Home Web Filtering Understanding Content Categories

Understanding Content Categories

Last updated on Apr 17, 2026

Understanding Content Categories

KyberGate classifies websites into 130+ content categories using a curated database of over 1.3 million domains. Understanding these categories is essential for building effective filtering policies that keep students safe while allowing access to educational resources.

Before You Begin

  • Familiarize yourself with your school's Acceptable Use Policy (AUP)
  • Review your district's CIPA compliance requirements
  • Know which grade levels and user groups you're filtering for

How Categories Work

Every domain in KyberGate's database is assigned one or more content categories. When a student visits a website, KyberGate checks the domain's category against the active filtering policy. If the category is blocked, the student sees the block page.

Category Groups

Categories are organized into logical groups for easier management:

🔴 Safety & Compliance (Typically Always Blocked)

  • Adult/Mature Content — Pornography, explicit material
  • Violence & Gore — Graphic violence, weapons
  • Drugs & Alcohol — Drug use, paraphernalia, alcohol
  • Gambling — Online casinos, betting sites
  • Malware & Phishing — Known malicious domains
  • Proxy/VPN/Anonymizer — Tools used to bypass filters

🟡 Discretionary (Policy-Dependent)

  • Social Media — Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat
  • Gaming — Online games, game platforms (130+ domains)
  • Streaming — Netflix, Hulu, Disney+
  • Chat & Messaging — WhatsApp Web, Discord, Telegram
  • AI Tools — ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Copilot

🟢 Typically Allowed

  • Education — Khan Academy, Coursera, educational publishers
  • Reference — Wikipedia, dictionaries, encyclopedias
  • Government — .gov sites, civic resources
  • Health — Medical information, health education
  • News — Major news outlets, current events
  • Technology — Developer resources, tech documentation

Viewing and Browsing Categories

  1. Navigate to Settings → Content Categories in the dashboard
  2. Browse the full category list organized by group
  3. Click any category to see:
    • Description of what the category covers
    • Number of domains in the category
    • Sample domains
    • Which policies currently block this category

Multi-Category Domains

Some domains belong to multiple categories. For example:

  • reddit.com → Social Media + Forum/Community
  • youtube.com → Streaming + Education + Social Media
  • discord.com → Chat & Messaging + Gaming

When a domain has multiple categories, it is blocked if any of its categories are blocked in the active policy (unless the domain is on the Allow List).

Custom Category Overrides

If you disagree with how a domain is categorized:

  1. Use the Domain Checker to see current categorization
  2. Click "Report Miscategorization" to submit a review request
  3. In the meantime, add the domain to your policy's Allow List or Block List for immediate effect

Tips

  • Start with category groups: Block the Safety & Compliance group entirely, then selectively enable Discretionary categories based on your school's needs
  • Age-appropriate policies: Elementary schools typically block Social Media and Gaming; high schools may allow them during non-instructional time
  • Review quarterly: As new sites emerge and student behavior changes, revisit your category selections
  • Use the Policy Simulator: Test how category changes affect access before deploying to students

Related Articles

  • Creating and Managing Filtering Policies
  • How Web Filtering Works in KyberGate
  • Using the Domain Checker