The reality is that web site blocking based on blacklisting “offending” sites will still let stuff through. A whitelisting system, on the other hand, will only allow access to sites already approved. The “Block Site” add-on to Firefox is a step in this direction.

In our case, the computer the kids will use is hooked up to our HDTV in the living room. You really can’t get around parental scrutiny in that situation.

Sound like Big Brother – not enough privacy…. Well in the workplace every computer is the property of that company. Every email is also up to the scrutiny of the employer. Anything written in an email can be used against you. Therfore its important for parents to inform kids that anything they write or publish on the web no longer belongs to them and they are responsible for it. In almost all cases it can never be taken back completely. So isn’t it a good place to start by teaching kids that internet use isn’t always private? Also they are your minors living in your house. You must set the rules not them.
Sometimes our children are waiting for rules and boundaries and the actions they perform are not always because they want to but peer pressure makes them be a little more rude or flirtatious on the social network scene. There is almost relief when a parent steps in and makes them behave better. They also can then use the excuse of ‘my parents caught me and made me change the page’. Kids don’t always use good judgement thats why we need to be clued in to their actions and sometimes see what they are doing before it is too late.