Guides
Every ParentMoat guide in one place — organized the way we actually recommend working through online safety: as a moat with three layers. New here? Start with the blueprint first, then come back and go deep.
Layer 1 — Secure the network
The highest-leverage layer. Do this first: it protects every device in the house at once, including ones you don’t control.
Layer 2 — Set up the devices
Deliberate, age-appropriate device controls — real protection without tipping into surveillance.
- How Much Phone Monitoring Is Too Much: Age-by-Age Guide for Parents
- Ultimate Google Family Link Setup Guide: 7 Steps
- Microsoft Family Safety: Complete Setup Guide
- Best Parental Control Apps 2026: What Actually Works
- TikTok Parental Controls: Settings Every Parent Needs to Change
Layer 3 — Navigate the platforms & the conversation
Controls buy time; judgment keeps kids safe when they’re outside your moat. Platform-specific realities and the risks worth talking about.
- Snapchat: What Parents Don’t See and How to Fix That
- Roblox Safety Guide for Parents: Chat, Robux Scams, and Stranger Danger
- Is Discord Safe for Kids? What Parents Need to Know
- Signs of Online Grooming: What Every Parent Needs to Watch For
- Five Nights at Epstein’s: Why This Viral Game Is a Hard No in Our House
Not sure where to start?
The Start Here blueprint walks you through the three layers in order, with the single highest-priority action in each. New guides go out to families on our list — subscribe from the homepage, no spam, ever.