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Monday, June 5th
Canopy recognizes that the digital world is difficult to navigate and has set out to empower families to create a customized internet experience. They're all about helping unlock the internet while removing harmful content rather than taking a blanket approach and blocking websites altogether. Their four core beliefs are that technology is a good, amazing thing, some content isn't for kids, open communication is important, and families are better together.
Too laid back? Or a smarter way?
When we were first trying to understand how Canopy worked, we questioned whether or not they took too lax of an approach to filtering services. Their "protection, not intrusion" mantra seemed like a way to make parents feel like they were monitoring and protecting their kids without having to be the "mean parent" and actually get nitty-gritty with the controls. However, Canopy promises that you won't have to worry about explicit content since their system seamlessly detects, blocks, and then removes pornographic content in your web browser.
Good technology
Their technology is programmed to protect families from being exposed to nudity and pornographic materials. It also prevents sexting, and allows parents choose what apps are allowed on which devices. The idea is to let adults and children explore all the good of the internet without worrying about the bad.
Honest with limitations
Canopy is honest about the limitations of their service. They say they filter all websites by replacing pornographic material with blank white boxes, but they cannot filter inside of apps. Their claim is that no parental control app available today can filter in apps either since there are privacy restrictions set by these companies. Some of the main features included with Canopy are:
Free 30-day trial
It's hard to give a complete overview of a platform without seeing it in action. Canopy has a handy video available on their website to show parents the difference between a phone with Canopy and without it. However, the best thing you can do is try Canopy's free 30-day trial to dive into their features and test out their claims.
Protect 3, 5, or 10 devices
If you decide Canopy is the right platform for your family, the plan you choose will depend on the number of devices (works with Android devices, iPhones, iPads, Apple computers, and Windows computers) you want to install Canopy on. If you want to secure 3 devices, the cost is $7.99 a month. A family plan of 5 devices is $9.99/month, and a full house with 10 devices is $15.99/month. Customers can cancel at any time. All of the packages come with Canopy's customer support that you can reach by phone or email.
Not our first choice
We wish Canopy had a rating from the Better Business Bureau or easier access to unfiltered customer reviews. It would be nice to hear from others about their experience with setup, effectiveness, and the range of features. Some comments we found were that sometimes it slowed phones down, appropriate images were flagged incorrectly, it required devices to have a lock screen, and it had one too many glitches for some people. However, one of the best ways to decide if this is the right choice for you is to use their 30-day free trial. Put the service to the test and see if it does everything it promises to. We feel that this is a more laid-back approach to filtering devices without a lot of positive customer testimonials to prove otherwise, so it isn't our first choice.
More than ever, parents are looking for a reliable internet filter to protect their children from pornography and other explicit content that is readily available online. Harmful content can be found through nearly any platform or gaming site and whether an internet user is looking for it or not, offensive images and information are constantly being programmed to make their way into the safety of your home.
Understanding some statistics about the pornography industry will send nearly any sane person into shock. The industry is grossly manipulative and exists to harm individuals at every age and stage of life through their physical and verbal portrayals of relationships. They often show drug use and illegal activity related to minors.
Over $3,075 is spent on porn every second on the internet - and nearly 35% of all downloads are related to pornography. 34% or more (we would gamble that this statistic is much lower than reality) of people say they have been exposed to unwanted content through ads, misdirected links, popups, and emails. It is especially dangerous for children who are learning to use the internet, as they trust innocent-looking games and chat rooms online, then quickly become addicted to explicit content.
Thousands of new porn sites are created every week and the amount of easily-accessible, inappropriate content is staggering. To protect families, it requires a combination of strict rules and expectations for internet use as well as top-rated internet blockers to filter out content. Thankfully, there are quite a few companies working hard to develop systems to combat the harmful effects of the pornography industry and other individuals who seek to hurt members of your family.
Since there are many companies that offer internet filtering services, we have provided important information for you to consider when shopping around:
TopConsumerReviews.com has reviewed and ranked the best internet filter services today. We hope this information helps you find a solution you're confident with to protect you and your family.
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