How to Effectively Block Porn (Updated for 2024)

I've been a software developer for over 10 years, seeing first-hand how technology is re-wiring people in harmful ways. Since starting Tech Lockdown in 2020, my primary focus has been helping people block porn. To achieve better results, you should implement a porn blocking system for more effective blocking on all devices. When blocking adult content, you'll increase your chances of success by creating a Blocking System - multiple porn blockers and bypass prevention layers that work together - instead of relying on a single porn blocker app.

Blocking Porn with a DNS Content Policy

Layer 1 of my system involves a more comprehensive porn blocker using a DNS Content Policy. With this approach, you can filter the internet connection on your device to comprehensively restrict access to adult content. You can connect basically any type of smartphone, computer, or even home router to a DNS content policy. Blocking content with a content policy is ideal because it can comprehensively block content based on categories you select so that you don't have to specify each website you want to block.

To get started, specify the blocking rules in your DNS Content Policy to filter out pornographic content and even block specific apps. In addition to creating block rules, you can also enforce Google SafeSearch and even YouTube restricted mode, which helps filter out explicit content within those platforms. When blocking pornographic content, you might consider a more granular category selection to include "softer" related sub-categories.

Blocking Apps that Show Explicit Content

One of the benefits of using a Content Policy to block pornographic content is that you can also comprehensively disable apps that you might want to block as well. It's difficult to quit porn when also using apps like TikTok. This is because certain social media websites can trigger cravings in the brain that lead to seeking out more extreme content. Also, it's quite easy to find explicit content on within these platforms, which leads many people to block them entirely.

Regarding the comparison of blocking methods:

  • Smartphone Parental Controls: Usually this will just prevent that specific app from being opened. However, the app can still be opened via the web browser.
  • DNS Content Policy: Blocking an app will effectively disable both the app downloaded on the device and the version accessed in the web browser.

Furthermore, if you are trying to block applications, you might need to block more than one domain. For example, if you want to block tiktok, its not enough to block tiktok.com. The TikTok app would still work. You have to also block a few other domains like tiktokcdn.com to cause the app to stop functioning properly. A simpler way to do this is to customize your content policy to specify an app you want to block. For example, selecting the YouTube app would block youtube.com and all associated domains that the app depends on.

Scheduling Social Media, Video Streaming, and Internet Usage

Another reason why a DNS Content Policy is a core part of my recommend blocking system is that you can schedule internet usage: when you access certain apps or websites and even the entire internet. It's simple to do this by first editing your DNS Content Policy to select a category, app, or domain that should be blocked. Then, assign a schedule to that rule. You can pick days of the week and time ranges to apply the block. I personally use this approach to limit my access to news and social media to my lunch break. Otherwise, I always block these categories and apps.

Here are some scheduling considerations when trying to break adult content addiction:

  • Social Media
  • Video Streaming apps like YouTube
  • The entire internet (at night)

You should also set internet shut off times at night, which is when many people tend to struggle the most with willpower. This approach is ideal because it takes 4g/5g connections into account, not just your home Wifi.