Three tools, three different jobs
Parents are often told to "turn on the filters", as if that were a single switch. In practice there are several layers, and understanding what each does makes it easier to choose and to explain your choices to the rest of the household.
In short: a DNS filter works on the network, a device control works on the individual gadget, and an RTA label works on the website itself. The first two are tools you use. The third is a signal that adult sites choose to send.
We are an independent guide and describe these in general terms. We do not know how any particular platform handles labelling, so we say nothing about that for MyDirtyHobby.
It also helps to know that none of these tools reads minds. They match names, categories and labels, which is why layering several of them gives better results than trusting any single one.
DNS filters: the network layer
DNS is the system that turns a website name into the address a computer connects to. A DNS filter, offered by some services as "family" or "safe" resolvers, simply refuses to translate names that belong to blocked categories. The page never loads.
You can apply one on your router so that every device at home benefits, as covered in our guide to blocking at router level. It is quick to set up and needs no software on each device.
The limits are well known. It protects only the networks where it is set, a user can sometimes switch their device to a different DNS service, and it works by category lists that are never complete.
Device controls: the gadget layer
Phones, tablets, computers and games consoles usually include their own parental controls. These sit inside the operating system or in a family account, and they travel with the device wherever it goes, including on mobile data.
Typical options include:
- restricting web content to an adult-content-free setting;
- requiring approval before apps are installed;
- setting time limits and quiet hours;
- protecting the settings with a passcode that only a parent knows.
The passcode is the crucial piece. Without it, a young person can switch the controls off in a few taps. Choose something that is not a birthday or a simple sequence, and do not share it.
Consider the age and maturity of each child when choosing settings. A device for a younger child warrants tighter limits than a teenager's phone, and you can loosen things step by step as trust grows. Review the settings on birthdays or at the start of each school term so that they never drift out of date.
RTA labels: the website layer
RTA stands for "Restricted To Adults". It is a label, a short piece of text that a website can include in its pages to tell filtering software that the content is meant for adults only. Many filters and parental control tools look for it.
The idea is that a site declares itself and the software responds. The scheme is run by a not-for-profit and you can read about it at rtalabel.org. It does not verify anything about the visitor; it simply helps filters recognise pages.
That means a label is only as useful as the software reading it, and only when the site has chosen to use it. Treat it as one helpful signal among several, not a guarantee that a site is labelled or that a filter will act on it.
How the three work together
Think of the layers as overlapping nets. The website says what it is, the network filter blocks the obvious destinations, and the device control catches what slips through, especially away from home.
- Switch on a family DNS filter on the router.
- Turn on content restrictions and a passcode on each child's device.
- Make sure the browser's own safe-search setting is on where available.
- Review everything every few months.
Our parents section keeps a short checklist along these lines. For a view of the sites' side, the entry page for MyDirtyHobby, according to its own text, links a parental controls page for anyone who wants to block access, which is the platform pointing towards exactly this kind of tool.
One practical tip: after you change a setting, test it from the child's own device and not just yours. It is surprisingly common to find that a control is applied to the wrong account or switched off after an update.
What none of them can do
No technical measure replaces trust and conversation. Filters make mistakes, children find workarounds, and a friend's phone is outside your rules. If a young person encounters something upsetting, you want them to tell you without fear of punishment.
It also helps to be honest with yourself about how much to restrict. A very locked-down setup can push curiosity underground, while a calm explanation of the household rules tends to keep it visible. Our post on talking to teenagers offers a gentle approach.
Adult sites are for people aged 18 and over. Anyone who appears to be underage on one should leave, and be reported to the site.
Frequently asked questions
Platform features are described as the platform presents them; we cannot verify them independently and details can change. Independent guide; adults 18+ only.