[markw10]

I am looking into getting an iPad for my son but have concerns about some apps that he may be using.
I want to be able to block sites such as myspace, facebook, etc. and I understand there are ways that this can be done through a router.
The only problem is even by successfully blocking him getting to these websites, he could use an app for facebook or myspace and get onto Facebook, MySpace, etc. with those.
If he uses those apps, is there any way to block the internet access to them so that even if he opens the app he is unable to actually use the app through the internet such as going to Facebook through the Facebook App.
Would blocking the website actually make it so that he can't use those apps or do I have to block an ip address?
I know that I can block access to the App store but yet since him and his older brother both will use the ipad his older brother is at an age we're comfortable with him using those apps so want to be able to keep the apps on the iPad but yet at other times limit access to those apps and websites such as when my younger son is using the ipad and unfortunately it's hard to supervise him at all times.
Thank you for your help with the above.

[mduell]

No, it's a crippled appliance not a general purpose computer.

Why do you want a technical solution to a social problem anyway? They rarely (read: never) work well.

[Railroader]

I'd love it if parental controls were more integrated on the iPhone/iPod/iPad as well. There are some there, just not enough.

I run a children's group home and we often have to limit access to email and other electronic communication, but I wish I could still allow them to access to other internet apps or sites on their devices. As it is, I have to be on top of all electronic device usage.

The only solution I have is to limit all of the children's internet access in the house to one computer running OS X with very strict parental controls.

[Cold Warrior]

If you are at home using these over wifi, I suppose you could try OpenDNS's parental controls to block at the router level.

If it blocks too much for you as the parent, just program your own DNS (like Google) into your computer or device and those should (in OS X) get used before any DHCP-supplied ones.