Anne Byrne on sites that help you protect your children
www.netnanny.com
Net Nanny is probably the best-known piece of filtering software on the market. It can be purchased as an electronic download (€56.36) or a boxed CD from the website (also available in most computer stores). It can be customised to filter harmful websites, restrict internet access, monitor online activity, protect personal information, block chat and news groups and block search engines.
www.crayoncrawler.com
This is a "kid-safe browser and online community where kids can safely explore the internet". The software can be downloaded, and is free, but there is a subscription fee. Rather then filter content, it offers a user-friendly interface aimed at four- to 14-year-olds. There are features such as a buddy list, which allows children to send and receive e-mails only from people on the list, created and maintained by a parent.
www.safesurf.com
Safesurf was created by parents and allows internet providers to generate a SafeSurf rating tag. Providers must give full contact information, provide a recommended age range for their site, and identify any adult material such as profanity, nudity, violence, or gambling. The website also provides sensible advice for parents, such as placing the computer in the family room and checking the screen periodically.
www.uk.docs.yahoo.com/parents_guide/safe1.html
Introductory tutorial for parents. "If your kids are more familiar with the web than you are (which is quite possible) doing a little legwork ahead of time will pay off when it's time to talk to them about online safety." When evaluating web content, look for sites that meet the four As of good sites for kids: accessible, accurate, appropriate and appealing, advises Yahoo!
www.inhope.org
The website of the Association of Internet Hotline Providers in Europe (to which the Irish site www.hotline.ie is affiliated) makes frightening reading. It provides information on undesirable activities such as "grooming", whereby paedophiles use chatrooms to groom children for abuse by pretending to be teenagers themselves. Girls, aged 13 to 17, are most at risk, according to this site.
