Dark Side of the Internet

Restrictions and Filters Although certain legislations have attempted to control children's access to sexually explicit material on-line, there have also been various preventative methods used to control access. According to Fred H. Cate's The Internet and the First Amendment, "It is not that children cannot access sexually explicit material on the Internet; rather, it is that networked digital information does not enter the home with the ease of broadcast TV" (71). We should develop methods that help monitor children's time on-line, as similar to those programs that monitor children's access to certain cable programming. In his book, Cate discusses several steps that have been taken to prevent childrenÕs access to such material. These steps include developing effective filters and site blocking methods.

Passwords--
According to Cate, some providers limit access to sexually explicit expression to users with secret passwords, which is applied through proof and affirmation of age. In addition to this, some adult sites have also developed Adult Check, Pass and Validate, which include a modest fee for the use of these services along with the password system. As the Internet becomes more commercialized, the number of sites requiring sites, fees, and subscriptions will increase. However, there is still need for further regulation for children have also access to parent's credit cards.

Site Blocking--
The case of American Civil Liberties Union vs. Reno was instrumental in facilitating the use of filters in Internet usage. This case helped to develop filters such as Cyber Snoop, Cyber Patrol, and Cybersitter among many others. Basically, there are three types of software filters: site blocking, content blocking, and session recording. According to Cate's research, site blocking is the most basic form of protection because once installed, it refers to specific sites and then goes on to blocking access to those specific sites.
Cyber Patrol is an example of such a site blocker. Cyber Patrol allows parents to restrict access to certain times of the day, therefore limiting the total time spent on-line. In addition, it is especially designed to block access to specific Internet sites by content matter, and only allows specific Internet resources depending on your own preferences.

Content Filters--
The second type of filter software blocks specific content. These types of filters are especially helpful in preventing inappropriate e-mail messages, or images that can be otherwise transmitted on-line. Content blocking is also important in limiting the information from the user's computer, allowing the parents to monitor their children's journey on-line. An example of such a filter would be Chat Guard, which allows parents to monitor children's conversations on-line by entering words or "character strings" to be filtered out of the message.

Password Protection--
A third type of filter intends to control minor's access to specific expression by saving the list of sites visited and installing a password-protected system on the user's computer. According to Cate, "The list is stored in an encrypted file so that a parent or teacher can later "audit" the material" (75). The fact it promotes parental involvement in the monitoring of their children's journeys on-line is especially significant because parents can provide day- to-day supervision of their children's Internet usage.
     Various types of filters also include Internet Filter, and Surf Watch, which all provide effective blocks against explicit material on the Web. Cybersitter filters are pre-defined offensive Internet sites (such as chat lines, newsgroups etc.). that are maintained in a filter file, which can be updated regularly. These filter files are available for all users and can be automatically downloaded for free. Cybersitter's special features include its ability to anticipate offensive sites and language in emails. In addition to this, it also monitors and keeps and an alert file for parents to review and the ability to track such sites.
     Net Nanny is also an example of a filter that is especially designed for screening of worldwide Web sites, text messages and newsgroups. Similar to other filters, Net Nanny is made to screen out material coming from the Internet and to the Internet. It can also be structured to block access to files on PC hard drives, floppy drives and CD-ROMs in order to prevent children from entering into files only intended for adults.
     Out of all these methods discussed, the most important form of prevention remains parental supervision and communication between parents and children about using the Internet. Parents need to establish the rules for the "Information Superhighway" and spell out what their children can do or cannot do. An important aspect of effective parental monitoring would be to establish an atmosphere of trust, which includes maintaining a dialogue between parents and children. If children do discover sexually explicit material on-line, then they can feel comfortable in communicating this to the parent and find ways together to prevent this from happening again. If you want to know more information on filters please log on to this link: FilterReview.com.
     To view more suggestions on how to monitor children's on-line time, visit Safe Surfing -- Guidelines for Parents and Restrictions and Filters on this Web page.