Mozilla Firefox

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Firefox is quickly becoming a top favorite Internet browser. There are many benefits to using Firefox, though I’m not going to cover them in this post.

Unlike Internet Explorer, Firefox does not have built in parental controls (Content Advisor). Instead it relies on third party developers to create what are called “Extensions.” These extensions are pieces of software that can be integrated into the functioning of Firefox.

There are few well developed extensions of this kind, with the exceptoin of one: Glubble.

According to Percy Cabello, “Glubble, is an amazing Firefox extension developed by Glaxstar, that allows parents to set what children can access.” Furthermore, “Glubble transforms Firefox into a locked down environment where kids can only surf approved sites, while parents can easily log into a restriction-free account for normal web surfing.”

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Internet Explorer

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Internet Explorer (IE) is the most widely used web browser. It comes as the standard browser installed in every Windows based computer.

Built into IE is what’s called Content Advisor. According to Microsoft, Content Advisor is a customizable setting which “allows you to rate the appropriateness of Web content and to control which Web sites your users can visit…You can adjust the content ratings settings to reflect the appropriate level of content in four areas: language, nudity, sex, and violence. For example, businesses might want to block access to Web sites that offer no business value to their employees, and parents might want to block access to sites that display content inappropriate for their children.” [See Content Advisor for an explanation of the rating system used in determining the level of inappropriateness you want Content Advisor to manage.]

In the space that follows, I’ve taken the liberty to include the detailed information found at Content Avisor for your convenience. Also, there are helpful inline pictures in Content Advisor that you may find helpful.

To enable Content Advisor

1. On the Tools menu, click Internet Options, and then click the Content tab.

2. In the Content Advisor area, click Enable.

3. In the Content Advisor dialog box, click OK.

4. In the Create Supervisor Password dialog box, type the password you want to use.

5. In the Confirm password box, type the same password again.

6. In the Hint text box, type a hint to help you remember your password.

To select content rating levels

1. On the Tools menu, click Internet Options, and then click the Content tab.

2. In the Content Advisor area, click Settings.

3. In the Password box, type your supervisor password, and then click OK.

4. On the Ratings tab, select the Language, Nudity, Sex, or Violence ratings category.

5. Drag the slider to the appropriate content level for the selected category.

The default setting for each category is Level 0, which is the most restrictive setting. For more information about the ratings service, click More Info. For more information about ratings levels, see “Using Content Advisor” earlier in this chapter.

To configure the list of approved and disapproved Web sites

1. On the Tools menu, click Internet Options, and then click the Content tab.

2. In the Content Advisor area, click Settings.

3. In the Password box, type your supervisor password, and then click OK.

4. Click the Approved Sites tab.

5. Type the URL for each Web site that your users can view regardless of its rating level, and then click Always.

6. Type the URL for each Web site that your users can never view regardless of its rating level, and then click Never.

Note If you want to delete an approved or disapproved Web site, click the URL in the list, and then click Remove.

To configure user options for content ratings

1. On the Tools menu, click Internet Options, and then click the Content tab.

2. In the Content Advisor area, click Settings.

3. In the Password box, type your supervisor password, and then click OK.

4. Click the General tab.

5. In the User options area, select the settings you want.

Option Description

Users can see sites that have no rating Select this option if you want users to be able to access Web pages that are not rated.

Supervisor can type a password to allow users to view restricted content Select this option if you want users to be able to view restricted content after you type the supervisor password.

To change the supervisor password

1. On the Tools menu, click Internet Options, and then click the Content tab.

2. In the Content Advisor area, click Settings.

3. In the Password box, type your supervisor password, and then click OK.

4. Click the General tab.

5. Click Change Pass

6. In the Old password box, type the current password to verify that you are authorized to change Content Advisor settings.

