When it comes to protecting our kids online, probably one of the most worrying dangers is just how accessible pornographic content can be for them. And while many parents, for example, take steps to prevent exposure on PornHub, it’s the lesser-known sources that often pose a sneaky risk. Here are five unexpected places where your child might come across inappropriate content.

Music Streaming Platforms: Spotify, Apple Music, etc.

This one catches many parents off guard. Music streaming apps are much more than just places to jam out to a favorite playlist. Here’s what to watch out for:

  • Sexually explicit sounds and lyrics
  • Suggestive music videos
  • Podcasts discussing adult themes
  • Album covers with provocative images
  • Audiobooks of mature content

But to actually protect your child, you have to activate the explicit content filters for each of those services. The catch: None of the main music apps offer passcode-protected parental controls, making it easy for a curious kid to simply turn them off. For extra protection, you may want to enlist a monitoring service like Pinardin, which can notify you if your kid accesses explicit material.

Social Media’s Hidden Dangers: Snapchat and Instagram

Snapchat and Instagram bring their own host of dangers, from disappearing messages to bullying, but content discovery features raise the stakes even higher.

  • Snapchat’s Discover section and Instagram Explore often serve content personalized for your child, but algorithms can also lead them to explicit material.
  • While technically speaking, explicit content is a violation of these platforms’ policies, the truth is that enforcement is spotty, and some very troubling content persists.

Consider keeping track of these apps for inappropriate material and have very open conversations with your child about what they may see, in order to protect them.

Pop-up Ads in Innocent-Looking Games

Sometimes, even the most seemingly harmless, kid-friendly games come with a dark side: advertisements. Apps like Block Blast seem so tame and harmless; why does it have a 17+ rating?

  • This advertising in the games could be of a suggestive nature and even explicit, at times referring to drugs and other substances.

Protecting your child from this means paying attention to the rating of the games and reading current user reviews before allowing them to download. Whenever possible, choose ad-free versions; for a small added cost, it is often well worth it.

YouTube’s Never-Ending AutoPlay – Yes, Even YouTube Kids!

YouTube and YouTube Kids make suggestions based on watch history using algorithms. Unfortunately, those algorithms sometimes send off strange or not child-friendly recommendations. It is especially concerning, as sometimes kids won’t realize what they have viewed until it is too late.

To minimize this risk:

  • Supervise their screen time.
  • Check in regularly on their recommended videos.
  • Use all available content filters across all devices.

Text-Based Platforms with a Not-So-Secret Problem: Reddit and X

Platforms like Reddit and X are great for engaging discussions and timely memes, yet they’re also major hubs for adult content.

  • NSFW tags on Reddit are supposed to keep explicit threads from general viewing, but often that just doesn’t work.
  • X allows explicit images, making it all too easy to stumble upon inappropriate content.

Since none of those platforms have very strong parental controls, using a service like Pinardin’s monitoring tool can be invaluable. That way, you get alerts if your child either interacts with explicit content or is exposed to it.

The internet is a minefield for kids, even in areas that you would not necessarily think. It’s all about staying proactive and informed regarding these hidden dangers. With the right tools at your command, communication can help you create a safer online environment for your family.