Controlling Internet Content On kid's computer, Learn from everyones experiences!

I am curious as to what everyone does to prevent their kids and/or teenages from access pornography on the internet. This is a problem that I am sure every parent is faced with. Let me know your ideas and thoughts. Maybe personal experiences.

1. Computer is in a family location.
2. check history often
3. talk to my kids
4. walk by and look at computer often when child is on the computer
5. know who my kid talks to and is interested in
6. Talk to my kids
7. Computer is in a family location
8. I check what he and she are doing OFTEN.
9. I lay the ground rules and they know if they break them they will lose big time
10. I Talk to the kids.


It is very important IMHO that the computer not be secluded somewhere I can't see it AND that I talk to the kids.

Did I mention Talk to the kids? That is very key!!!

We keep the computer in the living room.
Only pre-approved websites are allowed...and are kept in the favorite bins and they may ONLY use those sites.
The log is checked often.
Also - DH has a program on the computer that saves EVERYTHING from emails to IM chats (even if these things are 'deleted' - DH has a record) - and the files are skimmed by an adult.
We constantly remind our kids that the internet isn't really a 'safe' place where they can do/say whatever they want.
We also make sure to constantly remind them to NEVER give out personal information -- and DH and I show this ourselves by not giving out our personal info.

We have two laptops, so they're completely portable...but the kids know, they can only use them if they are in the living room. They don't have access to them when we aren't at home (hubby puts them in his car when he goes to work)

We check the history often.

The myspace.com dilemma...resolved, mom and dad have a myspace too, and we check our kids pages routinely. Especially the pictures and the 'friends'. We know the passwords to their email and myspace pages. They know, if they change the password, the computer becomes off limits.

When, the pornography pages show up in the history, we explain, it's not reality, in any rational sence of the word, and that we don't feel at their age, it's something they need to be viewing. We understand their curiosity, but don't approve of this being their source of information. I think you have to know they're going to see it at some point, even typing in a wrong spelling for a valid website can send them to inappropriate viewing...so the best approach is to have a calm rational way to reason with them about it.

Computer is in the living room.
Only pre-approved websites (plus I stand right over him)
Check history

We talk about it, often, and my son knows what our boundaries are. My son does have a computer in his room, but he is NEVER allowed to close his door, and knows we reserve the right to check up on him. He will never be able to "hide" anything from dh (who is in IT), and he knows it. But to me, I think it's more important to discuss inappropriate content they come across, either accidentally or not, than it is to construct elaborate ways to prevent it.

Forget the porn sites... What about the Chat rooms... AOL and Yahoo.

More freaking predators in there that are a heck of alot more dangerous to kids....

I will not allow those programs to be installed on our computer...

This post has been edited by MommyToAshley on Feb 21 2006, 08:14 AM

Wow!! I would have freaked!! I hope she's not doing things behind your back. I know how teens these days are. It is crazy. Good Luck!!

I don't have kids who can use the net yet.

But from what I saw in my neighbor's house, they always accompany their kids while they access the internet. Well, the kids seem uncomfortable but it's be better rather than having them acces some porn sites...

Or if you have older kids, talk to them and ask them to always show you what they visit. Just make as if you're 'always' proud of what they browse. It'll make them feel free to let you know.