Saw my 9 year old son’s search history on an iPad..

[Anonymous]

I had to get a new phone and the store had some promotion, get a free iPad with purchase of new phone. So I set the iPad up for my 9 year old and made sure that the websites were restricted in the settings so no adult content would come up. Put on some nerdy games like play piano and math games. Then I just saw his search history and it says things like “hot girls butts” and “hottest girls in the world” and “boobs.” I’m afraid to even see what he saw. Is this normal behavior for such a young kid? I’m so upset and am taking the iPad away.

[Anonymous]

Do you not have parental controls on there?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you not have parental controls on there?

I do. I limited adult websites clicked on all the controls

[Anonymous]

You can remove/restrict Safari and only allow them to use apps that you have to approve

[Anonymous]

Are your sure it’s not your husband’s search history?

[Anonymous]

Sounds like it's time for a talk with your son. No reason to be angry at him. His curiosity is totally age appropriate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are your sure it’s not your husband’s search history?

Yes! Definitely not my husbands

[Anonymous]

Parent your child. The internet is not a babysitter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are your sure it’s not your husband’s search history?

No one over the age of 10searches like that. No chance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are your sure it’s not your husband’s search history?

No one over the age of 10searches like that. No chance.

I love the idea that a 40 year old man might be googling "hot girls butts" to get his rocks off.

[Anonymous]

It’s extremely normal and at the same time also shocking as a parent. I have boys. It happens younger than you expect. I’d delete safari from the iPad. There is so much potential trouble, that wouldn’t be caught by an adult sites filter.

[Anonymous]

Why does he have a browser on the iPad?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you not have parental controls on there?

I do. I limited adult websites clicked on all the controls

Yeah but even the AppStore searches .. you can see some advanced stuff for 9yo.

I remove the App Store for my iPad. Turn it on for a little while if we want to browse new apps.

[Anonymous]

I know 9 year old girls who have done similar (interestingly, also looking for "boobs" and "butts" but not naked men). They are hearing about stuff at school and are curious. I don't think they are actually looking for porn and may not have an sexual urges yet, but they are curious and right in the cusp of puberty and want to know. I guess some might be looking for porn, it just depends where they are at. But my impression is that it's a lot more innocent than you think.

It means you need to talk about two things-- sex and body stuff to answer some of these questions he has, but also internet safety and why looking for stuff like that online can be dangerous for kids.

[Anonymous]

BTW I have two boys and they both were searching for this kind of thing at age 9 - it's just the point where these things start to get talked about in school, so I think it's normal. And yes as others have said have a talk with your son about sex/body topics. Don't avoid this. This is also a normal conversation. And I'd let him keep the iPad but just say he doesn't need to search for those things.