General Advice - Kids Online

[MrTBC]

Hi there.
I have a twelve year old who has just started to really use the web and visit chat rooms etc. I would appreciate any advice you can give me on the best way to keep an eye on this.

Thanks very much.

 

[longhair]

MrTBC,
communication. there are ways to log / view peoples activities while on a computer. i, personally, do not believe this is the way to go with a child of this age. if you get caught spying on them it may damage the relationship and cause even more covert actions.
keep an open dialog, just like you would with school, friends, etc.
regards,
longhair

 

[MrTBC]

hi there.
Yes, I do agree with that. But if you wanted to e.g. give kids internet access but block x rated sites then I don't see anything wrong with that.
After all, they can't rent or buy certain films with certain content, so why should the internet be any different?

 

[longhair]

MrTBC,

that's a bit more clear. your original post did not indicate that.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=netnanny&btnG=Google+Search

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q="filtering+software"&btnG=Search

regards,
longahir

 

[MrTBC]

Hi.
Thanks very much.
I know - I guess I am still unclear in how far to go! I'm kind of mulling over a few options at the moment. I certainly want to block out anything x-rated but am not really sure about chat rooms etc.
They are a worry.

 

[longhair]

MrTBC,
they are a worry, but so can be the person who dialed the incorrect phone number when you are not home. that is why i mentioned communication in my first post.
regards,
longhair

 

[eyec]

i have told all of my kids that they are not allowed to use IM, Zanga or any chat rooms.

reason being; i trust them but not others that visit such spots. as for IM, we have 2 phones - no need to run the security risk of IM.

i also told them that nothing is to be put on the internet with their real names or home location. also, not to say anything that they would not say in front of their mother or me.

additionally, they initially had to ask permission to use the internet or check their email. the rules were plain and simple and enforced. now most of them have learned to be safe on the internet & not expose our OS or themselves to trolls, virus, etc.

finally, at one point i installed a keylogger and verified that my kids had learned and listened to their parents. now after a couple of years using the internet and communicating any problems or questions concerning use of the internet they are probably better prepared than some people that post here on problems in the cyberworld.

love is tough but worth the effort.

 

[MrTBC]

Hi eyec.
Thanks so much - I agree with a lot of what you've said:
"i trust them but not others that visit such spots"

Exactly. A twelve year old is inquisitive and interested in things that they really know nothing about.

I am seriously considering some kind of key logging software just so that I can check that they are being sensible in the short-term. If so, then it can be ditched and they can have their privacy.
In many ways, I'm not sure if privacy is important when it comes to kids - I think it is the illusion of privacy that is important.

 

[BillyRayPreachersSon]

Be aware that the use of key logging software without permission of the "target", even though they may be a minor, could well be illegal in your state / country. You should take legal advice before resorting to such.

Hope this helps,
Dan


[tt]Dan's Page [blue]@[/blue] Code Couch

http://www.codecouch.com/dan/

[/tt]

 

[MrTBC]

Thanks very much.

 

[tazuk]

Just a couple of quick thoughts in passing.

1. If you have a router installed it may well offer the facility of limiting web access to specific times as well..

2. Make sure the pc is fitted out with a decent popup-blocker - it took me several weeks and dealing with a couple of nasty spyware infections before my nephew came to understand that when you get a "Congratulations you've won <insert prize here>" popup window it wasn't genuine .

3. Found this site which seems to cover the basics fairly well without resorting to techie speak. I rather liked the parents & child pledge / contract idea..

HTH

TazUk

Blue-screening PCs since 1998