The Best Web Filter Is…
We’re used to saying that the best web filter is the watchful eye of a parent.
We believed that to be true, and that is why we didn’t tackle web filtering in ComputerTime. A number of filtering solutions already existed when we created ComputerTime, and none of them seemed to do the job adequately.
ComputerTime tackled the problem of monitoring kids’ time, and enforcing the limits that parents decided on. We advised moms and dads to keep the computer in a public place in their home. If they are concerned about what their kids view on the Internet, then having a direct line of sight to the screen when the kids are on it should work well enough.
I’m not sure that is the best advice anymore. We’re seeing laptops flourish, so it’s harder to keep those screens in a public part of the house and the screens don’t usually face outwards into the room when the kids are sitting on the couch.
So maybe it isn’t a bad idea to employ a web filter that does a good job of blocking the nasty stuff. While many were deemed inadequate a number of years back, I believe there is a solution that well enough for me to recommend it. It’s called OpenDNS.
Six Reasons Why You’ll Love OpenDNS
I’ve been using OpenDNS for a while now. I love it and recommend it all of the time. If you want to filter out inappropriate content, here are some reasons I think you’ll love it too.
- It’s Free: In this economy, what’s not to love about free.
- Easy Setup on Your Router: They provide really simple instructions, with screen shots, for most of the popular routers. All you have to type in are a handful of numbers into the fields that they tell you to. You really can’t screw this up. Click Save and you’re done.
- Entire Network Protected: That one simple setup on your router means that every computer on your network should now be protected by the filter.
- No Software To Install: The fact that you just change a setting in your network configuration, preferably on your router, means that there is nothing to conflict or degrade your computers performance.
- Up-To-Date and Accurate Filter: New domains and websites come and go every day. This is what made it hard for so many of yester-years filtering solutions worthless. The databases of what to block would be out of date in a matter of days and weeks. OpenDNS has input from thousands of users who are constantly tagging websites into categories. With an OpenDNS account and a bookmarklet you can install on your browser toolbar, you can contribute too if you would like, or you can just rely on the wisdom of the crowds of others that do all the tagging. See a sight that you think should be blocked as inappropriate? You would click on the bookmarklet, check off the categories and submit.
- Two Versions: Easy and Easier. Both are free. If you want control over what categories get filtered, choose the standard OpenDNS, set up a free account, and enter in the DNS server numbers they they instruct you to. Don’t want to get that involved, choose their new Family Shield, and simply punch in different DNS server numbers into your router and be done. Family Shield is configured to block “Adult Content”. I assume this means things like pornography, nudity, gambling, chat rooms, erotica, violence, guns, etc. Family Shield is OpenDNS, just without the finer control. Want to have more control, use their (still free) OpenDNS and create an account.
SoftwareTime, and myself personally, do not have any relationship whatsoever with OpenDNS. This is just a hearty recommendation from a satisfied user (me!) of their service.
I’ll add that I think that if you’re using ComputerTime, or thinking about using ComputerTime, OpenDNS or Family Shield really round out your parental control toolbox.
Can I get away with saying that ComputerTime now offers free web filtering? ;-) Probably not. But the net affect is the same. Go give OpenDNS or Family Shield a try.
More on the Family Shield announcement here.
by mark on March 31, 2009
Speaking to a customer who was trying out ComputerTime, I was asked if ComputerTime did parental control types of things. What she really was asking was, “Does ComputerTime do internet filtering?” Some people think the terms are synonymous. But parental control software is a more general term and can refer to different types of control.
Blocking and Logging Parental Control Software
Most parental control software that hit the market over a decade ago, primarily monitored or blocked websites along with other internet related activities. Some software went as far as spying on kids every activity.
Website blocking software has never been extremely effective*. To be effective, the database of sites that need to be blocked has to be complete. But everyday, tens of thousands of new domains are registered. Old domains expire and are acquired by people who put up different web pages than the previous owners. If you feel comfortable utilizing a tool that may only be 90% accurate — that’s better than nothing — but don’t rely on it for real protection.
I Spy with my 25 Eyes by nickhall
Tools that give parents detailed logs of websites visited, every keystroke typed, and even screen snapshots seem a bit creepy. Just because parents can monitor every aspect of their kids online lives, is it the right thing to do? Parents will take different sides on this issue. Parents today should think back to when they were kids: If your parents clandestinely listened in on your phone conversations, or trailed you in their cars at a distance, using parabolic microphones to listen to your conversations across the parking lot, would you resent or respect them for how they handled your upbringing.
SoftwareTime’s Approach to Parental Control
SoftwareTime‘s stance is that the best web filter is the watchful eye of the parent. Ensure that computers are located in a public area of the house and if you choose, set limits that disallow use of the computer at times that you won’t be around to keep an eye on the activity.
