As a parent, you’ve probably invested a lot of time in helping to shield your kid from all the dangers and bad stuff out there in the world, especially when they’re online. But what happens if an explicit image pops up while they’re innocently scrolling through YouTube? It’s a stressful scenario to imagine, but knowing how you’ll handle it will make all the difference.
And don’t worry — we’re a step ahead of you. We’ve got actionable advice you can follow to help your child process what they’ve seen, protect them going forward, and turn this experience into an opportunity for growth.
Note: This post is more about the accidental exposures to explicit content that kids may experience while casually scrolling. If your child has been watching porn on their own, we’ve got help for that, too. Check out this blog post, this one, and this one.
First, Breathe
Take a moment to center yourself and not overreact. It’s completely natural to feel upset, overwhelmed, or like you’ve somehow failed your child. Learning your kiddo has been exposed to upsetting content online is, unfortunately, something that happens more often than all of us would like these days. The internet isn’t exactly shy about shoving ads, videos, and other things a kid’s face — even if they weren’t looking for it. Even colorful, playful games like Block Blast have warnings about how they present sexual ads to users. So, take a deep breath and think about how you’re going to support your child. They’ll be looking to you for guidance and a steady hand.
Acknowledge Their Feelings
Depending on their age and what they’ve seen, kids can experience a range of emotions when they see explicit content online. From fear and confusion to curiosity and disgust — it’s all on the table. Validate them no matter what they feel. Try saying something like “What you saw might have been upsetting or confusing, but it’s totally normal to feel that way! And my job as your parent is to help you make sense of it.”
Give Age-Appropriate Context
Younger kids are likely to be very confused if pornographic or explicit images somehow end up crossing their iPad screens. Some children may start feeling emotional without even really knowing why. You may want to say something like “Some things on the internet are only meant for adults, but sometimes they show up in places kids can see them. It’s not your fault that you saw those images, but it’s important to avoid those kinds of things because they can be confusing and not good for you.”
Sometimes, explicit content exposure will result in having the birds-and-bees talk a little sooner than you may have expected. Here are some pointers for having hard conversations and talking about age-appropriate sexual curiosity.
Keep the Communication Lines Open
Sadly, this probably won’t be the last time your child encounters something upsetting online — but that’s okay. Fortunately, they’ve got you as their parent to help them make sense of life’s challenges as they grow up.
The most important thing you can foster in your child is the trust that they can always — always — come to you with problems. This way, you can handle issues as a team, and your child won’t stew in silence or feel isolated, scared, and alone.
Learn All the Places Porn Can Appear
There’s more to worry about than just porn sites and explicit ads — it can show up in some many unexpected places online. The more you know what to look out for, the better you can help protect your kid. For example, websites like Twitter/X and Reddit, which most people think are just text forums, actually have a shocking number of pornographic images and videos.
Another surprising one? Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music — basically any streaming music service will have sexual sound playlists, explicit album covers, adult-themed podcasts, and more.
Make a Plan for Blocking Explicit Content in the Future with Bark
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the sheer amount of places explicit content can crop up online, don’t worry — you’re not alone. Bark is here to help!
Our AI scans your kid’s online activities and alerts you when your kid may encounter it online — like in texts with friends. On some devices and platforms, Bark can also monitor your kid’s web searches, even if they’re using incognito mode! We’ll also alert you to inappropriate screenshots, memes, photos, and videos saved to their device.
For extra help, you can also use our web blocker that lets you restrict access to what your child can get into online. You can block by category and specific site to help keep them safe. And if you’re super concerned, you could block all sites while allowing only a few trusted ones. It’s up to you!
For the most locked-down option, we recommend the Bark Phone starter plan or the brand new Bark Watch, which comes with no internet access at all. It’s got no browsers, no apps, no social media — just talk and text to help keep children connected and better protected.
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Bark helps families manage and protect their children’s digital lives.
