To filter or not to filter?

• According to a 2007 study by the Pew Internet & American Life Project, 53% of parents say they have filtering software on the computer their child uses at home, and 85% of parents of online teens say they have rules about Internet sites their child can or cannot visit.
• A 2009 study by security software company McAfee, found that 4 out of 5 parents that use parental control software don't turn it on, despite their concern for their children's online safety.
• A 2010 study by NPD Group found that 43% of digital downloaders were 6 years old or younger when they acquired their first digital content..

Advice and Answers

Using Internet filters, blocks, and monitoring software

Kids are curious, and just as when they were toddlers, are bound to get into things you’d rather they didn’t. Without certain measures in place, your kids can access everything on the Web. And though nothing can replace your guidance and vigilance, there are some tools to help ensure your kids are seeing the better things the Internet has to offer.

What are they?

Filtering and blocking programs prevent access to websites based on keywords or site names:

• An Internet filter is a software or hardware product that prevents kids (or anyone) from accessing content on Web sites that may not be appropriate. By using keywords, it filters out sites defined by those words. Every search engine has filter options built in, as do all Internet Service Providers (ISPs).
• Blocking software impedes access to sites designated as “bad.” Some companies let users customize their lists, but most search engine blocks and filters rely on prescreening.

Blocks and filters are not foolproof. Determined kids can find ways of getting around the programs. And some filters deny access to perfectly acceptable material.

Monitoring and tracking programs capture and record where kids go online, how much time they spend, and what goes on in instant message chats. They can also be used to manage time spent on the computer.

Why they matter

The Internet is the hardest environment in which to ensure age-appropriate information and images. In an unfiltered environment, kids can (and will) type “sex” or “drugs” into a search box and find all sorts of sites you would rather they didn’t. But even the most innocent searches can retrieve unintended results. (This is doubly true when kids search for images.) This urge for exploration is entirely age-appropriate for middle schoolers and older. Given the explicit nature of some sites, you might want to investigate filters or programs that direct younger kids to safe sites.

Parent tips for all kids

• Ultimately, good old-fashioned common sense is the best search filter. Simply tell your kids not to click on something that looks inappropriate. Young kids may actually obey, middle schoolers will probably rebel, and high schoolers will learn from you how to filter out what is wrong for them.
• Help kids find positive and safe sites. There are many new ways for kids to safely search the Internet. The browser Kidzui (with 500,000+ safe sites) directs kids to selected destinations. Ratings and recommendations are available on commonsensemedia.org.

Parent tips for elementary school kids

• Don’t let young children search alone. Even a word like “teenager” can return inappropriate results. And if you filter for "image" or "video," the results could be really inappropriate.
• Find the right filter. Some ISPs offer fully filtered service, but “one size fits all” might not be the right choice for your family. There are also various software programs that offer different levels of coverage so each family member has his or her own user name, and you can choose the filter level for each person. Some filters track emails, instant messages, and sites kids visit. Others offer predator blocking or personal information blocking. Net Nanny, CYBERsitter, and CyberPatrol all received “excellent” ratings in the TopTenREVIEWS 2008 report. GetNetWise lets parents get a list of tools that fit their families.
• Set the content filters on your browser. The two most popular browsers, Firefox and Internet Explorer, offer content filters.
• Set the content filters on your search engine. Google, Yahoo!, and Bing have built-in filters (separate from the browser) that you can set. The best ones let you password-protect your settings. You can even filter search results on YouTube using its Safety Mode feature.
• Use search sites that preapprove destinations. Kidzui allows safe searching by only including approved sites.

Parent tips for middle and high school kids

• Don’t depend on filters alone. Savvy kids can defeat filters. Good old-fashioned parenting and Internet safety rules must be part of the picture. Be clear about what is and isn’t acceptable.
• Check browser histories. By middle school, your kids will have outgrown filters. To see which sites have been visited recently, click the arrow next to the address bar or click History from the menu.
• Check in. Periodically ask your kids to show you what they’ve found that they like. You want to make sure your kids feel comfortable coming to you if something on a site bothers them. Make sure kids know to check in if they see something that’s hateful, pornographic, or violent.
• Monitoring software has plusses and minuses. If you don’t think your kids are using good judgment, monitoring software will help you decide if your suspicions are warranted. But your kids will think you are spying on them if they find out.

Download this tip sheet in Spanish.

© Common Sense Media