What Your Teen Might Really Be Doing in Class (Hint: Not Homework)

Between inadequate filters on school computers and tech-savvy teens who can easily find digital loopholes, many kids spend their class time doing anything but schoolwork. We chatted with some teachers to find out how kids bypass school filters and tips for helping your teen stay focused during class. 

How do teens bypass school filters?

Many school districts use software to manage and restrict access to certain types of online content on school computers and networks. They’re intended to prevent kids from accessing inappropriate content at school, but they don’t always work.

We reached out to Dr. Genét Simone, a Career and Technical Education teacher with Seattle Public Schools, and author of Teaching in the Dark. She consulted with her colleagues and reported on the ways teens bypass school filters: 

• Personal devices. Although most school districts don’t allow students to use their own computers in class, teachers say it still happens. A student who brings their own laptop to class typically doesn’t face the same restrictions. Teachers also report students hiding their phones behind their laptops and playing games or texting on them.  
• Creating a secondary desktop. Districts often use software like GoGuardian to monitor students’ screens. But creating a secondary desktop on their device is sometimes enough to escape the surveillance.  
• Specialized software. Students frequently use IP masking tools like VPNs and proxy servers, as well as specialized browsers like TOR and Chrome extensions like Stealthy to get around filters.
• Mobile hotspots. Similar to IP masking tools, teens use personal hotspots (which can often be done from their phones) to bypass web filters. 
• Opening a second screen. For a low-tech workaround, teens simply open a second screen. When a teacher comes by, they quickly switch back to the screen with their schoolwork.
• Taking advantage of system loopholes. By purposely not resetting their computers after a class, students can bypass the watchful eye of GoGuardian. 

What should I do if my child is bypassing school filters?

If you have reason to believe your child is getting around web restrictions at school, here are some steps you can take to address the issue: 

Start with a conversation 

There are many reasons a teen might choose to bypass a school filter. It could be straight defiance, but they could also be bored because they’re not being challenged in class, or they feel overwhelmed and turn to an online game for a brain break. 

Ask your child why they’re doing it and what benefit they get from the behavior. Then you can create a game plan that addresses the root cause of the behavior. 

Take their phone away (maybe)

Teachers were split on this issue. While some urged parents to take a child’s phone away if they’re using it to get around filters, others felt this wasn’t enough. 

Simone wants parents to realize that if a child is addicted to their phone, as soon as they have it back, they’ll revert to the unwanted behavior. She urges that “kids need intervention — they need practice with swapping their phone for another activity.” 

Here are her suggestions if you suspect phone addiction is a factor: 

• Teach your child mindfulness. Mindfulness teaches kids to experience the craving for their phone and then use coping strategies, like breathing exercises, to let that feeling go.
• Help them develop a plan for when the phone craving strikes. Work with your child to come up with two or three activities they can reach for in class instead of their phone, such as a good book or a doodle pad. 

Set a system of accountability 

Be clear with your teen that schoolwork is the priority when they’re in class. Ask them to show you their work each day. Many districts also have systems set up where parents can easily track their child’s assignments online.

Work with the school

Simone stressed that the first line of defense for parents should be to work directly with their child. But she also cited several reasons for parents to reach out to the school:

• Don’t wait for the school to contact you. If you’re worried and need more information on what your child is doing in class, Simone suggests reaching out directly to teachers rather than waiting for them to raise an issue with you.
• Work to change school policy. If you feel like inadequate school filters or policies are part of the issue, reach out to the principal to initiate change.
• Advocate for “brain breaks.” Kids need brain breaks and may be using devices for that, so ask teachers to build those into class. 

Monitor their online activity

Simone’s colleagues also suggested using specialized apps to watch what your child is up to on their devices during class. 

BrightCanary is designed to do just that by using real-time AI monitoring and summaries to help you keep an eye on your child’s activity when they use their iPhones or iPads, at school or at home.

In short

School filters and device policies are often inadequate and allow kids to easily bypass them during class. In addition, teens are tech-savvy and creative at finding workarounds. Parents should keep an eye on their child’s online activity to ensure they’re on track during class, set clear expectations for device use, and work with the school if the issue can’t be solved at home.

BrightCanary helps parents monitor what their child is really doing online, both in school and out. Download today to get started for free.