I am writing as a bochur who is sincerely working on maintaining kedushah in an increasingly challenging world. The struggle for shmiras habris is real, and for many of us, having proper internet filtering is not just a convenience—it’s a necessity. However, the current high costs of premium computer (not smartphones which are subsidized) filters such as Techloq and GenTech make this struggle hard.
For a bochur, especially one who may be in yeshiva or just starting out in life, finances are often very limited. When the only high-quality filtering options come at a steep price, it creates a painful dilemma: either take the risk of using unfiltered or poorly filtered internet, or strain to afford the protection needed for spiritual well-being.
Filtering should not be a business—it should be a chessed. Just as organizations exist to help with tzedakah, food, and medical expenses, the fight for kedushah should be a communal responsibility. Instead of operating for profit, internet filters should be sponsored by those who care about the ruchniyus of Klal Yisrael, ensuring that every Yid will be able to access that protection without any financial strain. No one should have to make that choice- which many times will leave spritual pursuits by the wayside.
Many of us deeply want to do the right thing but feel that proper tools are being placed out of reach. A more affordable solution—or at least financial assistance for those who need it—would make a world of difference in ensuring that every bochur has access to this protection.
I urge those in positions of influence to recognize this reality and work towards making internet filtering more affordable and accessible, so that maintaining Kedusha can be something we can all strive for.
Thank you for taking the time to read and consider this concern. I hope that together, we can find a way to make internet safety a priority for all!
– A Bachur with an unfiltered laptop, striving for more!
The views expressed in this letter are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of YWN. Have an opinion you would like to share? Send it to us for review.
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34 Responses
It’s 10$ a month.
Get a job.
Dear Bochur
Good for you for realizing the importance of a filter. I want to let you in on some good advice- you can put a cheap filter on your laptop too. Look into Qustodio- even their premium plan is very affordable. You can set all sort of customizable settings, you can choose to block all websites besides the one you select, or allow all besides the ones you block. You can set basic settings etc. Set it all as though you are a very young child. Believe me, this works well enough and is a lot better than having no filter at all!
Hey we had this convo already in the coffee room.
Yeah, you are right but unfortunatelly it will be an extrmely hard task to raise the proper funds for this kind of task.
What an unbelievable CHUTZPA this guy has!
If I met him, and heard him say this, I would probably give my big potch. No one owes you anything in life! You want stuff, you need to pay for it. You paid for your computer. You paid for your phone. So pay for this also. If you don’t want to pay for this, get rid of your phone and get rid of your computer.
Such chutzpah it’s disgusting. Who do you think you are anyway? Get a life. Get a real job!
If your limited finances are more important than your kedusha vtaraha maybe think about going to work.
You can’t put a price on kashrus. Your Rav will not give you a hetter to eat traif, if kosher meat is too expensive or inferior. The filtering that the hamish community wants is a high maintenance product. Most filtering company’s make verry little profit. The demands that people have for $15 dollars per a subscription a month is ridiculous. (cheaper then a Stitzel sandwich)
Perhaps if you can’t afford to financially prioritize having a filter as a yeshiva bachur it would behove to get a job so you can afford kedushah vtahara?
You want free???? Try K-9! If it’s not available anymore, that’s because it was free.
IF YOU TRULY WANTED TO KEEP TO STANDARDS OF KEDUSHA THEN YOU PAY THE 139 A YEAR FOR TECHLOQ FILTER IF IT COMES TO IT YOU COULD BE MAACHIZIR AL HAPESACHIM (KNOCK ON DOORS) TO COLLECT THE 139 BUCKS THE WRITTER HERE IS NOT GENUINE HES JUST LOOKING TO MAKE HOCK
I’ve analyzed the cost of internet filters and found that they are relatively inexpensive, ranging from $10 to $15 per month. Considering the importance of protecting oneself and loved ones from inappropriate content, this expense seems negligible.
To put this into perspective, the cost is equivalent to forgoing a single schnitzel sandwich per month. Alternatively, exploring alternative revenue streams, such as cleaning 2 cars for Pesach or tutoring a younger child just 2-3 times, can easily offset the cost for an entire year.
The fact that you’re complaining about the expense despite its affordability and the availability of various means to subsidize it suggests that internet filtering is not a priority for you.
