So, I'm thinking about switching my kids' laptops to Linux. I like that it, for the most part, will be like a chromebook where all they can do is browse the web. Don't have to worry about them installing weird apps or whatever else kids do. But, how do I monitor which websites they're going to? We have a circle filter, but I'd rather it be an app on the computer that's reporting back. Then it will work even if they're at a friends house.

The kernel has a firewall
https://opensource.com/article/18/9/...bles-firewalld
https://iptables.org/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iptables

https://www.ubuntupit.com/best-paren...are-for-linux/

If they're over 8 they'll figure a way around it.
You can set to a child safe search engine like swiss cows but their "friends" will know a way around that too.
https://swisscows.com/en/about

^ Yes, circumventing a search engine is not beyond an 8y olds capabilities

No 1st hand experience at all, but for a while I followed the development of this app. The main dev sure is dedicated.

Interesting. An "app" for incompetent parenting

1 members found this post helpful.

I certainly hope that your idea of Compentent parenting is just letting it go and hoping that you happen to be looking at just the right thing at just the right time. Parents need all the help they can get!

There are also E2Guardian and GateSentry.

Us great grandparents have it pretty rough too :-)

Take a look at: https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/pwithnall/malcontent/

Along with OpenDNS's FamilyShield.

What I'd like to find is something like Qustodio for Windows. The way that works is you load a client on the PC. Then I can configure everything on the web. I can see everything on the web. Also, it filters out all the junk so I only see what I really care about. Also, when they're on YouTube, I can see which videos they're watching. OpenDNS I'm playing with it now. But, it's definitely not instantaneous and I can't see what they're doing on websites. Also the log tells me every ad that pops up or frame that loads filling the log with a ton of junk to filter through.

Seems like there would be a commercial grade app available for Linux.

If you can install a perimeter firewall that they can't reach it may help. Out of reach lets you control it. Then you can set hosts file, white list, black list, url, keyword, vpn to safe sites and so forth. Build your own or somehting like this hidden https://shop.netgate.com/products/1100-pfsense

I have no idea why governments can't force ISP's to offer a child safe product. ISP's ought to do it anyway.

From the US site. "Discuss internet safety and develop an online safety plan with children before they engage in online activity"

Wow! Must have never had a kid who wrote that. Sheeze. Utterly stupid.

https://childsafevpn.com/ I haven't tested this yet. YMMV

Define "child safe".

Do you believe a seven year old and a seventeen year old should have the same restrictions or different restrictions?

You seem to be advocating having ISPs and/or governments forcing their opinions on parents, rather than allowing those who know the children to make those decisions?


Not sure what "the US site" is, but perhaps you want to elaborate - do you feel that discussing online safety is different to things like discussing road safety or how to react if a stranger is making them uncomfortable?

A parent will have to learn and use more than one control to limit sites. That is what I suggested above. I don't believe any program on a computer will enforce their wishes. A device out of reach might. No, a 16 year old will just get online at some coffee shop that has no filter. Not a child as such.

mini rant
There is a motion picture rating system and at some point they are supposed to deny access to various ages. So there are controls used in common practice. Still not OP question.

Children tend to be unable to make good decisions. Guess that is why we don't allow them to buy dynamite or booze or firearms or vap products. Parents are not easily able to learn, understand and implement a safe internet or play with dynamite.

When I lived in Japan there was one set of rules of decency that applied to all citizens. Children and adults could see naked people in various contexts. Just not sexual context.

I say ISP's could make it an easy to purchase plan that parents may wish to get over their limited choice of providers. My area has only one cable company to provide internet. I use 4G cause that cable company stinks.
end of mini rant.

Simple cut and past to a search could have found that web reference.

RANT
Not sure how the OP's question related to road conditions. I will say a city modified how my driveway enters the road. I tried to get them to make it safe. They refused to spend money to move electric pole. (just one) I asked for a traffic mirror one might see in other countries like New Orleans. They said it wasn't an authorized device. So I bought one and installed it to a tree for $70.
end of RANT

You know that this description is useless, right?
Describing a Windows app's UX, then saying "I want the same for Linux"?

Even so, you can always try alternativeto.net: https://alternativeto.net/software/qustodio/

I also looked it up in Archlinux' wiki: https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Parental_control
Other distro's wikis probably have similar pages.

If I may venture a guess as to why all this isn't so popular under Linux, or so-called "one click" solutions don't exist:

• An installed Linux OS tends to be controled by its owner anyhow
• Linux already has a strong focus on (online) security; "parental" seems just a little addition

So, the solution you seek is probably there, but requires several apps and some config file fiddling.