KIDS AND THE INTERNET
Dear Dr.Bear,
Now that our family is "online", I am enjoying "surfing the net" and have been impressed with the information and resources available. I want my children to be able to take advantage of the internet and email, but I'm worried that they may find web sites or chat groups that are not appropriate for children. How can I supervise their surfing?
Sincerely,
Cyber-Mom
Dear Cyber-Mom,
You are right to be both excited and concerned about your children's use of the Internet. The Internet is a big place (hundreds of thousands of Web sites and hundreds of millions of pages are available!), and it is almost completely unregulated. The majority of Web sites feature useful and wholesome content and are suitable for viewing by children of any age, but you have probably heard about the darker side of the Internet: chat rooms filled with obscene language, Web sites featuring pornography, and sexually explicit email solicitations.
How to protect your children from the objectionable parts of the Internet while still allowing them to explore the nearly limitless worthwhile information available on the Web? Luckily for parents like you, several software companies have come forward with innovative software designed to prevent your child from seeing material you don't want him or her to see.
While a review of each of these products is beyond the scope of this article, you can visit each of the companies' Web sites (and in most cases, download a trial version of the software in question) to learn more:
CyberPatrol from The Learning Company
CyberSitter from Solid Oak Software
Net Nanny from Net Nanny Software
SurfWatch from Spyglass
Some Web browsers, such as Microsoft's Internet Explorer, have a built-in filtering mechanism. In Internet Explorer, this feature is called "Ratings" -- to find out more, choose "Options" from the View menu, then click on the "Security" tab.
Another important resource is your Internet Service Provider. Many ISPs now offer the ability to create separate email addresses for children and to block email to those addresses unless it comes from a pre-approved (by you) sender. Some ISPs even offer blocking software for free to their users.
The most important thing you can do to protect your children, however, is to talk with them yourself. Warn them never to give out their full name, home address, telephone number, or email address to anyone over the Internet. If possible, explore the Internet with your children, so that you can guide them to resources and information which is appropriate – and so that you can be there to explain why something is not appropriate if they happen upon something objectionable.
The Internet is full of wonder and promises to be one of the most important changes in the way we communicate. However, just as in real life, there are some neighborhoods that are seedier than others, where you wouldn't want your children playing unsupervised. If you follow this advice and take an interest in your child's explorations, he or she will reap the benefits of the Internet without falling prey to its hazards.
Sincerely,
Dr. Bear
