How to Keep Your Kids Safe on the Internet

July 5, 2008

by Phyllis Wheeler

Here’s the issue: how to be sure your kids are safe from viewing objectionable sites when they are searching the Internet. After all, you don’t want them to stumble across something they should not see.

I bet you would like to find a program you could buy that you could install on your computer to block objectionable content, but permit research.

I have to tell you that there is no solution like that. These filter programs, such as NetNanny, look for a list of objectionable words in the site your child has chosen to visit. Simple words such as “leg” can raise the alarm and cause a headache, while regular research on breast cancer might be blocked.

But programs like this fail when trying to filter objectionable photo sites that have no objectionable words. So, how do I know this? I am sad to say that my teenage son enlightened me. Using Google Images, he searched for objectionable sites and found them, even though the filtering program was on.

The problem is that filter programs search for individual words. They never look at pictures, and in fact cannot.

So, what can you as a parent do?

* Keep your computers where you can monitor what the kids are doing. Put them in the kitchen or wherever YOU are.

*Have a login password that only the adults know. The kid has to have permission, and oversight, to use the computer.

*Insist that your kids log off when they finish. As a result, they will need an adult to input the password the next time they want on.

*Use filtering software. It may help.

*Make sure the kids know your expectations and the consequences for disobeying.

*If a child is just using a word processor or some other local program, disconnect the Internet cable.

*Require younger children to use your email address. This will allow you to protect them from vicious spam. As they get older, give teens their own email address, but make sure they give it out only to friends.

Following these precautions will help you keep your kids safe, and will teach your teenagers good habits for avoiding temptations.

About the Author:

Phyllis Wheeler, the Computer Lady, offers these tips for mothers and fathers.. She also furnishes homeschool computer courses via MotherboardBooks.com, which has offered self-study computer skills and programming courses for kids and teens since 2003.

Article Source: http://www.ezineonair.com

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