Do you have parental software set on your home Laptops/devices

[MarillionFan]

When letting the kids use them?

As my six year old gets better at using the Internet, having searched for a TV program on Google earlier on the iPad I had told her not to watch on IPlayer I realised that she's now at the point where she could accidently come across something dodgy.

Who and what have others put on as parental controls on their phones/iPads that they hand over to their kids to play with?

[formant]

We keep an eye on my stepdaughters' internet use (at 7 and 4 there's remarkably little interest in anything outside of Club Penguin and CBBC) - both while they're on the iPad or Laptop as well as looking at browsing history retrospectively.

But more importantly we make an effort to teach them to do as they're told. That includes not going against an instruction not to watch a particular show.

I am, however, also not particularly paranoid about 'dodgy' stuff on the internet. I figured out how to find hardcore porn at 11, on bloody dial-up, while my dad was still VHS-taping soft-porn on the telly and hiding it behind binders on a shelf. I was even better leaving no traces. Maybe that was the true start of this girl's IT career.

Sure didn't harm me.

So no, I think parental software is a bit of a lazy approach. Either watch what the kids are up to and raise them not to be interested in whatever you consider 'dodgy'. Or just chill.

[suityou01]

When letting the kids use them?

As my six year old gets better at using the Internet, having searched for a TV program on Google earlier on the iPad I had told her not to watch on IPlayer I realised that she's now at the point where she could accidently come across something dodgy.

Who and what have others put on as parental controls on their phones/iPads that they hand over to their kids to play with?

I use K9. Wouldn't let my kids near an Internet connected device without it. Surprised its taken you this long

[suityou01]

We keep an eye on my stepdaughters' internet use (at 7 and 4 there's remarkably little interest in anything outside of Club Penguin and CBBC) - both while they're on the iPad or Laptop as well as looking at browsing history retrospectively.

But more importantly we make an effort to teach them to do as they're told. That includes not going against an instruction not to watch a particular show.

I am, however, also not particularly paranoid about 'dodgy' stuff on the internet. I figured out how to find hardcore porn at 11, on bloody dial-up, while my dad was still VHS-taping soft-porn on the telly and hiding it behind binders on a shelf. I was even better leaving no traces. Maybe that was the true start of this girl's IT career.

Sure didn't harm me.

So no, I think parental software is a bit of a lazy approach. Either watch what the kids are up to and raise them not to be interested in whatever you consider 'dodgy'. Or just chill.

Lefty liberal hogwash.

HTH.

[fckvwls]

I use K9. Wouldn't let my kids near an Internet connected device without it. Surprised its taken you this long

Good shout SY, I had the same question as MF and K9 looks like it will do the trick.

[suityou01]

Good shout SY, I had the same question as MF and K9 looks like it will do the trick.

Rep please

[northernladuk]

We use the Norton family thing and think it's great. allows you to block sites by category well as individual sites. email alerts when going to blocked sites. can see browsing and messaging history etc. suits us fine. Might not be that essential at thAt age but once they hit teens it is essential imo.

[MarillionFan]

I use K9. Wouldn't let my kids near an Internet connected device without it. Surprised its taken you this long

I think it took my kids slightly longer as there is two of them as opposed to the ever increasing number you have. That is of course down to the fact that myself and Mrs MF have (a) A larger house and (b) do not have to explain to the kids why their mother was shouting 'harder, harder, deeper, deeper' in the room next door every other night while they watch CBeebies.

[BrilloPad]

Buying the twins(aged 10.5) laptops for Christmas. I don't want to know what they get up to.

And nominally everyone has access to all laptops. I heard of a 16 year old boy searched for pictures of girls his own age. He downloaded a picture of a girl aged 16 and got on the sex offenders register.

[pmeswani]

When letting the kids use them?

As my six year old gets better at using the Internet, having searched for a TV program on Google earlier on the iPad I had told her not to watch on IPlayer I realised that she's now at the point where she could accidently come across something dodgy.

Who and what have others put on as parental controls on their phones/iPads that they hand over to their kids to play with?

On your Laptop, download Bluecoat's K9 software. It's free, and granular. Or look at OpenDNS, as that would allow you to block whatever site you want, and all you need to do is configure your router.