Best way to control kids' internet access?

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#1770993 27-Apr-2017 00:14

I think the best way to control your kid's internet access is through proper parenting.. I don't think suppressing them from accessing inappropriated or R rated material will help them in a long run, it's like trying to enforce them not to masturbate. They will find a way around one way or the other eventually. Kids tends to rebel. Might as well educate them properly is a better method moving forward.

dickytim

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#1771008 27-Apr-2017 06:04

I know you have said you want a software control, but can I ask do you insist the devices are used in the lounge room where everyone is rather than in private in the bedroom?

I am lucky that at a month old I have a while before I need to really think about this for my daughter but talking to friends they have their kids use the devices in the lounge room only, no skulking off to the bedroom etc.

cldlr76

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#1771051 27-Apr-2017 08:25

We use the following and find it works really well...

We use the Genie app that comes with the netgear router. It gives you an easy to use network map that shows all the connected devices and you can just click on a device and pause the internet connection to it. It's quick and easy to use from our iPhones and means we can control access to any network connected device, so the kids can't watch Netflix or YouTube or OnDemand TV on the TV until we say so.

We also use our pact for the kids phones. I know you specifically said you don't want to use it, but it does work really well for limiting access to games, internet access etc and essentially turns their iPhones into just phones when they are out or when they are at school so they can contact us if need be. The updated version allows you to control access to specific apps as well, so they can also have access to the Auckland transport app to check bus times or their banking app to check bank balances, but still have no games or social media or access to safari.

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#1771059 27-Apr-2017 08:30

We use Norton Parental Control because it works across devices in multiple platforms. It's used more to control time -our daughter is allowed one hour a day on screens, except when watching a movie with us.

We talked to her about the dangers of contacts on the Internet, how people take advantage of others, etc. She's 11 and understands to not going looking for crap and to let us know if anything she sees is not comfortable.

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jonathan18

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#1771090 27-Apr-2017 09:33

tommyboy:

I think the best way to control your kid's internet access is through proper parenting.. I don't think suppressing them from accessing inappropriated or R rated material will help them in a long run, it's like trying to enforce them not to masturbate. They will find a way around one way or the other eventually. Kids tends to rebel. Might as well educate them properly is a better method moving forward.

Do you mean that me punishing my five year-old son every time I see him touch his willy, and that telling him that playing with it will make him go blind is poor parenting? Oh, shucks, I've been doing it wrong all his life then...

I actually agree with most of your post. Of course I know in a few years they'll be actively seeking "interesting" stuff from the internet, and the way they approach this will be very much garnered by our parenting approach. But it's more that I'm not comfortable with the idea of my five year-old accidentally clicking on links that result in some heavy-duty X-rated porn image or video popping up. Educating kids as to safe ways to use the internet, and having the children on a device in the same room as you only goes so far... I want them to be able to experience the breadth and width of what the internet has to offer - without having to tie them down to some limited Disney-fied world - but do so in relative safety. I don't see it as a too reactionary a position to want to protect kids as young as five from some of that sh!t out there...

vulcannz

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#1771111 27-Apr-2017 10:14

tommyboy:

I think the best way to control your kid's internet access is through proper parenting.. I don't think suppressing them from accessing inappropriated or R rated material will help them in a long run, it's like trying to enforce them not to masturbate. They will find a way around one way or the other eventually. Kids tends to rebel. Might as well educate them properly is a better method moving forward.

Parents have a duty of care. Internet porn and kids is a murky subject. When you talk about duty of care and organizations such as schools and libraries providing internet access then rules apply around them making an effort to prevent access to restricted material (ie porn). So does this apply in the same way with parents? I think it does.

It is extremely difficult for a private users to lock down internet access, enterprise tools can do it - but that is typically way to expensive for home users. But it does not excuse parents from making some effort imho.

Our kids have pretty much unfettered internet access (ages 5 to 12). We've taken the approach that the internet is not a 'special thing' - and my kids treat as such. They don't care about it, it's there when they want to use it. So they are not obsessed with it. There is a time block that kicks in on school nights. I have web filtering in place to restrict them from inadvertently hitting porn sites.

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#1771123 27-Apr-2017 10:28

vulcannz: I have web filtering in place to restrict them from inadvertently hitting porn sites.

Can you please let me know what do you use for this?

Also, can anyone advise me whether I'm able to use OpenDNS in conjunction with Getflix? Given that both are over-riding the automatic selection of the ISP's chosen DNSs, I don't know how this can be achieved, it at all. Thanks!

