Please suggest filters for DDs new laptop, Tia.

[mumvswild]

Hi, have tried this one before but didn't get very far, a
a recent thread about the Elmo tattoo has given me the shivers (even though I didn't click on the link!). DD (10) is a good kid but often searches images and I would hate for her to see something scary.

My DFather gave it to her for Christmas and we have had several chats about internet safety but I would like something more. I have used K9 before but it seems to block everything.

Some advice would be very greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Anyone?

Microsoft windows live family safety center. Really good and free!

I've always liked this one:

K9 Web Protection

But filters are no substitute for proper parental supervision. Personally I don't let my kids have laptops in their room. If they want to use the Internet, they can do it in the study or lounge.

niceguy can I ask how old your DC are? I don't think restricting laptop use to study or sitting room would be practical or go down well with my teens. Both use laptops in their rooms for work, youtube, FB and film watching.

My 17 year old will be off to uni in less than two years- surely discussions about what is out there and how they can protect themselves are more useful than outright bans and filters at that age?

My kids are 16, 11 & 5. It's just what they are used to now.

I totally agree about discussing it with the kids and that's why I always am wary when parents think the answer is simply to block by using filters. It helps to a certain extent. It is especially effective in stopping accidentally surfing a porn page. Not very good at preventing a teenager from actively searching it.

More importantly though, filters do not stop kids from getting into trouble using legitimate sites and top of the hit list is Facebook.

For example a couple of years ago my DD was getting a lot of abuse from a so called friend via facebook. Had I have not been in the same room, I'd never have known. DS managed to secretly create a Facebook account of his own and used random characters as his name so no-one outside of his circle of friends knew. Again it was only because it was in a communal area that he got found out.

At 17, maybe it is time to let go. I mean he's old enough to have sex, it seems a little stupid to then try to ban porn when they can do it for real anyway. That said, what do I know. I've one teen and she's driving me crazy. I'm told it's normal though lol

That's interesting niceguy. My teens are both girls- and I think the issues are different with boys and girls. Not easier, just different.

We have four rules a) don't write it unless you are happy to see it on the front page of the newspaper b) if there is any nastiness to them they must let us know c) Formspring is not be looked at ever d) we reserve the right to look at laptops/phones if we are worried (we know passwords).

It has worked so far- but I am sure some stuff will come along to test us at some point.