Block the tumblr app

[catfink15]

I am able to block tumblr on my network when accessed via proper computers. The problem is ipods with the tumblr app still seem to be able to access the content on tumblr. How do you block the app?

Currently I've added tumblr.com to the specifically blocked domains but it seems the ios app still manages to get past that?

[rotblitz]

Here are the OpenDNS experts, not the iOS app experts. You'll have to refer to the author of the app to see what domain names are being looked up via what method to find out if you can block this with OpenDNS at all.  The app may use its own DNS settings, or doesn't use DNS at all.

Your OpenDNS domain stats may provide you with some ideas though, in case the app uses DNS and uses OpenDNS for DNS.

[catfink15]

OK, I'll have a look at the stats to see if anything obvious emerges. I hadn't thought about the idea that it might go via direct ip to access the tumblr services rather than DNS or indeed bypass the router DNS settings.

[maintenance2]

Note that if the tumblr app isn't developed by tumblr, it may use IP or domains owned by the developers rather than tumblr.

[abeillemere]

I had the same question.  It does use a specific IP address so it cannot be blocked with OpenDNS.  You can block the IP address with your firewall.  Blocking the outgoing address 66.6.40.* should do it.  The specific addresses for tumblr are:

66.6.40.74

66.6.40.76

66.6.40.77

66.6.40.80

Hope that helps.

[csilkeba]

I have a related question. How do you block Tumblr *only* during certain hours? Our NetGear router allows us to set up time blocks and set time blocks for different levels of content filtering, but unfortunately Tumbler doesn't seem to fall into the "Social Networking" genre the way I think it should. I don't want to blacklist it entirely, only limit it to certain hours. Is there a way to classify it as Social Networking so it gets blocked when that genre gets blocked?

[taybrynn]

I've resorted to turning off the data plan during PM hours on verizon using parental controls.   You can do that for the kids phones. That cuts off access via. the phones during the night hours that you decide.

[csilkeba]

Thanks -- I may end up doing something that drastic, but I will try a less draconian approach first. I discovered through experimentation that

1) Tumblr is categorized in the "Blog" genre, not "Social Networking" -- so restricting access to Blogs made it unavailable.

2) I think that for certain apps on iPad, for example, if one is already running the app when the time restriction goes into effect, it may continue to let the user in. I found that if I quit the app, the time block did work to block out Tumblr. This may be all I really need to do in my case to limit time-wasters before school and during homework hours, which was my main intent.

Thanks!

[taybrynn]

ANd by the way, I've discovered tumblr is a huge source of very unsafe content for kids.   Most parents don't know anything about it.  Tumblr, snapchat and ask.fm are not understood by most parents and SHOULD BE!!!   I did also learn that blogs blocks it, but it also blocks a lot of things that are probably ok as well.

[csilkeba]

I totally agree! I've made the same discovery, which is why I am a very involved parent when it comes to my kid's Tumblr browsing habits. I agree that parents should definitely know the Pandora's box they are opening if they let their child have a Tumblr account. Know your child, know Tumblr, and make responsible decisions.  I don't have a problem with my older daughter seeking out NSFW stuff, for example, but my younger son will NOT be getting a Tumblr account.

You can whitelist other blogs, so that's one way to get around that problem.  Regarding blogs and parenting in general -- I might just put it out there that while parents are often concerned about their kids having access to sex and violence in images and video on the internet, they might also want to closely monitor ideas and viewpoints their kids are exposed to. In other words, don't just assume that if it's a written blog, it's "safe".   I'd rather go with the whitelisting approach.

[taybrynn]

I discovered that blacklisting data.flurry.com is key in blocking snapchat.