The best filter is free...
Aug 13 '00 (Updated Sep 06 '00)
While I don't have children of my own, over 300 children a week use the internet with me in my computer lab. We have no filtering software, and I am constantly challenged by parents on that issue. Here's my response when asked: The best filter you can have in place is free. It's a combination of a child educated on how to use the internet and a person who is genuinely interested in how children go about accessing all of the wonderful information that is available. As you can imagine, this is not popular with some parents. However, in all my years teaching the internet, we've only accessed an inappropriate site in class accidently one time. There have been other instances, yes, but those were by children who were testing my attentiveness. They didn't see much!
My advice to anyone looking for software is to save your money and spend time with your child on the computer. See what they like to do and what sites they like to visit. Help them learn how to use a search engine (Yahooligans is a great one for kids) to find what they're interested in. Be involved! You certainly wouldn't let your child wander into a theatre complex and pick any movie that was playing - if for some reason you wanted them to see an R rated movie you'd have to go with them.
My experience with filtering software has never been positive. I run a tutoring business on the side, and often clients who have children, especially teens, want me to help them set up filtering software. One client in particular was concerned that her child was still visiting x-rated sites even with the filter in place, so I showed her how to go into the history of her browser to see all of the sites her Net Nanny or Cyber Sitter or whatever had missed. She was appalled! However, her 14 year old was left to play on the internet until all hours of the morning - plenty of time to test the filters and get around them!
There's no possible way every objectionable site could be caught by these programs. As with the situation above, you'll end up spending more time adding new sites to the list then it would take for you to sit with your child while he/she is surfing. On the flip side, I've had sites blocked because a key word was found on the list of objectionable words, yet this was a legitimate search. (These usually relate to science, it would seem :)
Using the internet should always be purposeful for a child. It shouldn't be used as merely a time waster and it's not a babysitter. Sit down with your child, find out what he/she wants to do, take an interest in their interests. Educate them on the proper use of the internet. Not sure yourself? Visit some tutorial sites. One of my favorites is very basic, yet very informative, called Internet 101 http://www2.famvid.com/i101/search.html
So, maybe for the first few months you'll sit right with them watching every move like a hawk. (That's probably a good thing... you're worried about web content? You wouldn't imagine what can go on in a chat room!) Put the computer in a main room in the house. Given time, perhaps you'll feel more comfortable making dinner and keeping an eye on them. You have the ability to create a filter better than any money can buy!
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Epinions.com ID:
maggielady
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