Internet Safety Filters Help Keep Kids Safe

Can Internet filters protect children from the bad stuff on the Internet? This is a concern of most parents when they buy a new computer for their children.  Parents usually feel a mixture of worry and delight.  The Internet can be an excellent educational tool for finding useful and captivating information, but parents are also aware that there is a lot of bad stuff out there.  All you have to do is type in a search word and up pop things to which you do not want a child exposed.  Sometimes, the bad results of a search can be just a mistake. Internet filters are becoming a “must have” for parents and teachers.  

It’s a catch 22 for parents with the explosion of Internet technology:  If they give a kid full freedom to the Internet, which can open the door to a whole world of useful and captivating information, they also are potentially exposing their children to inappropriate, hard core information.  Internet safety filters are solving this problem and ensuring the whole family is happy.  

Gone are the days of Moms finding a copy of a frayed dirty magazine wedged under the carpet or mattress.  The Internet is a very real source for bizarre text and pictures on every topic imaginable.  These topics can include pornography and pedophilia material, but the dirt doesn’t stop there:  hate literature, violence, information on cults and drug content have worked their way into the World Wide Web.  It’s no wonder that Internet safety filters are good decision these days, especially if both parents work outside of the home.  

Internet safety filters are the responsibility of parents and teachers.
Many individual Internet users resent government regulation.  They believe the responsibility for the safety and well being of children belongs in the hands of parents, not politicians. Their view is that individual computer users should decide what is appropriate for their children.  The problem is that parents can’t always monitor everything their children do on the Internet.  Its no wonder parents choose a reliable Internet safety filter.   

How do Internet safety filters work?
Simply put: Internet safety filters block access to any forbidden Websites.  Internet safety filters can also alert parents if the child or student has attempted any of those Websites.  Some Internet safety filters can disallow particular phrases or words and can forbid certain words like the kid’s name, address, telephone number, email or certain words.  Other Internet safety features parents might consider may be a software program that blocks categories such as games, restricts access to certain times of the day or financial information.  Internet Safety filters can give parents peace of mind   Without an Internet safety filter in place, many parents say they would be worried all of the time.  

One of the most recent problems is online gaming, with games such as World of Warcraft attracting 8 million active players.  Many parents choose to use Internet safety filters to block games for their child during the school week.  

Many psychologists welcome the use of Internet safety filters but they say there is no substitute for supervision and educating children about appropriate use.  The best filter in the world is the one between the ears of children.  

Parents can find more information on protecting their children while online at the websites of several U.S. government agencies, such as the FBI   

http://www.fbi.gov/publications/pguide/pguide.htm

http://www.fbi.gov/publications/pguide/pguide.htm.