Norton recently released the Kids’ Top 100 Searches of 2009. Can you guess what they were? The top 3 searches were YouTube, Google and Facebook. What do you think the number 4 top search was for kids (under 18)? If you guessed sex, you were right. Unfortunately, when you divide the age group, the number 4 top search for ages 7 and under was… porn!
If you think your kids are not searching for inappropriate material because they are too young, think again! Even if your kids aren’t searching for this, chances are, some of their friends are. If their friends are looking at this, it won’t be too long before your child is exposed to it.
How should you handle this? Talk to your kids as soon as they have the privilege of using a computer. Kids should be aware of what is out there. When kids run across inappropriate material, many of them think you (parents) don’t know what is out there. They may not tell you what they saw because they think you will take away their computer privileges. Get it out in the open! Let them know that the computer gives them access to all kinds of information, good and bad. Tell them you know what is out there and some of it is inappropriate material, like a picture of a naked man or woman. If this happens, they should let you know so you can keep it off your computer.
Explain that we are careful who we let into our home, and we should be careful about what comes into our home through the computer. Let them know that you will be monitoring their computer usage as they learn how to behave online. I think young kids (elementary and some middle school) should be monitored closely until they show maturity and responsibility. Parents need to explain why they need to be careful and how to avoid the dangers. This is one reason I recommend the Internet Safety Program for Families. I was not sure what to tell my kids or how to tell them. This program gave me the answers and now my kids understand why they need to be careful. As our kids learn responsible online behavior, they can have more freedom.
Recommendation: Set up filters on your computers to control the content that comes into your home. Each family has different needs so you will have to research the products that suit your needs best. Filters manages the content that will show up when performing searches or going to websites. Some Filtering Programs do much more and have parental controls that allow you to set time limits and receive reports on your kids online activities. Some filtering and parental control programs I recommend are:
Consider an internet training course that will teach you and your kids about online safety. Our family has gone through the Internet Safety Program for Families. This online program will teach your family how to navigate the cyber world safely with topics including inappropriate material, cell phone safety, email, viruses, sharing private information, online predators and social network sites.
Do you use parental controls? Which products have you used that you would recommend to others?
Cammie Moise
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=a245c1d4-c839-4a21-8635-31ad5bbfc981)
No related posts.
This has been an eye opening article. I would have never guessed that kids would search for sex, much less porn at that young age.
As a grandmother, I should consider parental controls so when my grandkids visit I can have some peace of mind that they are unable to access it from my home!
Thanks for the information and I will look into K9 Web Protection since it is free!
I am not too surprised by the results, it just makes me sad that this is so easily accessed. I know kids don’t even have to search for it but if you don’t have some sort of filtering, it will make it’s way onto the search results.
I don’t care to see these images when I search so I use filters on my account. Because of this, I tend to forget the results that appear when I search somewhere else and am always surprised.
For any young child (5-11/12) some form of filter/kid safe browser is really required. If parents do not want to try to configure standard browsers for parental control the easiest way around that is to download a kids browser. If the computer is set of for the kids to sign in then that kid browser will be the only thing they can use to go onto the internet. Kidzui is free for a very basic version that really works well. It send reports to parents with details about where kids go, what videos and pictures they looked at etc. For a small yearly fee they can get special customizations and other game areas. MyKidsBrowser is also very good and allows a 30 day trial, after which, it must be purchased. These only work well for younger kids since they are very limiting and designed for younger play. For older kids there are other filtering programs to use but the best is open communications with your kids. Teach them digital citizenship and responsibility. Its not the technology its the behavior!
Thanks for letting us check out the link but unfortunately it seems to be down? Does anyone have a different URL?
My Life Is,
Not sure why it wasn’t working but it is now.
Thanks,
Cammie