Do parents have to limit their children internet connection or not??

Question

children nowadays are getting smarter in these computer things. They can use it for studying or accessing the wrong site. Do parents have to use some legal software to limit their child internet connection or not?
Thanks for your answers
- ST -

Answer 1

you dont have to do anything. my stepdaughter is only 7 but when she wants to start using the computer, we will definitely use all that stuff

Answer 2

If you have a service provider, you can look into what sort of restrictions you can place on individual accounts. Like, AOL is very child/parent friendly. They have account controls where you can go in and change the settings on EACH different account. Like you can set it for different age levels and you can even go and see what your child is looking at.

Also, you can look in your web browser's cache and see what sites your child has visited after she/he has used the computer..... like, maybe set guidelines BEFOREHAND, tell them what they can access, give them a time limit .....and if you look and see they are going elsewhere, you LIMIT that access, more and more for each infraction. Or take it away for a period of time.

Yes, there are several software programs you can use, like NetNanny, but I don't think those are really necessary if you've established guidlines and expectations with the child. And he/she understands there will be consequences in the form of internet privileges being revoked if they don't follow what you say.

Also, I definitely think it's something parents NEED to do. I mean, you see so many things nowadays where children are having dirty pictures sent to them or even, in extreme cases, meeting up with predators.

If you have an open relationship with the child and you are doing a good job of monitoring what he/she is doing online, you would be able to squash something like that immediately.

The internet can be a scary, dangerous place. I think all parents need to establish this type of relationship and keep a close eye on what their young ones are up to.

Best of luck to you. :)

Answer 3

I dont think a child should always be on the computer. But if they need to use it for studying, homework and research, theres nothing wrong with that. But you should have parental settings on the computer so they cannot access adult websites. They do have legal programs that parents can install so children dont accidentally or intentionally visit adult websites.

Answer 4

We have an iMac and they are the best computers for children who use the internet, my daughter has her own screen name for the computer and when she gets on the net there are sites that I put in for her already that she can access, she can not even look at a page that is not in her bookmarks, it will not open period! All she can see is a white page that asks for me to put in my pass word! THERE IS NO WAY AROUND THE PASSWORD EITHER! Microsoft's have many ways to get around using a password to log in, look at sites, etc, Mac's don't! Mac's are the best, pricey but well worth it! MICROSOFT SUCKS! LOL, for real thought it even for me is the best computer I have ever owned, I think Mac should now pay me some money for that plug what do you think?

Answer 5

Our 8 year old and 10 year old are limited to the time spent on the computer. It's also in the family room, so we can all see what's going on.

Answer 6

i limit my 2 teenagers computer access to a 1hr period...if they have to do homework thats fine but if they want to get on there just mess around it's an hour..plus we have 1 computer and it's in the living room so i can see what they're doing, talking to or whatever..

Answer 7

Really it depends on the child and his/her level of maturity. When my 11 yr old wanted to have her own email account I was delicately trying to give her safety tips without being too blunt. She looked me straight in the eye and said--I know there are child predators mom, don't worry I will be careful.

I don't limit her internet access. I don't have too.

Answer 8

sure there is; you may bypass to get a firewall (in case you haven't got already got one) and block chatrooms, or you will get a software which will disable the internet after a definite time, or basically enable him to be on for a definite quantity of time.

Answer 9

Well first you can password the entire computer so NOTHING can be accessed. However yes there is software to LIMIT exactly "where" your child can and can't go. Look here:

http://www.kidswatch.com/

http://www.awarenesstech.com/Monitoring-Software/Consumer/Website-Blocking-lnd.html?gclid=CMOx3tWVh48CFSQkgAodXmRxuA

http://www.psychpage.com/family/soft.html (this one is really good)

Final note: For THEIR sake you NEED to use software to block the sickos from finding THEM. Kudos to you for wanting to do this!
G'luck.

Answer 10

YES!! There are toooo many children on Yahoo Answers that should not be on!! This is for adults with questions on parenting... Not children who think they have advice. LOL!! One boy is supposed to be home sick?? Where`s his mother, that supposed to be angry with him????