Most computers come equipped with optional filters that the user can apply in order to restrict the content of web sites visited via the Internet. However, these can be confusing, which can cause enough frustration for most owners to simply click on "Default" - potentially exposing their children to such caustic cultural chemicals as pornography, and may even leave them open to solicitations from online predators.
Getting In The Way
To be sure, such filters give parents the ability to allow or deny access to certain chat rooms, websites, downloads and message boards. Parents often feel that these are needed in order to keep age-inappropriate data off of their child's computer. While they do have their benefits, some of these filters can be so limiting as to deny the parent access to Internet files and web pages that they need to conduct their legitimate business.
You Can’t Be Their Best Friends
It may make more sense to monitor the family computer (or a computer devoted solely to the minor for his or her schoolwork and entertainment) rather than to impose filters that may prove inconvenient in the long run. Monitoring often means adding spyware, which can be done with a simple download - with some packages being free of charge.
Spy software is, in principal, no different than tossing a child's bedroom to see what he or she has been up to. It might not make you your kid's best friend, but it could help keep your child from becoming lured in by an online predator.
Spy software can be had, as mentioned above, at no cost. But top spyware - which can monitor every aspect of computer use, down to individual keystrokes, even those that have been cursored over - may be a worthwhile investment if your child spends an inordinate amount of time on the computer, or if you have any other reason to suspect that your child may be vulnerable to targeting by some of the worst elements our society has to contend with, in cyber-space and on the ground.
