Does a VPN bypass parental controls?
Our in-house cybersecurity experts and journalists, renowned for major reports like The Mother of All Breaches, conduct transparent, unbiased VPN testing and in-depth analysis.
With 750+ articles crafted based on real-world research, we empower readers to make informed purchasing decisions through first-hand expertise.
Learn more
A VPN can bypass some parental controls, particularly those set at the router or network level, such as website filtering and content restrictions. It works by encrypting internet traffic and routing it through a remote server, masking the user’s IP address and activity from ISPs and network-based controls.
However, a VPN does not override all parental controls, especially those installed directly on a device. Despite this, VPNs still enhance online safety by blocking malicious websites and ads, protecting data on public Wi-Fi, and limiting tracking. Read on to learn which parental controls a VPN can bypass, and where its limits lie.
What are the most popular parental controls, and how do they work?
There are various control methods that parents can use to monitor their children. They can be set up across the whole Wi-Fi network, an app, or a specific device (a phone or computer). The main parental control functions include:
- Web filtering. Parents can set what websites or words should be blacklisted for their children. This is usually done to prevent minors from accessing inappropriate or adult content.
- Activity monitoring. Parents can use monitoring software to watch what their children are doing online without restricting access to certain content or websites. This helps to become aware of your child’s browsing habits and whether they require restrictions in the first place.
- Screen time limits. Time-limiting tools help set a certain time when and for how long your children can access the internet. This is useful for ensuring your family members don’t develop social media addiction or simply don’t waste too much time on unnecessary activities.
Explore the best parental control apps to keep your child safe online and manage screen time effortlessly.
How can parental controls be bypassed?
There are quite a few ways that children may bypass parental controls. Here are some of the reasons why your child can still browse freely and how to prevent it:
| Issue | Solution |
| You didn’t secure every single device connected to the internet that the child has access to | Make sure parental controls are applied to every single device |
| Your child guessed your password | Ensure that you create unbreakable passwords for every account – this is easier with a password manager |
| Your child hacked your home router | Default router passwords can be found on Google, so make sure you ditch it and create a stronger one |
| You have a VPN installed (or your child installed it) | VPNs can bypass website blocking and filtering, but only when the restriction is set on a router and not a parental control app; you can simply delete the VPN service and restrict app installation (keep in mind that a VPN can secure your children from malicious ads and websites as well as keep them more private online) |
| You use a proxy server (or your child does) | Proxies change your IP address, so children can gain access to blocked websites; unlike VPNs, proxies don’t secure your children’s privacy |
How can a VPN benefit child safety online?
While VPNs can bypass some parental controls, they’re also great tools to secure your children in the online world. Here are a few ways in which a VPN is beneficial for your child:
- Blocks harmful content. Some parents enable parental controls so their children wouldn’t access inappropriate sites. Meanwhile, a VPN can block harmful websites and ads that can result in malware infections.
- It protects your child’s location. VPNs change your real IP address, blocking various websites and apps from tracking your child’s location and activity.
- Public Wi-Fi protection. If your child owns personal devices, such as computers, phones, Kindles, or other, a VPN protects them from snoopers on public Wi-Fi networks.
Which parental controls can't be bypassed with a VPN?
A VPN isn’t powerful enough to bypass all kinds of parental restrictions – it can only bypass website and content blocks. And that’s only when the parental controls are set on the router. If you’re using a service with parental controls, such as Norton Antivirus, a VPN won’t be able to bypass the set website filters either.
Other than that, a VPN, such as NordVPN, can only be of benefit to those looking to protect their children’s privacy in cyberspace. Below you’ll find all the parental controls that a VPN won’t have an effect on.
1. App installation restrictions
App installation restrictions work when parents set certain filters on their children’s accounts. VPNs cannot meddle with account activities or settings. So using one can only be an extra advantage for your child’s online security.
2. Geofencing
Geofencing lets parents track the location of their children. A VPN can’t bypass such parental controls because such tracking works using either GPS or radio frequency identification rather than through an internet connection.
3. Time tracking
If you set a limit on how long you allow your children to browse online per day, a VPN won’t be able to interfere with this setting. Screen time is always working in the background and is based on your account. These statistics are counted regardless of whether you’re connected to the internet or not.
A VPN can’t bypass background device processes. It can only change your IP address and encrypt your data to ensure no one can take a peek at it.
4. Social media tracking
Social media network tracking can’t be bypassed with a VPN because these are service-based parental controls. If anything, a VPN can only help ensure your social media activities are not tracked by malicious hackers, your ISP, or even the government. Plus, using a VPN like NordVPN protects your child’s social media activities from snoopers lurking on public Wi-Fi networks.
5. Email logging
Like social media, email logging is a service-based parental control method. And since a VPN only encrypts your traffic, it can’t interfere with your logging activities.
6. Call and message (SMS) tracking
A VPN doesn’t encrypt standard phone calls or SMS messages, because those usually travel over your carrier’s cellular network, not the internet. This means you’ll still be able to track your child’s call or message activity even if you or they do use a VPN. What a VPN will do is protect your child’s online communication methods from your ISP and malicious hackers.
Conclusion
Whether a VPN can bypass parental controls isn’t a simple yes or no question. Sure, a VPN can bypass some website filters or restrictions, but that’s about it. You can still track your child’s SMS messages, social media, screen time, and other parental controls.
So even if a VPN bypasses parent-set website filters, it also blocks harmful and malicious online content. Not to mention, it encrypts all of your children’s personal information, making them anonymous in cyberspace.
In case you decide to enhance your child’s cybersecurity posture with a VPN, I recommend NordVPN. It uses an unbreakable encryption cipher as well as includes Threat Protection to secure your child from malicious sites, ads, trackers, and dangerous files.
More VPN guides from Cybernews
FAQ
Can a VPN be used as a parental control tool?
Yes, a VPN can be used as a parental control tool in the sense that it protects your child’s information and location from third parties, such as website trackers, malicious hackers, and your ISP. It also blocks malicious websites and ads.
Will a VPN bypass restricted content?
Yes, while it depends on the VPN’s capabilities, many can bypass content restrictions. That’s because once connected, it assigns you a different IP address and carries your traffic through an encrypted server.
How do you bypass parental controls?
There are various methods that children use to bypass parental controls. Perhaps you didn’t secure all of your devices, used weak passwords, or didn’t update your router password. If your child is older, it could also be the case that they downloaded a VPN or a proxy server.
