Checking Up On Your Children's Online Usage

There are many options to control kids' online time. Here you'll discover one simple way that costs nothing and is instantly effective.

The Problem

Modern parents must be vigilant about knowing what their teens are doing when they are connected to the Internet. There are many options to prevent their teens from visiting inappropriate IP addresses when they are online. Each of the options has its strengths and its weaknesses, however one method stands out above all the others when it comes to maximum effectiveness.

For adults who give up and say it is impossible to keep track of what their teens are doing online, here is an analogy that they can take to heart. Would they have a similar response argument if the topic was playing with matches on the living room floor? Why then is the topic of PC usage any different?

Age Warnings

Age warning pages or age verification checks on sites cover the operator of a site from a legal standpoint for excluding those who are not old enough to view the the site. Of course, from a teenager's point of view, those measures only make the site more interesting and they no doubt check off the age box in whatever way will get them into the site.

Help At The ISP Level

Leading search engines and some ISP's have "parental locks" similar to the V-Chip on television sets. The purpose of these is to block access to sites that have age-inappropriate material. You can modify search engine home pages to only provide acceptable results. There are usually levels of "safety" that parents can determine.

Parents also spend money on Internetfiltering software like CyberPatrol, K9 Web Protection, CyberSitter, and other similar products. While filtering is probably reasonably effective, Internet filtering software has its quirks too. An often-cited example is that the filters block access to medical or medical related research such as thoat belonging to various breast cancer foundations because those sites make reference to anatomy.

Going Higher Hi-Tech

Stepping it up a bit technology wise, there are software programs called keyloggers. Keyloggers keep track of what has been input on a keyboard and can retrieve that information. Essentially, keyloggers are allowing someone} to learn what has been typed on a keyboard long after the typing is done. Also be aware that there are programs that can record everything that has been done on a computer including, chat discussions, e-mail messages, e-mails, email conversations sent and received, pictures downloaded, and URL's visited. Some programs even allow parents to set up a system to let someone know when a violation occurs such as a teen visiting a site that a parent or guardian has restricted.

Any or all of the above options may contribute to a parent's overall plan to protect his or her teens from the threats of the modern online world, but there is still one more idea that every parent should put into use .

Solving The Problem Once And For All

The most efficient solution is absolutely the most obvious one, which means that is easily overlooked. It only takes one sentence; it encourages family unity and it's free. Ready? Put the computer directly in the middle of the main room of the house!

Do you need a minute to get over the shock of this idea? I warned you that the brilliance would be in the simplicity. Undoubetdly you can imagine the look of shock on your son's face and the screams of protest from your daughter that you are ruining her life and totally invading her privacy with this act of parental treason. You will have to endure the arguments that your children's friend's parents let them have their laptops in their own bedrooms.

Effective parenting skills should never be based on the neighbors and the rules they set for their children unless they happen to be exemplary role models as parents. Should you find yourself in that situation, I can practically guarantee that your their children won't beg you to imitate their parenting techniques.

Parents, stay strong and don't be afraid to get that computer front and center in the parlor right now and you will never again have to wonder what your kids post on their blogs and with whom they are chatting over an instant messenger service.