Totally disagree with this. I’m in Kollel and I happily pay almost $300 a year for Techloq on my laptop and my wives laptop. Techloq is extremely high-tech and their product is very very good. They also pay many employees and have invested huge amounts of money to get the product to where it is. There is no reason why it should be free. The idea that ruchnius related things should be free or chessed based is totally false. Rebbeim, Shadchanus and and Shul Membership (having a Rov) are all essential to ruchnius, nobody claims these things should be free. There are countless organizations or programs that are willing to fund or subsidize internet filters. If you can’t afford it, there are chessed organisations out there to help you. The suggestion that the product itself should be a chessed or free is preposterous and unsustainable. Furthermore, if you can afford a laptop and filtering it was a real priority you could find $13 a month for an internet filter. Get takeout’s 1 less time per month and you’ll afford a filter.
Thank you for bringing this up! I am an Avreich learning in Yerushalayim, and a few days after the start of the month, before doing our monthly shopping or spending any money on Purim, we were notified that our debit card was already empty. The cause? My wife’s laptop and phone filter. We are constantly told about the importance of having a filter for Kedushas HaBayis, but how are we supposed to do this if we are struggling financially? Also, as a bochur, I tried to convince my parents to get a filter, (a free filter for anyone who can guess why I thought we needed one 🤣). The response? It is too expensive. How are we supposed to convince people who don’t understand the dangers of an unfiltered internet to get a filter for the sake of their children if it costs so much?
I have always had a dream of becoming rich one day and opening a gemach for exactly this. Give every family one free device filter and heavily subsidize subsequent devices on a scale…
Ah well. Still waiting for the money…
Dear Bachur,
Do you ever go out to eat? Do you buy vapes? Do you buy new shoes/suits etc.? Your ruchniyus safety comes WAY before any of your gashmius concerns. You should first use that money towards a once-a-year $150 purchase of a filter and give up on your Thursday night cholents or whatever else it is that you are buying. What this letter sounds like is a way for you to excuse your unfiltered internet by blaming it on someone else. It’s now the filter company’s fault that you are watching inappropriate content, instead of your own fault for not prioritizing your money in a way that saves your spiritual life. I’m not even approaching the question of why you need a computer if it’s not for parnassah- in which case the money you earn should pay for your filter. Your letter shows your lack of responsibility for your own self and the deep pit you’re digging for yourself later in life. Please take responsibility for your actions!
A concerned mother
Dear Bachur,
The majority of Frum Jews can afford to pay for a filter, that’s why there’s no chesed organization covering it. Even a bachur has ways to earn enough money to pay for a filter. I encourage you to ignore the urge to wish that important things were free or paid for by others. Take responsibility for yourself & Hashem will help you earn enough to pay for this service. I believe the filtering companies would be willing to offer a discount if needed. Stop feeling financially helpless & lookout for short term jobs, you’ll earn the couple 100 dollars in no time, BEZ”H
If you can afford a computer and internet then you can pay for a filter it you want it, its your own responsibility just like any other religious item kapel /tzitis… you pay for the filter companies dont work for you and are not obligated to provide you anything for free
WHile i have a lot of disagreements with this bochurs sentiments. @YWN please share my email with him. I will bl”n sponsor his filter.
This is a Purim joke, I am surprised how many people fell for it! (It’s not expensive to have a filter).
Webchaver does it for free if you give them a good reason why you can’t afford it.
It’s a crying shame that with all the freeware posted online we don’t have freeware filters. I highly recommend buying an old iPhone and having a friend using parental controls to whitelist websites. Or buy a Sonim or Schock phone that comes with parental controls (though not really a whitelist).
It’s a churban that TAG collects money and does not provide free filters. It’s also a churban that don’t have recommendations for people who want to buy a kashered whitelisted smartphone.
The war on technology needs to be fought with the understanding that not everyone is on board with the same standard.
Both sides are correct. You shouldn’t expect handouts; so cut back on something small in your life to pay for it. But at the same time, if yeshivas/and the general yeshiva society are mandating something, then they need to help provide it.
PSA: the non Jewish companies provide filtering for a fraction of the cost of the Jewish ones, and there are also free options. Google Family Link, Apple Parental Controls, Microsoft Safe Family.
Google Qustodio, Norton, etc. There’s no need to be taken advantage of and there’s no need to buy the “Jewish” filters.
I’m from London UK, and also a bochur, and id just like to reply to some of the comments.
