AQ'S Corner

Photo Credit: Pixabay – Simon

When I first bought my MacBook Air almost two years ago, I didn’t think twice about one small detail: it was built to support only one external display. At the time, that didn’t matter. It wasn’t my main work machine, and I wasn’t running workshops, designing curriculum, or building out an entire cybersecurity brand the way I am now.

But when I tried to connect multiple monitors recently, I finally saw the limitation and the workaround. It turns out that if you want more than one external monitor on certain Macs, you need something called DisplayLink, a special type of docking station that bypasses the hardware limits and forces the computer to accept more screens. It’s a clever workaround. It also reminded me of something much bigger:

In technology, there is always a workaround.

And that’s exactly why parents can never rely on parental controls alone.

Kids Are Smart. Platforms Are Imperfect. Workarounds Are Everywhere.

If a piece of hardware can be gently bypassed with the right dock, imagine what a determined child or teen can do when they want access to an app, a game, or a conversation they’re not ready for.

This isn’t about kids being “bad.”
This is about technology being flexible, and sometimes, too flexible.

Here’s what digital reality looks like:

• If a platform blocks a feature, kids can often find a way around it.
  
• If an app restricts downloads, they can use a browser.
  
• If you turn on parental controls, there may be loopholes you don’t see.
  
• If a device has limitations, someone has already created a workaround to get around them.

Just like DisplayLink helps a Mac run more monitors than it should, kids can find tools, settings, and shortcuts that get around restrictions. And this is why cybersecurity and digital safety require more than device settings.

Parental Controls Are a Starting Point, Not a Full Strategy

Parental controls help. Platform safety features matter. But they’re never the full solution. Technology shifts fast, updates change things overnight, and kids are naturally curious, which is wonderful, but it still requires guidance.

Here’s what matters most:

1. Conversations > Restrictions

Talk openly about what they’re doing online and why safety matters.

2. Trust + Check-ins

Kids need to feel safe coming to you, but they also need boundaries.

3. Shared Technology Rules

Create expectations together instead of relying on app settings to do the work.

4. Teach Them the “Why,” Not Just the “No”

Kids who understand risk make smarter decisions — even when they have the chance to sneak around.

Because If My Laptop Has Workarounds, Every App Does Too

The lesson from my own Mac? Even when something is “locked down” by design, the tech world always finds a way around it.

That’s why families must focus on:

• Communication
  
• Awareness
  
• Supervision
  
• Digital literacy
  
• Real conversations about real threats
  

Technology will never be foolproof, but families can be intentional.

What I Want Parents & Caregivers to Understand

Multiple external monitors didn’t break my Mac; it just reminded me that limitations in tech are rarely truly “locked.” And if adults can find creative workarounds for productivity, kids can find them for curiosity. That’s why parents must stay involved, stay aware, and stay connected, not just to the device, but to the child using it.

If you want more family-friendly cybersecurity tips, tools, and workshops, you can visit AQ’s Corner to learn more.