Internet filters block porn, but not savvy kids
'Nannyware' can help, but the best parental control is still a parent, experts say.
from the April 11, 2007 edition
Page 4 of 4
The University of Chicago Laboratory School, a private primary and secondary school, chose not to use an Internet filter. The school establishes Internet usage guidelines and offers classes about Internet safety. So far, there have been limited infractions, says Lucy Gray, a middle-school computer science teacher. "It's teaching the kids how to use the tool in the context of how it should be used," she explains.
"No tool is 100 percent safe," says Mr. Balkam. "It's no good just to think 'I've got the Windows Vista parental controls. I don't need to talk to my kids.' "
A filter made it easier for Mary Kate Dillon to talk with her son. "It's a good springboard into a dialogue with kids about what we value," she says.
Is an Internet filter right for your family?
The options
Parents who decide to filter their child's Internet access may not need to buy new software. Many Internet security programs, such as Norton and McAfee, already have filtering options; check the parental controls. PC users who upgrade to Windows Vista can take advantage of its built-in parental controls. Designated filter programs offer parents more options and cost from $30 to $80. In 2006, PC Magazine selected Safe Eyes as the "editor's choice" for parental controls.
Set guidelines
Most teachers say that the vast majority of children who land on inappropriate websites at school get there by accident. Tell children what to do if they inadvertently surf to something inappropriate or illicit. Close the browser or turn off the monitor, for example. Reduce the temptation to intentionally surf to such sites by keeping the computer in a public area like the living room, so it's easy to look over your child's shoulder.
Remember, filters aren't perfect
When it attained university status in 2001, Beaver College changed its name to Arcadia University because, among other reasons, Internet filters blocked it as a potential porn site. Filters have improved since then, but many still block sites based on lists of "inappropriate" words. They filter bad things, but they may filter good things, too.
Talk to your kids
Internet filters are no replacement for good, old-fashioned parenting. Whether you use blocking software or give your kids free rein, tell them what kinds of websites you think are right and wrong. Don't worry if your child is more computer literate than you are. "You have experience and wisdom and discernment that a child of 11 or 13 or 15 simply doesn't have," says Stephen Balkam, CEO of the Family Online Safety Institute. "You need to bring that to bear on their experience."
RSS feed