7. In the New password box, type the new password.

8. In the Confirm new password box, type the new password again.

9. Type a hint to help you remember your new password.

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Software

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 In the next series of posts related to software, we’ll be looking at three primary areas:

1. Web Browsers:  There are three main Internet Browsers we’ll be looking at:  Internet Explorer, Firefox, Opera.  Each of these have unique ways of handling Internet “safety” issues.
2. Free & Almost Free software:  Commonly known as “Freeware & Shareware” are a handfull of downloadable software that can be installed on your computer for the purpose of monitoring Internet activity and automatically applying safety techniques to protect the individual traveling through the world wide web.
3. Commercial Software & Services:  There are very good commercial software packages and paid  online services also designed to promote Internet safety.

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Internet

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When parents ask about Internet safety, it often centers around what software to install, what Internet service to subscribe to, or how to configure the web browser to block “inappropriate” sites, etc. All of that is important and we’ll be addressing it in later posts.However, it’s my contention that success in implementing Internet safety begins with the parent-child relationship and their mutual understanding on who’s the boss, why you as the parent are the boss, and rules delegations and powers that come with being a boss.

Here are some suggestions:

1. Parents must agree: If you’re married, both parents must agree on what’s acceptable Internet use, how to monitor what the children do on the Internet, how to talk to the child about it. Internet use, like any other “parent issue” deserves a united front. For single parents, it’s helpful to find another trusted adult who’s involved with your child on a regular basis and bring them up to speed on what you view as important in terms of Internet use.

2. Parents must model appropriate behavior: Even though you’re the boss, lead by example. Be careful of the sites you visit. If you must visit sites that display content not appropriate for your child, do so at a time when they’re not around. If they see the unintended, be prepared to explain (honestly) what you’re doing. You’re own accountability as a parent and adult is important. (More on that on a later post.)

3. Parents are the boss of the Internet in their home: However, remember “…with great power, comes great responsibility.” (Uncle Ben, Spiderman I) As a parent, you need to decide what being the boss means, not just with Internet issues, but with other issues as well. Some things to think about:

• Do your kids trust you as knowing what’s best for them? Why? Why not? (They don’t necessarily have to like it.)
• Do your kids know you’re the boss?
  
• Do your kids see you as the kind of boss that’s approachable and open to talk about rules and expectations they may not agree with?

4. Establish some ground rules. It’s important for kids to have clear expectations of the do’s and don’ts surrounding Internet use. Below are some suggestions:

• Figure out what it means to your child that you’re the boss of the Internet. Clarify as needed. For some parents, being the boss means:
• You don’t pay rent, the bills, or own anything in my home.
• Other than during bathing or dressing, you have no privacy while living under my roof.
• As a parent, I have the right to go through your e-mails, text messages, look under your bed and in your drawers (pants included, whether you’re wearing them or not).
• I, as a parent, have the right and responsibility to make sure the welfare of my home and it’s members is not threatened by decisions made by a child and influenced by some outside entity.
• Outside required school assignments, using the Internet is an earned privilege, not a right.

5. Decide when and how much time is going to be spend on the Internet on a daily basis. Will it be after homework and chores are done? Or, “You can go on the Internet now, but make sure your home work and chores are done by the time you go to be. If not…” In terms of time, you can: play it by ear, set a timer, have your child tell you when he’s or she is on and off the Internet, or use software to manage it for you. (More on the software issue later.) The length of time is an arbitrary thing for some parents and for others “one hour per day, not a second more.” If it’s not school related, keep in mind how long your child is in front of the computer screen, plus TV screen, plus video game screen. (See here for more information on the effects of television viewing on kids.)

6. Have computer available where you, the parent, will be walking by. Refrain having a computer in the child’s room.

7. Ask your child what he/she was doing on the Internet, not unlike a very justifiable question of “where were you? What were you doing?” when your child walks in the door.

8. Friend’s house and the Internet. Talk to the parents of you child’s friends to find out about their views and policies about Internet use.

Next, we’ll be looking at various software available to promote internet browsing safety.

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