptions of sexual acts, nudity, or even sexually oriented topics.
- Graphic Violence. This features realistic depictions of violence, gore, injury, and abuse. It might be fights in movies, violent video game,s or obscene content on the internet.
Arguably, the producers of media, use explicit material as a way of attracting an adult audience to their work.
However, unless strict cautionary labels or filters are put in place, children are likely to come across such material.
This is why parental awareness is crucial: to identify these dangers, implement protective measures, and direct children to age-appropriate content.
Why does explicit content matter for kids?
The question of explicit content and children is a very serious one that parents need to look into with concern.
This is due to both the immediate risks associated with such material. In addition to the ease of access that the modern internet provides.
The risks associated with children’s exposure to explicit content.
Exposure to explicit materials by kids may lead to far-reaching and irreversibly adverse effects on the development of a child.
Such harms are often exacerbated by the fact that children lack the mental maturity to effectively process what they observe.
The following are some of these major risks.
1. Distorted views of relationships and sexuality
Most of the explicit material on the Internet tends to show sex and relationships in an unreal, and at times aggressive way.
Children who are exposed to such can end up having distorted notions of consent, intimacy, healthy communication, and gender roles.
They might think that this kind of interaction is normal. As a result, this could lead to confusion, anxiety, and an inability to build healthy relationships in the future.
2. Premature sexualization and pressure
Early exposure may result in the premature sexualization of children. Children are often compelled to deal with ideas and practices that they are not developmentally prepared to handle.
This may result in them developing curiosity towards risky behavior, or even pressure to have sex before they are ready.
3. Body Image Issues and Low Self-Esteem
The continued exposure to explicit content that contains graphic violence and other unsuitable behaviors may desensitize children.
They may start seeing such actions as normal. In turn, this can result in their inability to empathize with others or develop a sensation-seeking behavior.
Research has indicated that there exists a relationship between exposure to violent, explicit materials and aggressive behaviors among teenagers.
Internet environment – making it easy for children to access
The internet is a very useful tool for acquiring knowledge and staying in touch with others. However, it also provides children with unprecedented access to explicit material.
There are several reasons why this is possible.
1. Ubiquitous access
Due to the extensive accessibility of smartphones, tablets, and home computers, children are continuously exposed to the internet unregulated.
The availability of the internet at any time and from any given place increases the chances of children coming across inappropriate content.
2. Accidental exposure
Children may accidentally access explicit material by typing in the wrong address of a website or clicking on links to seemingly innocent websites.
Even when safe search filters are turned on, search engines can still return unforeseen and unsuitable results.
3. Intentional exploration (Curiosity)
When children reach the age of puberty, they naturally become interested in sexuality. Unfortunately, a number of them resort to the internet to find information.
With no guidance or censorship, their queries could lead them to explicit material that is beyond their ability to process.
4. Lack of effective age verification
There is no foolproof standard mechanism to determine a user’s age on the Internet accurately. As such, it is hard to limit exposure to age-inappropriate content for kids.
While some platforms try to conduct age verification, children can easily get around these processes by providing fake birth dates.
How is explicit content labeled and filtered?
To help users identify potentially harmful content, most streaming platforms display warning labels on explicit content.
Music streaming services like Spotify depend on content creators and distributors to label the tracks and albums with explicit content.
The most widely used indicator is an “E” label or “Explicit” written beside the song title or album cover.
Such tags are indicators that the material might not be suitable to children or sensitive listeners. And so the user can choose to skip it.
These content filters are crucial in enabling families to control what their children watch and hear online.
By placing power in the hands of the user, the tools provide a safer browsing or listening experience. They foster considerate media consumption.
Some of the parental controls on major platforms include.
- Spotify. Provides the option of an explicit content filter as a setting. Once it is turned on, songs with the tag “Explicit” are automatically skipped.
- Deezer. Allows the users to filter explicit content in account settings. Parents may also use Deezer Family to make child-friendly accounts with age-restricted playlists.
- YouTube. Offers a children’s Restricted Mode that conceals content that may be mature and can be password-protected.
- Netflix. Enables account-level restrictions that allow parents to set maturity levels, PIN protection, and restrict specific titles.
These capabilities enable parents to assume control of what their children view. They will be able to establish a digital environment that does not expose kids to harmful explicit content.
Practical tips for parents to manage explicit content
Parents can implement several effective measures to control exposure to explicit content that involve education and digital tools.
