Break Out Social Media for Granular Filtering
Currently, we have an option to enable or disable blocking for Social Media but I would like to see this broken down to be more granular so that we can allow or block particular services.
For example, I am happy for my kids to access Twitter or Facebook, but I don't want them accessing Snapchat.
I don't expect there to be every single social media network ever listed for granular control but having the big ones, the common one's listed so that we can opt in and out of individual sites would be great. There could then be a catch all bucket for "Other Social Media Sites" which allows us to set a default level for non-explicit ones.
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This is most likely not going to happen for several reasons:
First, why just for "Social Media" only? Imagine one wanted this "Break Out for Granular Filtering" feature for Search Engines, News sites, Blog sites, Car manufacturers, Holiday and Flight sites, ....., endless! The settings would no longer be maintainable. This is obviously not the way to go.
Second, what you request can already be very easily configured, so really no need to request something of that kind. You will be using your blacklist and/or whitelist to achieve this easily.
"For example, I am happy for my kids to access Twitter or Facebook, but I don't want them accessing Snapchat."
Fine, you got two options:
- Either block category Social Networking and add twitter.com, twimg.com, facebook.com, fbcdn.com to your "never block" list.
This will block all Social Networking sites including SnapChat except Facebook and Twitter. - Or simply add snapchat.com to your "always block" list, but do not block the Social Networking category.
This blocks SnapChat only, but leaves all other Social Networking sites accessible.
It's your choice.
- Either block category Social Networking and add twitter.com, twimg.com, facebook.com, fbcdn.com to your "never block" list.
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"it isn't working on my kids iPhone or iPad."
Why do you believe it should work? Are these devices connected through your WLAN? Or do they use the mobile provider's internet connection?
"I'll try blocking the snapchat.com and see if that works." - No, it will not work, promised!
Your settings are not primarily relevant. It is of most importance that the devices indeed use OpenDNS.
Test it from these devices by visiting http://welcome.opendns.com/
Only if you send your DNS queries to OpenDNS, your settings can take effect. -
Ok, assuming then they are actually using your WiFi that still doesn't tell us whether or not those devices are using OpenDNS.
Have you tried the test that robtblitz linked to? If so, what were the results. If not, any further speculation on our part is pointless until we know whether or not the devices in question are actually using OpenDNS or not.
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