Kids are getting older - time for filtering o.O

primesuspectprimesuspect Beepin n' BoopinDetroit, MI Icrontian
edited November 2004 in Science & Tech
My oldest son is about to turn 7. He goes on the internet, he knows how to find homestar runner and weebl's stuff and other things that he's into. He also knows how to read.

It is just a matter of time before he goes onto google or something and types in something ha ha funny like "butt" or "poop" or something. Typical 7-year-old stuff.

So, I've never had to worry about content filters before. I know a lot of you have kids. Any recommendations?

Comments

  • ketoketo Occupied. Or is it preoccupied? Icrontian
    edited November 2004
    I'm not preaching. Nothing replaces supervision. Keep the monitor pointed where it can be seen by adults at all times. You might learn something. :thumbsup:;D

    Sorry, I got nothing. I'm sure at least 2 of our 3 have been there done that but we ain't caught em yet.

    I just googled 'poop' :wtf: tho I'm pretty sure it's going to be more innocuous than 'butt' :eek:
  • BlackHawkBlackHawk Bible music connoisseur There's no place like 127.0.0.1 Icrontian
    edited November 2004
    You could always try those type of programs like Net Nanny (there's a trial version).
  • TheBaronTheBaron Austin, TX
    edited November 2004
    what blackhawk said + different users on winxp so YOU dont have to deal with it
  • a2jfreaka2jfreak Houston, TX Member
    edited November 2004
    I don't think you should depend on filters soley. I think you should also supervise his Internet usage because filters won't catch everything.
  • primesuspectprimesuspect Beepin n' Boopin Detroit, MI Icrontian
    edited November 2004
    They have their own computers, so I don't need to worry about locking them down.

    Let me restate:

    Yes, parental involvement is the single best way to prevent the kids from seeing questionable content on the internet, I am fully aware of that. But we were all kids at one point, we all know that it is impossible to be standing over their shoulders at all times. I am looking for a technical solution to supplement my awesome dadding skills. :thumbsup:
  • DexterDexter Vancouver, BC Canada
    edited November 2004
    Ok, not a technical solution, but here's what I do:

    Random cache snooping

    ...and let them know once in a while what you found there...

    Works until they know how to delete the cache and clean their history, but there are ways around that too...

    Dexter...
  • primesuspectprimesuspect Beepin n' Boopin Detroit, MI Icrontian
    edited November 2004
    For older kids, that's what I'll do. However, my kids aren't at the age yet where they're going to be maliciously or deliberately looking for naughty stuff. What I am hoping to avoid is the "accidental" **** porn site or "assman" site or something like that. I have the safesearch filter turned on for google, but as we all know, it is extremely easy to find extremely disturbing sites, and I don't want my kids to find a ****-eaters site accidentally.

    So, nobody uses any filtering products that they recommend? That surprises me.....
  • SchWartzSchWartz
    edited November 2004
    First, if you like having google for your home page, adjust its settings/preferences so google does some screening for you. This isn't fool proof, though. Even on the highest screening, some inappropriate images are returned on an image search. Alternatively, find a good feeder site for kids and make it your home page. It will take him awhile to figure out how to escape the honey trap. Some possible ones might be the Amer. Library Assn 700 sites for kids http://www.ala.org/ala/alsc/greatwebsites/greatwebsiteskids.htm or KEWL kids at http://raven.cybercomm.net/~teach/, or surprise him with a new parent-vetted one every couple of weeks or months...tailored to what he's interested in. (captain underpants or lemony snicket are big with the 7-8 year old crowd)
    Second, take a look at http://www.getnetwise.org/. It has just about every parent- control-of-the-computer tool you can imagine.
    Third, remove IE shortcuts, so he only uses Firefox and doesn't ruin your computer. Hide any IMs and pretend you never heard of 'em.
  • primesuspectprimesuspect Beepin n' Boopin Detroit, MI Icrontian
    edited November 2004
    We're a Firefox-only family :)

    His homepage is homestar runner, I think he's okay with that. I might even block google entirely (in his hosts file) and if he ever needs to search for something, I can help him with that.

    I'll definitely check out the links. This is exactly the stuff I was looking for. Thanks, man! :D
  • botheredbothered Manchester UK
    edited November 2004
    My PCs are in the living room so are observable at all times. When our eldest got old enough to stay up later than us I installed a prog to shut it down at midnight. It took him a week to bypass that one. I don't know of anything that will stop everything, we just don't allow PCs in bedrooms.
  • ShortyShorty Manchester, UK Icrontian
    edited November 2004
    http://www.solidoak.com/

    Comes quite highly recommend... a good source of information is:

    http://www.kidsdomain.com/features/safesurf/index.html

    You are an awesome dad mate, so Im sure they will surf safe :thumbsup:
  • PreacherPreacher Potomac, MD Icrontian
    edited November 2004
    Prime,
    my wife and I have had good success with regular periodic monitoring and supervision as well as a blocked site/text list from our router. He's 9 and his computer is in his room, but the door HAS to be kept open. Now, when he's 13, sexually curious with gallons of pubescent hormones surging through his body....all bets are off.
  • primesuspectprimesuspect Beepin n' Boopin Detroit, MI Icrontian
    edited November 2004
    By the time I was 13, I had one of south east michigan's largest pr0n collections,lovingly culled from hours and hours of "surfing" BBS's on a 2400 baud modem. A single 600K GIF image would take hours and hours to get. Man, if you got a crappy one, you were PISSED. Single images were "reviewed" by trusted boards.

    When my kids are 13, I am just gonna stay away. ;D
  • TheHostessTheHostess mi
    edited November 2004
    not funny :(
  • primesuspectprimesuspect Beepin n' Boopin Detroit, MI Icrontian
    edited November 2004
    :eek3: :Pwned:
  • ShortyShorty Manchester, UK Icrontian
    edited November 2004
    You are officially ****ed now mate :D
  • ketoketo Occupied. Or is it preoccupied? Icrontian
    edited November 2004
    R O F L Busted@@ ;D;D
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