Technology has given us some of the best conveniences man has created while at the same time allowing some of the most destructive influences to invade our personal space.
Inside of our test data that we’ve gathered from testing over 10,000 people for porn addiction we found that over HALF of people are exposed to porn under the age of 12.
Needless to say this can really harm a child, especially if they can access explicit content at home.
This guide will explain the purpose and benefits of porn blockers, as well as reasons why you should invest in one. The article contains brief reviews and comparisons of the five best porn blockers designed to help you manage your time online.
According to new data from USC Annenberg, the average American spends over 24 hours per week online. That is one entire day tucked away from real life and relationships and wasted on pointless online activities. However, the way technology impacts our lives usually depends on the way we choose to perceive it.
Instead of wasting countless hours on the internet, we can use this resource to learn valuable skills, gain an education, and improve ourselves in various spheres of life.
If you choose to use technology more wisely, it can serve as a tool to enhance your qualities rather than dwell on your imperfections.
To do so, you will have to gain more control over your screen usage. That’s where porn blockers comes to play.
These programs are designed to help you manage the time spent online, as well as stay away from explicit content and sites that could be contributing to your addiction. Here’s a brief introduction to porn blocking softwares and the top ones you should check out!
Our favorite 4 Porn Blockers
Covenant Eyes
- Accountability + Filtering
- Uses top level VPN filtering for blocking
- Most affordable
- Great support + 30 Day Trial
Bark
- Full family monitoring + Filtering
- Location monitoring
- 7 Day Trial
- Only available in the US
Accountable2You
- Primarily Accountability Software
- Screen time monitoring + Filtering
- 10 Day Trial
X3 Watch
- Simple accountability and blocking
- No tracking or monitoring
What’s A Porn Blocker?
Screen accountability software are programs designed to track online activity, like porn usage – including the sites you visit and the amount of time you spend online.
These programs are created to help users manage and control their screen time and thus use the internet more wisely. The goal behind screen accountability is to develop more positive habits in regards to technology in our daily lives.
The majority of screen blocking apps are based on a simple tracking system that provides reports on a weekly basis. Some programs have blocking capabilities that allow users to censor specific sites and content. This feature is most commonly used by parents to control their child’s access to explicit content online.
The weekly reports are sent directly to the user and the person they choose to be the accountability partner. In case you slip up and start falling back on old behavioral patterns, the software will send an alert text or email to your accountability partner who will then be able to call you and prevent you from taking unwanted actions.
This system of accountability has a positive psychological effect in the process of overcoming a screen addiction. Removing this bad habit will bring countless benefits to your life, including more time to spend with friends and family, better focus and productivity, and overall better mood and energy.
Covenant Eyes
Our first choice out of four best porn blockers is Covenant Eyes. This program was primarily designed for families, even though it can be used by individuals for single activity tracking as well. Covenant Eyes helps reduce screen time and remove unwanted content from your daily lives. It is a great tool for parents to control their child’s internet usage and set up bedtime restrictions.
Watch Our Review by Our Lead Coach Eric
Users can put blocks on any site they find harmful or addictive. At the end of each week, Covenant Eyes provides a detailed and comprehensive report. If you choose to activate the interpersonal accountability feature, your reports will be sent to the chosen accountability partner.
The app allows you to have as many accountability partners as you want, as long as they will help you through communication. Moreover, Covenant Eyes is very easy to use on any device. It lets you create separate profiles within a single app to track every family member’s activities. The app also sends instant notifications if any user tries to access censored and blocked content.
Bark – Best Parental Control Software
First thing to note about Bark is that it is not a just a porn blocker. Bark is a monitoring software for parents to make sure that they’re children are not getting involved with strangers and are not getting roped into dirty content on the internet.
Bark is unique in that it monitors over 30 apps and softwares that are popular with children and adults.
Bark also has a Jr. version for basic website monitoring and managing screen time.
Bark monitors social media, text and emails, screen time and filtering 24/7 and it sends you an alert when it catches something concerning.
Bark is affordable at and starts at $49 a year for the Jr. and $99 a year for the premium version.
They also offer a free 7 day trial and are only available in the US.
Accountable2You
Our third choice is Accountable2You, a simple software that features real-time habit management tools. The app is easy to set up across a variety of devices, including iOS and Android smartphones, Windows, and Linux computers.
What’s great about this software is that it allows users to assign different partners to each individual device within a single price plan.
