Overview Of Parental Controls

When you signed up for MyOAN!, you signed up for an Internet service that provides filtered access to the Internet. This means that the MyOAN! domain is always filtered to prevent less desirable content from being accessed by MyOAN! subscribers. Beginning in May 2002, subscribers will be able to turn this feature on and off themselves as desired!

There are now a range of parental control software packages that you can purchase and install. Blocking devices can cover Web sites, newsgroups, and chat channels, among other things, and some allow parents to tailor restrictions. Some work with commercial service providers and some are for direct Internet access.

Some allow a parent or program to block out a specific online site or sites by name. The downside is that the number of sites is vast and constantly changing, so it is virtually impossible for a parent to keep up. However, some parental control programs give the user a regular update of sites and allow parents to choose which ones to block. Some blocking programs identify undesirable sites by searching for unacceptable words before allowing a child access. This list is updated periodically, and parents can purchase or subscribe to the ongoing updates. Some devices can also block entire categories of material such as those deemed suitable for adults only. Parents can enter a key word and block whole Internet features and destinations. Other software actually prevents children from giving out personal information online. This can be helpful for safety and to protect against exploitation of children. Still other devices restrict the time of day and duration of children's online sessions, and make certain areas of the Parents' hard drive inaccessible.