Condemed.org – Parental Control Information

Parental control can be complicated.  It is just about impossible to block everything you want while allowing allowable sites.  Blocking or monitoring can be done on the computer or, if you have a home network, that uses a router some blocking can be done at the router.  Many routers have blocking and monitoring capabilities but you need to know how to log on and configure your router which can be daunting.  They often also have setting shutting off access to the network.  for instance, the Internet access could be turned of at 10PM each night.  If you have wireless devices the router would be central point that controls all the computers in the house (except smart phones and pads can connect over the carrier’s network).

Another way is to monitor at the computer level.  The first step would be to set up a separate account on your computer just for the child so there won’t be access to other files.  Software may block certain sites, monitor activity, block the installation of software (either intentionally or unintentionally installed, such as a virus), provide reports and alerts, etc.  Keep in mind that none of this software is 100% effective and nothing replacing monitoring your child’s activities.  However, with the many ways to access the Internet it is impossible to control all those access points.

As far as social networking sites are concerned, the privacy setting are crucial so that strangers cannot access personal information.  With the ever-changing privacy settings and complicated setting it is best to put as little identifying information as possible.  Automatic robots scan the networks to collect this information.  A university recently set up automatic robots that were able to be added as “friends” to thousands of stranger who gave then access to their Facebook profile.