 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Parent's Only Page
Subject: Parental Control
Register for parent's password
How do parental controls work?
At it's best, the Internet is a wonderful and powerful resource that gives Internet users the ability to find virtually any sort of public information with a few keystrokes. The Internet offers people the ability to communicate, share ideas, and connect virtually across the globe. But the Internet has a dark side as well, and can potentially expose children to inappropriate adult-oriented content. And at it's worst, the Internet gives child predators the opportunity to prey on unsuspecting children. To protect children from these potential dangers, companies and parent groups have developed tools that are designed to minimize the risks that children are subject to as they use the Internet. These tools are known collectively as 'parental controls', and the manner and scope of the parental controls vary by product and/or service. This site is designed to educate parents (and grandparents and aunts and uncles, etc.) about the kinds of parental controls available so that they can choose the best product or service for their situation.
What types of parental controls are there?
There are several different methods that are used to protect children on the Internet. Some parental controls only use one of these methods, and some use a unique combination of these methods. What's important is that you choose the parental control(s) that work best for you; here are the methods most commonly available today:
Monitors
Many parental controls consist of, or incorporate, a monitoring function. Typically, a parent will install the monitoring software on the computer and will be considered the administrator of the parental control. The monitor will be set to record a set of activities that are performed on the computer, and will usually do this by taking a snap shot, or screen capture, of whatever is on the monitor at that given moment. The administrator will set the parental control to take screen shot at certain intervals (every minute, for example), and then will be able to view those screen shots to look for any objectionable content or activities. In addition to taking and saving screen shots, some parental controls will monitor and record the 'conversations' that take place within instant messaging and chat sessions. Some monitors have logging and tracking capabilities that compile the computer's activities and generate reports for the administrator and can even be set to send these reports via email several times a day. Finally, some monitoring software will prevent children from divulging personal information while online.
Content Limiting
Another method of parental control is content limiting. This means that limits are placed by the administrator as far as how long and/or how often the user can use the computer, as well as what functions can be performed on the computer. The most obvious limit would be on the actual Internet usage as far as how long the user can be on the Internet, but limits can be applied while the computer is offline as well. Some parental controls will limit the kinds of programs that can be run, what folders on the computer can be accessed, etc. They let you set up a list of allowed programs, and only a program on this list will be able to run on the computer. You can easily stop games and other unwanted programs by not adding them to the allowed programs list.
Email Protection
Many of the risks associated with using the Internet come via email. Apart from viruses and general spam, email that contains unwanted or sexually explicit material is often sent via email. Most parental controls do not focus on the email function because there is an entire set up software programs that are designed to filter, or block, email. These 'spam blockers' can be set to block email based on any number or parameters, including obscenity and adult content. Please view a related article for information on the best way to implement parental controls on your email.
Filtering
Parental control through filtering means that certain content cannot be accessed by the user- it is blocked or filtered based on certain parameters. The most common filtering that takes place is web site filtering. Web site filtering will prevent certain web sites from being accessed based on the content of the site, such as pornography, nudity, obscenity and illegal activity. Filters can be set by the administrator to also block individual URLs and IP addresses, and can be set to block certain key words in search engines. The list of 'banned' web sites is important to consider. As more and more web sites are launched that are designed for adults or for one reason or another would be filtered, it becomes an issue at to how the list of banned sites is updated. Some parental controls have staff that continually searches for adult sites, and some parental controls give parents the ability to submit a particular site for review. Once the site has been submitted for review, the parental control provider will either add the site to the banned list or will allow it. Either way, the parental control that incorporates filtering should have some manner of updating the list of banned sites.
Custom browsers
Some parental controls consist of custom browsers that are designed specifically for children. These browsers will typically have a layout and interface for kids, and many feature animated cartoon-like characters to help guide and teach the kids as they learn how the Internet works. Many of these browsers incorporate a list of 'safe sites' that can be configured by the administrator and updated by the parental control provider. Some also provide content limiting, filtering and 'safe' email.
How to choose the best parental control(s) for me?
The most important consideration when deciding which parental controls are best for you and your family is the particular mix of users and potential threats within your home. For example, what is an appropriate parental control for a six year old who is new to the web is probably not appropriate for an Internet-savvy teenager. If your children tend to use chat or IM, you may consider a parental control specifically for those applications. If browsing for adult content is the threat, then make sure to implement a parental control that filters that material. If you have users that will be on the computer and on the Internet without supervision, that requires a different set of parental controls than users who will be supervised at all times.
Regardless of the specific combination of users and computer habits within the home, we recommend that you look for a parental control that not only addresses your needs, but that also adds flexibility. For example, some parental controls offer the ability for the administrator to set different criteria for the different users (e.g., one for parents, one for older child, one for younger child, etc.). Parental control is usually not a 'one size fits all' solution, and having the ability to apply the appropriate control for each user makes the situation better for all involved.
Coming Soon! Password protected site for parent's only.
Please sign-up below.
