The Internet, is magnificent in its resources for families. Educational resources abound. Kids can easily find help for their homework blues without venturing to the library. Kids can chat with friends from far away for free; friends who, probably just a few years ago, they would never hear from again. And, of course, there's plenty of entertainment to satisfy the whole family once the chores and homework are complete.
However, the Internet can often be an inappropriate place for kids to surf unsupervised. Plenty of content is only appropriate for mature audiences. And, sadly, there are 'bad seeds', those who the children never should talk to.
Help keep your children away from these unsuitable materials. Many search engines and directories have filters and options that only return pages that have passed a particular profanity or "kid-safe" filter. These types of filters vary from web site to web site, but may do one of the following:
* Only allow you to search a selection of links picked by the site's editors to be "kid-safe" or free of profanity.
* Not show links containing profane words, these being words designated by a site to be profane. This list may not contain all possible profane words or combinations.
* Show links containing profane words but block out the profane words with asterisks, dollar signs, or other symbols. Again, the blocked-out words are those the site deems profane and might not include all such words.
Unfortunately, no filter can be 100% accurate.
Here are some search engines that have filters you can enable to try to weed out inappropriate content.
AltaVista http://www.altavista.com/
Above and to the right of the search query box you can find the link labeled "Family Filter". Turn on this filter to cause AltaVista to filter out inappropriate content. Be sure to read the linked-to FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) before using this filter. Again, no family filter is 100% accurate, but it's better than nothing.
Ask Jeeves For Kids http://www.altavista.com/
You can provide kids with their very own search butler. Ask Jeeves for Kids is a special version of the popular Ask Jeeves web site geared towards the younger set. It is used the same way as the normal Ask Jeeves ? just ask a question and click the "Ask" button.
You will notice the site design is quite different from the main Ask Jeeves. The page is colorful and includes fonts more suited for kids. There are links to games, study tools, news resources, and message boards. Be sure to check out Jeeves' hat as you move your mouse over each resource :)
According to the "Parents" page, Ask Jeeves For Kids only searches for "G-Rated" information. However, they do warn that since web sites change, there is no guarantee that adult content cannot slip through the cracks. Still, they do a good job at trying to filter out information, so if you have children surfing the net, you may want to point them over to this popular resource.
Google http://www.altavista.com/
Visit the "Advanced Search" link and take a look at the "SafeSearch" section. Click the "Filter using SafeSearch" radio button to cause Google to only returns sites that match Google's "SafeSearch" filter. This filter attempts to remove material containing pornography or sexual content, but it is not and cannot be 100% accurate. Click the link "SafeSearch" on this page for more information about this filter.
You can also click the "Preferences" link from the front page to set preferences on how you want Google to search through documents. From here you can enable the "SafeSearch" setting by default. These preferences are placed in the form of a cookie stored on your browser, so if you disable cookies your preference choices will not stick. Be sure to press the "Save Preferences" button when you are done with your choices or they will not stick.
Lycos http://www.altavista.com/
Click on the "Parental Controls" link on the front page (located under the search bar), or turn on the "Adult Filter" from the advanced search page to enable the "Lycos SearchGuard". This feature attempts to filter out sites containing inappropriate or offensive material such as "adult, violent, hate and weapons-related content". Note that while no filter can be 100% effective this is a good start.
You may also want to visit the following family and kid-friendly Lycos sites:
Lycos Family Zone http://www.altavista.com/
Lycos Zone (For Kids) http://www.altavista.com/
No matter which site you use, realize that no filter can be 100% accurate. All it takes is a little web browser knowledge to defeat cookie-based filters. Inappropriate sites can and sometimes will "slip through the cracks". Thus, I recommend that you always supervise your kids' Internet usage whenever possible. These filters, however, may make your supervision easier and your entire family's Internet experience more enjoyable without any surprises.
About The Author
This article was written by Andrew Malek, Internet Search Guru and author of Find Stuff On the Net, an e-book that can show even beginning computer users how to navigate the Internet without fear. Catch-up with your kids' knowledge when it comes to using the net. For further information and free snippets of the book, visit http://www.altavista.com/
maid service near Lake Forest ..How on earth can you help your family cope with... Read More
ADHD comes in differenty forms, or types. What... Read More
Many young people don't know how to study efficiently and... Read More
To the untrained eye, it might look like a piece... Read More
With the beginning of the new school year coming VERY... Read More
Is there a difference between lazy and unmotivated? Why do... Read More
Anorexia nervosa is a serious medical disorder that is statistically... Read More
I am a single mother of a 17 year old... Read More
As parents and teachers, sometimes we want to praise, at... Read More
I know this Mom. She homeschools her 5 children, plus... Read More
John Bishop's Goal Setting for Students.comParents ? Minimize Homework Hassles?It's... Read More
Discipline is a necessary part of parenting yet it makes... Read More
"There is nothing new under the sun," states Ecclesiastes 1:9.... Read More
Are you worried about your child's reading habits? Perhaps you... Read More
Life is full of competition -- even in childhood. Kids... Read More
In a single dose of children's television, I was bombarded... Read More
Meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes around the brain... Read More
At age seven months in the womb, humans begin language... Read More
"If a kid asks where rain comes from, I think... Read More
In this form of treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder... Read More
Younger generations unfortunately will not understand how larger than life... Read More
Finding out that a child has been born with a... Read More
Though you can cover even very long distances by car... Read More
"How many times do I have to tell you to... Read More
If you're looking for toys that are both fun to... Read More
top rated cleaning service Des Plaines ..Child support is defined as that part of your income... Read More
Recently, a much-anticipated game of mini-golf with my children soon... Read More
Kitchens are where everything happens. It's not just where meals... Read More
They Spur Members To Grow EmotionallyTatiana Tannenbaum grappled with a... Read More
Optimists do better academically, socially and enjoy better health than... Read More
Would you hand a child calculus problems once she was... Read More
We need a grass roots campaign targeted towards parents to... Read More
Imagine a child who lacks ownership of his own life,... Read More
If you really want to get your children to eat... Read More
Often I have heard that leaders are born, not made.... Read More
Many parents struggle to know which foods are healthy for... Read More
Julia Roberts recently gave birth to twins: Hazel and Phinnaeus.... Read More
Many people still think that the game of chess is... Read More
In memory of 14 year old Matthew Smith; 11 year... Read More
The girl's jaw dropped in horror as the police officer... Read More
Parents are in a unique position to "monitor" their children's... Read More
I am crying tears of joy mixed with great sadness... Read More
After giving up my profession to become a wife, a... Read More
We are all familiar with the stories that most students... Read More
Maintain CommunicationEven though teens need to separate from their parents... Read More
One of the most prevalent myths of our modern culture... Read More
Do you want to create a deeper, more loving relationship... Read More
The first year of a child's life is the most... Read More
In an actual war, to be attacked means to have... Read More
Question 1 "How do I get more time to play?"... Read More
Parenting |