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Checking up on your teenager's computer use |
| Matthew W. Grant |
There are many methods to watch kids' computer time. This article explores one simple method that costs nothing and is instantly effective.
The Problem
Today's parents must be vigilant about knowing what their children are doing on the computer. There are many options to prevent their children from visiting undesirable websites when they are online. Each of the options has its strengths and weaknesses, however one option stands out above all the rest when it comes to maximum effectiveness.
For adults who give up and claim it is too difficult to keep track of what their children are doing when they are connected to the Internet, I have a comparison that they should pay attention to Would they have the same response argument if the discussion was about playing with matches on the living room floor? Then why is the topic of World Wide Web usage any different?
Age Warning Pages
Age warnings or age verification check boxes on sites reasonably cover the site owner from a legal standpoint for trying to keep out those who are not old enough to view the the website. Of course, from a teen's point of view, those filters only serve to make the website more appealing and they no doubt check off the age box in whatever way will give them access to the site.
Parental Locks
Popular search engines and many ISP's have "parental locks" just like the V-Chip on television sets. The purpose of these is to block access to sites that have inappropriate content. You can set search engine home pages to only show results of an acceptable nature. There are usually levels of "safety" that one can set.
Parents also spend money on Internetfiltering programs like Norton Internet Security, NetNanny, CyberSitter, and other similar products. While filtering is probably reasonably effective, computer filtering programs has its quirks too. An often-cited example is that the filters block medical or medical related research such as thoat belonging to various breast cancer foundations because those sites refer to anatomy.
Going Higher Hi-Tech
For an even more-high-tech solution, there are computer programs called keyloggers. Keyloggers save to memory what has been typed on a keyboard and can regurgitate that information. Essentially, they are allowing parents} to learn what has been typed on a keyboard long after the typing is finished. You should also be aware of other programs that can record everything that takes place on a particularcomputer including, chat room conversations, e-mail messages, e-mails, email conversations sent and received, pictures downloaded, and sites visited. Some programs even allow parents to create a system to alert when a violation has occurred such as a kid visiting a websites that a parent or guardian has restricted.
Any or all of the above suggestions may contribute to a parent's overall strategy to protect his or her children from the threats of the modern online world, but there is still one more method that every parent should put into use .
The Final Solution
The best solution is absolutely the most obvious one, which means that is easily overlooked. It can be stated in one sentence; it encourages family unity and it costs nothing. Ready? Put the laptops smack dab in the middle of the living room!
Do you need some time 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 terror on your son's face and the screams of complaint from your daughter that you are ruining her life and totally invading her privacy with this act of parental treason. You will have to put up with the arguments that your kid's friend's parents let them have their Internet access in their own bedrooms.
Decent parenting techniques 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. In that case, I can practically guarantee that your their children will never beg you to imitate their parenting skills.
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 facebook profiles and with whom they are chatting via IM.
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| Quotes | A smart man covers his butt, a wise man simply leaves his pants on.
C.D. Bailey
Figures wont lie, but liars will figure.
General Charles H. Grosvenor.
First you will know pain. Then you will know fear. Then you will die.Have a nice flight.
Gkar, on Babylon 5
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