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MAKING THE INTERNET KID-SAFE

You want the Internet to be kid-safe, yet user-friendly. When the kids are on the Net doing homework or surfing, there is plenty of content they shouldn"t see. Fortunately, there is content control software available, such as Net Nanny or Cyber Patrol, to help parents and teachers protect kids from unwanted content like pornography, sex and drug-related websites.

At the same time, some content control applications may block too much. When your fifth-grader needs to research say, sperm whales, your trusty web-sitter may be more of a hindrance, blocking some worthwhile educational sites.

Here are some tips and standard features to look for when choosing the best content control software for your family:

1. Can I override blocked sites?

2. Can I add my own sites to be blocked? Most software allows parents to customize blocking on the Web or AOL Instant Messenger.

3. Can I specify allowable times to access the Internet? Temporarily disabling filtering is an option with most software, which allows for adult use of the system. In fact, most have a time-out feature, which will restart filtering after a set time if you forgot.

4. Can I view any Internet violations that took place on my computer? Some software programs will actually email you a report of any attempted violations.

5. What can I expect to be blocked? Default blocking often includes sex, illegal activity/drugs, hate/tolerance categories, cults, adult joke and gambling sites. Some even filter out Pokemon and other gaming sites.

Beyond these standard features, many content control software applications offer filtering services ideal for families with teenagers that often know more about computers than their parents do. Here are a couple of programs you may want to consider:
Net Nanny

Net Nanny functions in all Windows and Internet applications, including email, providing a variety of family-friendly content control services:

  • Prevent your address, phone number and credit card numbers from being given out over the Internet.
  • Control the downloading and running of unwanted software or CD-ROMs.
  • Filter websitescontaining certain words and phrases from being accessed by your PC. Net Nanny also allows you to create your own dictionary of unwanted items.
CyberSitter
  • Provides over 30 categories of which are updated automatically.
  • A "content recognition" system recognizes and filters new objectionable sites before parents know about them.
  • Convenient time-out feature, which will begin filtering again after a set time if you forgot.

Whether you choose Net Nanny, Cyber Sitter, or another content control application, keep these tips and features in mind. You may find that some have features to better fit your family"s needs, depending on the ages of your children, the types of research they need and the amount of adult access you typically use.