The following are some good examples of practical parenting tips.
1. Use parental control tools and content filters
You can automatically filter inappropriate content by the use of built-in tools on devices and platforms. (These include Google SafeSearch, YouTube Restrict Mode, and Netflix profile controls).
Parent control software such as FlashGet Kids also allows parents to keep track of screen time. They help parents block explicit apps and get real-time notifications on suspicious activities.
2. Educate children on digital literacy
Explain to children what explicit content is and why it is not acceptable at their age.
Discuss online dangers, confidentiality, peer pressure, and what to do when they encounter something disturbing with them.
Promote critical thinking to help the children identify and challenge dangerous or misinformed content.
3. Set clear family rules and monitor usage
Establish digital ground rules for acceptable screen time and screen-free time, such as during homework or bedtime.
Monitor their device use and track the activities in the apps to stay aware of what your children see.
Promote openness rather than secret surveillance to demonstrate that you respect their privacy and ensure their security.
4. Utilize Safe Search and Kid-Friendly browsers
To limit explicit content in search engine results, enable SafeSearch filters in Google, Bing, and YouTube.
Consider child-friendly browsers or modes, such as Microsoft Edge Kids Mode. With these browsers and modes, children can only access sites that are on an approved list.
Tools and resources for managing explicit content
To control explicit content and make children safe, parents have an increasingly rich set of tools and resources at their disposal.
These range from in-built operating system functionality to the full-fledged third-party software used in monitoring and control.
Examples of Parental Control tools that are built-in and give strong solutions to parents include.
- Google Family Link (Android, Chromebooks, iOS). It is free on Android devices. It enables parents to control downloading, view app activity, track location, and filter content in Google Chrome.
- Apple Screen Time (iOS, macOS). Offers detailed parental controls on Apple devices, allowing parents to create downtime, limit apps, and view activity reports.
- Microsoft Family Safety (Windows, Xbox, Android, iOS). Enables parents to control the amount of time spent on the screen, and block inappropriate content on websites and searches.
With dedicated parental control applications, they offer more advanced features and are cross-platform compatible, helping to control explicit content.
Download FlashGet Kids to protect your kid
FlashGet Kids is one such integrated parental control application that helps to guard children against explicit contents across various devices.
It provides powerful tools to track and control media use, which guarantees a secure online experience. Such features include.
- Browser Safety. Parents can create URL blacklists to prevent access to specific websites or entire categories of sites.
- Alerts. The app alerts parents immediately when their child gets exposed to or tries to access inappropriate or toxic content. This allows parents to intervene quickly.
- App Blocker. Parents can prohibit or block access to applications that potentially host explicit content and establish their usage schedules.
- Album Safety. FlashGet Kids searches pictures on the child’s device, tags unacceptable content, and notifies the parent to review it. This provides an additional layer of protection for shared or downloaded media.
With these digital safety tools and resources, parents will be able to better monitor, filter, and control explicit content. They help make the online environment safer for their children.
How to talk to your children about explicit content
Discussing explicit material with your children requires sensitivity and openness to help build trust and understanding.
- Begin Early and Speak in Child-Friendly Language. Start talking about privacy and boundaries early on, and then continue expanding on these subjects as your child grows up.
- Ensure an Open and Non-Judgmental atmosphere. Allow your child to express their experiences and inquiries freely, without fear of shame or punishment. Do not confuse shame with natural curiosity.
- Use Daily Life to Start a Conversation. Talk about what you both watch in movies, on TV, or online. Use open-ended questions, as this encourages communication and gives you an idea of their exposure and sentiments.
- Be Truthful and Willing to be Questioned. Be honest and straightforward in answering your child. When you do not know the answer, you can say so and propose to learn it together.
- Teach Critical Thinking and Internet Safety. Explain to children about the dangers of explicit content, as well as the importance of digital literacy. Show them how to identify misleading or dangerous information.
By creating a non-judgmental, open atmosphere and through continuous communication, parents can empower children to manage explicit content wisely.
Conclusion
To be effective in managing explicit content, it is imperative to have a holistic strategy. It should involve the use of technology, education, and open communication.
Whether it is learning what explicit content is or implementing a strong filtering mechanism like FlashGet Kids, keeping explicit content out is vital for children’s online safety.
The trick is to find a balance between protective measures and age-appropriate digital literacy. Ultimately, the goal is to help young minds navigate the internet in a healthy and responsible manner.