ComputerTime encourages responsible use of computers. Kids push against boundaries, not always respecting limits. They don’t always act in their own best interest, and ignore consequences. Parental guidance is required. ComputerTime helps parents to provide this guidance, but does not replace parents.
With ComputerTime, it’s you, the parent, that still sets the rules for how long and when your kids can be on the computer. You can be strict with the limits that you set, or you can be flexible and let the kids manage their time within relaxed constraints if they have shown themselves to be more responsible. Since you’re only managing time with ComputerTime, it’s a less intrusive type of parental control.
Things Are and Aren’t Different Today
Kids with cell phones, the web, IM, email, FaceBook, MySpace… It’s a whole new world.
But kids themselves, they haven’t changed all that much. The aspire to be trusted, respected, loved, appreciated, etc.
The best way to handle our children in today’s technology-saturated world is similar to what our parents would have done when we were kids:
- Have a good, open relationship with our kids where they feel comfortable talking with you. Spying on them would joepardize that relationship, so don’t do that.
- Provide guidance. Teach your kids good values and responsibility so that kids can do the right thing whether that be at the playground, the mall, or online.
- Pay attention to your kids. You’ll know when something is wrong; attentive parents notice subtle changes in kids behavior and moods when they are in trouble.
- Give them roots and wings
Do you agree with this philosophy? Do you think parents always be aware of exactly what’s going on? Overtly or covertly? Leave a comment below.
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A quick shout out to my friend Brett, who posted about his fears and uncertainties about how to best handle the issue of how much privacy he should give his kids when they’re old enough to get onto the Internet. It’s a problem that a lot of parents wrestle with, and inspired me to share my two cents.
How’s that for a twist in the title? It’s usually the parents who desire the ability to limit their kids access to Facebook, MySpace, online games, and YouTube.
In an interesting comment on a website, a homeschooler said that her oldest child was not yet old enough for Facebook, and she limits her kids to about 3 hours a week.
Her husband is the only computer addict in the home though. She says, “I wish I could limit my husband’s computer time like I do the kids. He’s addicted to Facebook. I would like him to play checkers or ball or something — anything — with the kids.”
Hmmm. ComputerTime can help in that situation, but would it create a sticky situation? Parents are expected to have authority over their kids. Married couples are on equal footing (usually), so she can’t really force ComputerTime’s limits onto him as if she was his mom.
She can ask for his consent, but he may not give it. She has surely pleaded with him to spend more time with the kids and less of the computer. If that didn’t work, he may just see her as nagging if she keeps trying.
What if this concerned Mom turned over control to the kids? Let the kids negotiate some reasonable limits with thier dad. “Dad, we will let you have five hours per/day, but not between 3:30pm and 9:00pm. Instead we want you doing stuff with us. We’re only going to be kids for a few more years you know.” (Cue the Harry Chapin here)
What reasonable parent would have a problem with that?
This tactic might work as well for workaholic moms and dads too. Don’t squander away the time you should be enjoying with your kids. Set limits with ComputerTime if you need to.
What do you think about kids being able to limit their parents’ time on the computer?
by mark on December 18, 2008
This week, ComputerTime was recommended in an article in USA Today called “Gifts that are Good for You“. Yay! The author of the article turns out to be a Mom that actually has been using the software for a while and she really liked it.
For the harried parents of a computer addict: Just send them to softwaretime.com. Here they can download a free two-week trial of the diabolical ComputerTime software. (If they like it, offer to spring for the $39 permanent version.) The program lets a parent set time limits. The kids get passwords to log on for their allowed periods and are blessedly, quietly, automatically logged off when their time expires. No screaming arguments, no sneaky midnight Facebook sessions.
She didn’t even touch on Time Tokens or that you can have one set of limits across all of the computers on your home network. But I like the “diabolical” label that she puts on it. Why haven’t we used that in our marketing? Hmmm.
Have you tried ComputerTime yet? If you have, we would enjoy hearing how it works out for your family. If you haven’t tried it out, it’s available as a 14-day free trial, so why not give it a shot?
by mark on March 20, 2008
I learned through Dr. Helen, that Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD) is being proposed for inclusion in the DSM-V.
IAD has actually been proposed for inclusion as a psychiatric diagnosis in the next issue of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V).Writing in the new issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry, Dr. Jerald J. Block, M.D., said that excessive internet and computer usage should be labeled a mental disease, as it has all of the components of a compulsive-impulsive disorder:
1) excessive use, often associated with a loss of sense of time or a neglect of basic drives,
2) withdrawal, including feelings of anger, tension, and/or depression when the computer is inaccessible,
3) tolerance, including the need for better computer equipment, more software, or more hours of use, and
4) negative repercussions, including arguments, lying, poor achievement, social isolation, and fatigue
“excessive internet and computer usage should be labeled a mental disease”. Makes sense to me; excessive anything is a problem though, isn’t it?
Everything in moderation.
