Internet Safety for Kids & Families

Inappropriate Content

Many parents are concerned about their kids having access to websites that they do not wish them to see. These include sites that are extreme or inaccurate, violent or self-destructive, or they are simply not appropriate for their age.

Additionally, many sites, regardless of their content, are becoming havens for cybercriminals to infect people’s computers in secretive ways. So while you are keeping them safe from inappropriate content, make sure you are keeping your computer and personal information secure, too.

What you can do:

• Set rules. Keep your computer or set rules in your home that kids must use their computer in a common area of the home. Limit their time on it as well.
  • Additional protection: Some computer security software programs allow you to set time limits (beginning and end times) for specific people.
• Use technology. Use the parental control feature of your computer security software. This allows you to block access to many categories of sites.
  • Additional flexibility: Some security software allows you to set this only when your kids are using the computer, but not when you are using it.
• Talk about it. Agree to the websites they can visit. Review the safety and security policies of these sites, especially if they require someone to provide personal information (like an email address or home phone number) and make sure you know how that information will be used.
  • Additional protection: use a website reputation service which shows you if the site you are going to visit (if it comes up in a list while you are using a search engine like Google online) or have visited is secure.
• Be proactive. If you’re still not sure if your child is old enough to visit a certain site, go to Common sense Media and look for the site and see if it’s appropriate for them.

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