I need a way to block YouTube and other cites on a PC. My son is more interested in doing everything but his homework when he is on his computer.

Thanks in advance.

Win10 Windows defender has the ability to create inbound and outbound rules.

Type "Firewall" in the search bar
Click on "advanced settings"
click on "inbound rules" on the left
click on "new rule" on the right.

Edit the hosts file with the line:
0.0.0.0 www.youtube.com


It's located in the c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc. This file has no extension (i.e. .txt). It's name is simply hosts. Windows refers to this file for IP address resoltion before it tries the DNS server for name resolution. By associating youtube.com to IP address 0.0.0.0, it won't load anything since there's nothing to load/find at that IP address. You'll need administrator priviledges to modify the file. Just search "modifying Windows hosts file" for easy tutorials. You can do that to easily block any other Internet sites too.

Yes if your kid knows his stuff, he could probably fix or get around it, but the hosts file is pretty arcane knowledge for most people.

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You'll need administrator priviledges to modify the file.

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Yes if your kid knows his stuff, he could probably fix or get around it, but the hosts file is pretty arcane knowledge for most people.

And then NOT make him an admin on his computer.
Still, yes there are ways to reset/bypass but even harder to do.

Why not just add it to blocked sites in the router?

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Originally posted by mjlennon:

Why not just add it to blocked sites in the router?

If the kid has his own computer, and other family members use different computers, then blocking it in the router would block it for everybody. I think that BB61 just wants to block it in his son's computer.

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My wife and I are empty nesters now, so we have no need for anything like this, but isn't there some sort of app that provides parental controls, so that when the boy finishes his homework, Dad could easily enable youtube for an hour or so? Would be nice for Dad to be able to do this from his own computer, or even tablet or phone.

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:

quote:

Originally posted by mjlennon:

Why not just add it to blocked sites in the router?

If the kid has his own computer, and other family members use different computers, then blocking it in the router would block it for everybody. I think that BB61 just wants to block it in his son's computer.

---

My wife and I are empty nesters now, so we have no need for anything like this, but isn't there some sort of app that provides parental controls, so that when the boy finishes his homework, Dad could easily enable youtube for an hour or so? Would be nice for Dad to be able to do this from his own computer, or even tablet or phone.

I'm guessing here, but couldn't BB61 set up a separate SSID in his router for the son (and his computer) and then block Youtube.com from that SSID? Of course that also assumes the son connects via WiFi.

What I am amazed at is the son uses a pc. Is this a time warp? 2000 A.D.? Phones man! The kid ain't dumb!

You are treating the symptom, not the problem.

Command him to stay off of YouTube. Punish him accordingly if he disobeys.

quote:

Originally posted by Aeteocles:
You are treating the symptom, not the problem.

Command him to stay off of YouTube. Punish him accordingly if he disobeys.

I’m not a parent, haven’t been, and won’t ever be. That said, this sounds like solid advice.

Easy to say though, as I’m not the parent.