Smart Ways to Monitor Your Child’s Internet Use

With summertime comes the potential for lots of unsupervised Internet time. If you’re worried about what your kids could access online while you’re not there to monitor them, try out some of these tips for controlling the content your children can access.

Safetyweb - This is a subscription service that automatically monitors kids’ Internet use and raises red flags for parents without you actually having to oversee everything. With Safetyweb, there’s no software to download or programs to install. You simply submit your child’s e-mail address, and Safetyweb does the rest, scanning over 45 social networks. Safetyweb alerts parents of the photos and videos their children share online, as well as potential Internet addictions and cyber bullying. Safetyweb’s goal is to protect children from and alert parents and guardians to the potential dangers of the Internet.

Install an Internet content filter: These filters block websites based on category, set time restrictions, send reports to monitor web activity, and much more. K9 Web Protection is one such filter that is free and compatible with both Macs and PCs.

Besides installing software and purchasing parental control subscriptions, there are some things you can do at home to protect your children. For one, you can block certain websites, such as YouTube. Another thing you can do is put the computer in the living room or family room, rather than your child’s bedroom. This allows you to monitor just how much time your kids are spending on the computer.

The best thing you can do, however, is talk to your kids openly and honestly about the importance of being safe on the Internet. Talk to them about the risks of predators, cyber bullies, and Internet addiction. Make sure they know they can talk to you about anything, and encourage them to keep you in the loop.

How do you protect your children when they surf the web?