Parental Controls –Manage Your Children On the Web

Parents today need the assistance of a web filter, also known as parental controls in order to keep their children safe on the Internet. Most mothers and fathers are aware of the many dangers that exist on the Internet for children and teenagers. Yet still, most parents have not actually installed any parental control software on their childrens’ computers at home. Many parents still think they can manage Internet use and keep their children safe online by talking with their kids. What they do not realize is that it is not only an issue of trust.

It's only some naked photos . . .

While only a few years ago, Parental Control software may have been used only by the most conservative of parents who were concerned about their children being exposed to any nudity and other inappropriate content, today, any parent who watches the nightly news knows, there is much more than that to be concerned about online. With no barrier to entry, anyone can upload text, images and video to the Internet today and unlike television, there is no official body that can control what gets online. So what you have today is complete chaos and an abundance of offensive, potentially harmful content available. “There is stuff out there that I could not have imagined even if I tried,” commented one father. “No parent should take the risk that their child could see some of that disturbing material!”

It’s not just about pornography

Kids today are Internet savvy, usually much more so than their parents. They don’t just browse through websites. They play, they download, they meet new people. Parental control software usually includes some capability for managing what gets downloaded onto your PC. Furthermore, beyond the legal issues, there is a lot of files out there with viruses, worms and things you don’t want on your computer or home network. Kids don’t things about the ramifications of a computer virus, they want free music now. And for many people with home networks, they will enjoy the increased speed when their children are not grinding the network to a halt with all of their downloads.

Another helpful feature of good parental controls is a time control mechanism. Imagine being able to go to bed and know that you don't have to get up again to remind your son to shut the computer. A timer will insure that he is off the Internet at a decent hour.

But My Daughter is Responsible

That may be. And we don’t belittle the importance of teaching children responsibility online. It is one of the most important things you can do when it comes to online safety. But unfortunately, there are technologies and marketing schemes online that push harmful content onto as many computers as they can, whether it is a toddler, a teen or an adult. Even a  responsible child or teen can be manipulated into releasing personal details or trusting a stranger who should not be trusted. Parental Controls can help mitigate those risks. You can block the use of certain programs, limit the time on those programs or even block certain types of information from being released (address, telephone, etc.).  As surfers become more aware and act more carefully, new technologies are developed continue to scam us – steeling online identities, creating fake web sites that look like sites we often use and trust, emails that trick us into revealing information without thinking . . .