The Internet is an amazing tool that allows people to access a plethora of information in seconds. The web has helped kids and adults to research topics for school papers or work assignments, it enables people to create their own website to share their life lessons with others and stay in touch with people all around the world. Kids use the Internet to play games with other kids and learn new things from education websites.
The Internet sounds like such a wonderful thing, and for the most part it is. However, there are places on the Internet that children should not be allowed to go. Places with inappropriate language and/or pictures, sites where predators wait for a child who is eager to give out their information to a new “friend.” When thought of this way, the Internet seems like a scary place for children. Although it can be a dangerous place, there are many options for parents to protect their children from the dangers on the Internet. One of the best ways is Internet filtering.
Internet filtering is a parent’s helper
Internet filtering can be the parent when the parent isn’t around. For example, many parents don’t get home until 5:00 or 5:30 from work, but there children have been home for an hour or two before that. The children are old enough to take care of themselves and love to surf the Internet before they begin their homework. Even if the parent has taken all the precautions to keep their children safe while on the computer (putting the computer in an open area, setting up rules for Internet use, etc) a problem could still arise if the parent is not there. Many times inappropriate pictures or words come up on the screen whether the children were looking for it or not. Internet filtering can help parents relax because they know that filtering can stop these incidences from happening.
Internet filtering blocks sites with inappropriate words
A great feature of Internet filtering is its ability to block sites that contain inappropriate words. There are many sites that a parent wouldn’t think may contain language that is unsuitable for their children’s eyes. Internet filtering can catch these sites and protect children, especially young children from things they don’t need to read or hear.
Internet filtering blocks pornographic sites
There are many websites specifically designed for adults. They contain content that can be very harmful for children. Without an Internet filter, children can happen upon these sites on accident or on purpose. Pornographic sites do not need to be seen by children, on purpose or accidentally. Internet filters can block pornographic sites from coming up on the screen when a child is surfing the web.
Internet filtering can block sites where sexual predators may be lurking
Parents can set their Internet filter to not allow chat rooms to be available for their children. Chat rooms can be very dangerous for young people. Children can be very trusting when they meet new friends over the Internet. Many kids use chat rooms as a place where they can really be themselves and say things they wouldn’t be able to say in person. This can be very unsafe. When a child gives their information to a “new, trusted friend” who is really a sexual predator pretending to be a 12 year old girl or boy, the child can be in danger. Internet filtering can keep children safe by keeping them out of chat rooms.