Therefore, you don’t have to pay for the software multiple times if you want multiple family members to use it. Much like any other screen accountability program, Accountable2You sends out weekly usage reports and instant notifications to your accountability partners.
However, what makes this program unique is that it also generates precise hourly reports that your partner can check out at any time on an online dashboard. That way, they can take instant action if they notice your screen usage is heading in the wrong direction. It is important to mention that this software only tracks internet activity and doesn’t have the ability to block sites and content.
Watch the Full Review
X3 Watch
Next up is X3 Watch, an accountability software that offers effective self-improvement tools. It allows users to send their tracked activity reports to anyone who will hold them accountable for their actions. Unlike other programs, X3 Watch offers an online video workshop where you can learn more about the software as well as get help on your way to beating a screen addiction.
X3 Watch is very easy to use, even if you have no experience with programs of this kind. It provides a simple yet detailed report and sends instant alerts to your selected accountability partners. Interestingly, this app sends automatic emails to those who hold you accountable in case you try to change account settings or delete the software.
Moreover, X3 Watch features simple blocking capabilities and lets you check your report history up to two months back. The only disadvantage of this accountability software is that it provides a single report for all users, which can get confusing if there are more than two people using the app.
Detailed Feature Comparison
Covenant Eyes | Accountable2You | Bark | X3 Watch | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Porn blocking | ✅ | 🚫 | ✅ | ✅ |
Multiples Devices support | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Supported OS | Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS | Android, iOS, Chrome, Kindle, Linux, Mac, Windows | Android, iOS, Kindle, Mac, Windows | iOS, Mac, Android, Windows, Chromebook, Kindle |
Accountability Feature | ✅ | ✅ | 🚫 | ✅ |
Location Tracking | 🚫 | ✅ | ✅ | 🚫 |
Text Monitoring | 🚫 | ✅ | ✅ | 🚫 |
Call Monitoring | 🚫 | ✅ | 🚫 | 🚫 |
Real-time Updates | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Uninstall/Tamper Alert | ✅ | ✅ | 🚫 | ✅ |
Screen time monitoring | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | 🚫 |
App monitoring/blocking | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Multi-users | ✅ | 🚫 | ✅ | ✅ |
Web-usage Monitoring/history | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Trigger Alerts | 🚫 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Read Review | Read Review | Read Review |
Conclusion
Overall, screen accountability programs will help you let go of bad distractions and pave the way for new and more beneficial habits. Let us know in the comments below if you’ve ever struggled with screen addiction and time management and have you considered using a software to help you through it!
Are there ways around porn blocking software?
Certainly. There are ways around most technology. However, if someone is serious about breaking free from being out of control of their online sexual activities, then porn blocking software is helpful.
I don’t like the feeling that someone else is monitoring my activity online. Is there a way to do this anonymously?
Pornography use is predominantly an online, isolating activity. The draw of this addiction is that you can do what your want without anyone knowing.
Finding a confidant, an accountability partner, a friend willing to help will break you free from the isolation and that is one of the first steps to freedom from your addiction.
I have a work phone and my company won’t allow me to add software to their devices. What now?
Certainly having a difficult conversation with HR is never a fun experience. If your company has a policy that you cannot download software to their technology without approval then they probably have policies around how you use their technology.
In many cases, they probably have the authority to view what you are doing online with their devices. Here is it encouraged that you seek permission from your HR department as well as being willing to turn your work phone over to an accountability partner to help keep you on the right track.
Are porn blockers effective?
Yes, porn blockers can be an effective tool for preventing access to explicit content online. However, their effectiveness often depends on the particular software and its features, as well as how it’s used. It’s important to note that while these tools can provide significant help, open communication about online safety and behavior is also crucial.
Do porn blockers respect user privacy?
While porn blockers do monitor internet usage, many are designed with privacy in mind. For example, Covenant Eyes captures and analyzes screenshots for explicit content, but these images are blurred to maintain privacy. Any concerns about privacy should be addressed by checking the privacy policy of the specific software.
Are there free porn blockers?
Yes, there are free porn blockers available, but they often come with limitations, such as a limited number of blocked sites or a lack of advanced features. Paid porn blockers typically provide more comprehensive protection and advanced features like real-time reporting or social media monitoring.
Can porn blockers monitor social media platforms?
Yes, some porn blockers can monitor social media platforms for explicit content. For instance, Bark is known for its ability to monitor several social media platforms, which can be particularly useful given the prevalence of social media usage among children and teenagers.
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