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#1771127 27-Apr-2017 10:33

You can't use OpenDNS with other DNS providers.

Some routers have built-in parental controls that will check sites independently from DNS - Synology routers do it. As I mentioned, I use Norton Parental Controls (which also offers this feature) and with my router it does a good job.

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vulcannz

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#1771129 27-Apr-2017 10:36

jonathan18:

vulcannz: I have web filtering in place to restrict them from inadvertently hitting porn sites.

Can you please let me know what do you use for this?

I work with firewalls, so I'm using a business class box.

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#1771143 27-Apr-2017 11:02

freitasm:

You can't use OpenDNS with other DNS providers.

Some routers have built-in parental controls that will check sites independently from DNS - Synology routers do it. As I mentioned, I use Norton Parental Controls (which also offers this feature) and with my router it does a good job.

Thanks; I feared this was the case.

In regards to Norton Parental Controls - I understand it's a component of the Family Premier product which can be bought stand-alone but is included as a component in Norton Security (see quote below). This is the first app I plan to test out.

But when you say "with my router it does a good job", are you saying you're using Parental Controls in tandem with router-based checking/filtering, or that the Norton app works directly in with your router? (As mentioned in earlier posts, my biggest concern re the application approach is that it requires the use of the app-specific web browser on the iPad to ensure its filtering works - I wasn't aware of the app having any direct relationship with/impact on the router.)

Thanks!

Although Norton Family Parental Control can function as a strong standalone app, to use it parents must first purchase a subscription for Symantec Norton Family Premier, which costs $49.99 per year. That might sound expensive, but actually the subscription is very generous, as there is no limit on the number of children or devices supported. There's also a free trial lasts for 30 days.

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#1771274 27-Apr-2017 14:05

I don't think DNS's or Router features are the right way to go about these kinds of web restrictions. Apps like mcaffee safe family and norton should work no matter the connectivity used.

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#1771291 27-Apr-2017 14:35

jonathan18:

freitasm:

You can't use OpenDNS with other DNS providers.

Some routers have built-in parental controls that will check sites independently from DNS - Synology routers do it. As I mentioned, I use Norton Parental Controls (which also offers this feature) and with my router it does a good job.

Thanks; I feared this was the case.

In regards to Norton Parental Controls - I understand it's a component of the Family Premier product which can be bought stand-alone but is included as a component in Norton Security (see quote below). This is the first app I plan to test out.

But when you say "with my router it does a good job", are you saying you're using Parental Controls in tandem with router-based checking/filtering, or that the Norton app works directly in with your router? (As mentioned in earlier posts, my biggest concern re the application approach is that it requires the use of the app-specific web browser on the iPad to ensure its filtering works - I wasn't aware of the app having any direct relationship with/impact on the router.)

Thanks!

Although Norton Family Parental Control can function as a strong standalone app, to use it parents must first purchase a subscription for Symantec Norton Family Premier, which costs $49.99 per year. That might sound expensive, but actually the subscription is very generous, as there is no limit on the number of children or devices supported. There's also a free trial lasts for 30 days.

You don't need both. They just work together if needed. Norton won't run on your router.

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dafman

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#1771339 27-Apr-2017 15:31

dickytim:

I know you have said you want a software control, but can I ask do you insist the devices are used in the lounge room where everyone is rather than in private in the bedroom?

I am lucky that at a month old I have a while before I need to really think about this for my daughter but talking to friends they have their kids use the devices in the lounge room only, no skulking off to the bedroom etc.

+1 for keeping out of bedrooms.

We have a golden rule - no gadgets in bedroom. Full stop.

So gadgets - phones/tablets/laptops are kept in the lounge overnight.

Esp important when teenagers - it's not only about accessing inappropriate material in private; they need a healthy amount of sleep to function, study etc

SheriffNZ

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#1771426 27-Apr-2017 16:52

I read about this one on the New York Times. It was used by some IT guy. Other than that, I don't know anything about it but it adds another option.

https://meetcircle.com/circle/

Eitsop

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#1771470 27-Apr-2017 18:10

timbosan:

Depends on how 'technical' you want it. I run an Untangle TMG at home - all traffic is routed through it, like so:

ONT -> Untangle -> Switch -> LAN / WAN

This way I have central control over all data, including ad blocking, virus scanning, and access control. And all via a nice web interface.

You didn't actually say if you want to block porn etc. or actually limit their access to certain times, what level of 'control' are you after?

I like look of this.. do you have more detail?

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