The first few replies, especially @jerseyjew really infuriated me, it’s probs coming from an idiot from jersey whose never heard of shmiras habris, and has probably been divorced 3 times…
Anyone who say’s that its not expensive, that’s an opinion, since some find it hard to cough up £15 a month. those who are saying that if you could afford a laptop, then you should be able to afford a filter, I’ve never heard something so stupid in my life, it’s like telling someone who finds the financial stress of yom tov hard, that he shouldn’t go on a summer vacation…. in this day and age people need a computer, and it’s expensive to add a filter…
Especially since the yetzer horah just tells you that you shouldn’t pay and you will manage to control yourself, which unfortunately I have fallen for multiple times, and ended up in a bad place…
Another point is bochurim who come home for a shabbos off for 3/4 days, and have to pay for a full month, I think is very hard….
I can’t understand why askonim could not collect say 100000 dollars or so and create a system which will be totally non profit, and cost a 5er or so….
It’s funny this came up, because I’ve recently been discussing it, and I think there is allot to be sorted, and anyone who disagrees, clearly doesn’t care about shmiras habris, I hope people can help…
Gentech is something like $15 a month. Actually it’s the same price for smartphone too…. Just the price
Posted before finished typing
Just the price goes down if you add a few devices.
Bottom line; it’s not expensive. It costs money, like pretty much anything in life.
I respect @chash the only one who has a yiddeshe heart. The rest of you right or wrong the way you lash out at him is terrible. @chash you make the world a better place. I like you.
HE IS RIGHT
WHEN THIS HOLE THING STARTED IT WAS UNDER $40.00 DOLLERS
NOW THEY ARE DOWN ON US THEY CAN MAKE MONEY ON US AND CHARGE $139.00
A YEAR???????????? WHY???????????????? TO LINE THERE POCKETS???????????????
I STOPT THIS HOLE TAG THING
NO NO THEY WONT POCKET MY MONEY JUST LOOK AT THE BUILDING SHONBERGER PAYD FOR IT
I TELL THE RABUNEM THE BL**D IS ON THERE HANDS
JUST GIVE A GOOD LOOK AT KOSHER L’PASACH STUFF
WHEN I WAS GROWING UP 50 YEARS AGO THERE WAS NOTHING NOTHING
ONLY OBERLANDERS AND NOW EVERY THING THAT CAN PUT MONEY IN THERE POCKETS IS KOSHER L’PASACH
CAN YOU PLESE EXPLAINE THIS????????????????????????
If it is an inyan of arayos bordering on yaharaig vaal yaavor, why is the monthly expense part of the cheshbon? If it an inyan of mental and psychological well being……. if it something whihc can affect who you are and impact your whole life, why is 15 dollars or pounds a month part of the cheshbon? And if money is that tight, go the the Rosh yweshiva or Mashgiach and they will guide and assist you. That is part of their resonsibility/opportunity.
Leolam yehay adam yiray shomayim….
Please contact me through YWN and bli neder I’ll cover your filter cost for a couple of years.
So many posts about filters that are supposed to help you control yourself in the privacy of your own room. Don’t go there. Start with positioning your device in the public area of the house facing other people and allow several people to use the same account. Better desktop, but you can also tie your laptop there. This requires no monthly fees.
I can’t believe I reacted to this without realizing that YWN pays people to write these things as a trigger and clickbait.
The writer phrases the question as “take the risk of using unfiltered or poorly filtered internet.” The word “risk” here implies he might be able to stay clean with the unfiltered or poorly filtered internet. That’s a big mistake! It’s not a ספק that he will be נכשל, it’s a ודאי! It’s just a matter of time until it happens. I know that from speaking to people “in the know” for many years. I think that bit of information should solve the dilemma here.
I couldn’t help but notice the contradiction in your words. You’re willing to pay for your clothes, phone, and laptop—yet when it comes to protecting your soul, you suddenly expect the world to fund it for you? The idea that others owe you tzedakah for a basic internet filter is, frankly, ridiculous.
When you purchased your device, this is something that should have been thought through. Actions have consequences, and taking responsibility for your choices is part of life. There are free filtering options available that block everything except email, and if you truly need a browser, there are solid filters for as little as $10 a month—far less than what you’re already spending on your devices. Additionally, platforms like Microsoft Family Safety offer free filtering solutions that can be managed by a friend or family member.
The bottom line? If you actually care about filtering your device, the solutions are out there. Expecting others to foot the bill isn’t a matter of need—it’s a matter of misplaced priorities.