The Internet is full of both opportunities and pitfalls.
Kids today have more information at their fingertips
than we could have dreamed of just twenty years ago.
On the other hand, they have access to more inappropriate
content than we could have feared. Does this mean
that we need to toss our computers out the window?
Of course not. It does mean that we need to help our
kids learn how to use the Internet responsibly and
connect with them about what they are doing
and what they’ve seen online.
What about
parental controls?
It can feel like a daunting task to keep
track of your kids’ online activities.
That’s why most Internet Service Providers
(like Comcast, Yahoo! or AOL) provide Parent
Controls designed to help you keep track
of and manage your kids’ online activities.
Contact your ISP for more information on
what is available to you.
How do they
work?
Blockers and
filters are great tools for
younger kids—allowing you control
over where they go and what they
do online.
Content Blockers -
This blocks sites with sexually explicit
material or limits a child’s search
to a predetermined set of sites.
Content Filters - Scans sites and images
and blocks those that contain certain words,
key phrases, or content.
Content Trackers - This software
enables you to see which sites your children
have visited—“tracking” their
path online. This software gives young people
more freedom to explore the web but allows
you to verify that they are using the Internet
responsibly.
Tracking software
is great for older adolescents.
Let your teens know that you trust
them—but that you will periodically
be verifying that they are visiting
appropriate sites online.
Of course
no software or tool is perfect.
A lot of kids know how to “get
around” blockers.
Sometimes these tools “overblock”
sites. Blockers sometimes restrict access
to sites that may be just fine for your
kids—that’s why tracking software
can be more appropriate for older adolescents.
Not all adults sites post an industry
rating that can be identified by software.
At some point, kids will need to learn
how to navigate the Internet responsibly,
without guides.
Protect
your kids from pornographic email spam
Lots of pornographic materials come to your kids
unsolicited, through email Spam. Your Internet
Service Provider should enable you to customize
your child’s email access to protect
your kids from Internet pornography and other
unwanted emails.
Customizing email access allows you to
choose and approve who can send emails to your
child. This is especially helpful for younger
kids and early teens. Teach your older adolescents
how to customize their email account to block
unwanted email Spam and talk to them about what
to do if they receive unsolicited emails.
Take an
Internet Safety Quiz.
Yes
No
I keep our computer in a family common
space, making it easier for me to see where
my kids are online.
I talk to my kids about where they’ve
been and what they’ve seen online.
I’ve talked to my kids about how
I feel about online pornography and our
family values.
I've talked with my kids about what to
do if they end up on a site that make them
feel uncomfortable or receive messages that
are inappropriate.
I’ve established Internet house rules
so that my kids know what my expectations
and consequences are.
I am familiar with the way the Internet
works and popular teen sites.
I’ve checked into and use the filtering
or tracking software and parental controls
through my Internet provider.
I limit the amount of time my child spends
on the Internet.
If you answered YES
to all or most of these questions you
already are doing a lot to protect your
kids! Take a closer Look at those you
answered NO to and think about some changes
you might make to further safeguard your
kids.
Setting your
kids up for success:
tips for talking to your kids about online
porn.
Use Internet “incidents” as
an opportunity to communicate – not
as a platform for endless lectures.
Expect some kid or teenage exploration
– do not be surprised if your child
has deliberately or accidentally seen pornography
online.
Talk to your kids about your feelings
about pornography.
Revisit family rules about the Internet
– which sites are okay and which are
not.
If you don’t have any rules –
make them and explain them to your child.
If you find out that you child has been
to a site with pornography, initiate a conversation
with your child about why they went to the
site, what they saw when they got there,
how they felt about it. Remember to LISTEN
first!
A lot of young people are simply curious
so do not let websites provide the only
answers to their questions. Let them know
that they can talk to you.
Review again what they should do when
they see something that makes them feel
uncomfortable.
Make sure your child has a clear understanding
of how you feel about online pornography
and your expectations for responsible Internet
use.
Join
the Network today to listen
to an interview with Institute
President and Founder, Dr.
David Walsh, about protecting
kids from Internet Pornography.
