KIDS & TECHNOLOGY- 8 WAYS TO UNDERSTAND 'PARENTAL CONTROL'

 

KIDS & TECHNOLOGY-

8 WAYS TO UNDERSTAND 'PARENTAL CONTROL'

'Parental Control' is the concept that encompasses all the tools that allow parents to monitor and / or limit the use that an iKid makes of the devices, in terms of time, content or access. We can review your browsing histories, use apps that turn our mobile into a mirror of yours to receive the same messages, download apps that turn off mobile phones or limit websites, configure tablets so that they do not connect at night, use accounts user so that they don't download what they want. It depends on your iKids, your family, you. Thinking that technological 'parental control' will solve all problems is a problem. And thinking that it is useless is also a problem. Let's review:

8 WAYS TO UNDERSTAND 'PARENTAL CONTROL'

1. Parental control software in the computer's operating system

Both Microsoft Windows & Apple Mac OS include parental control packages. Each user must have their profile created and it is a way to control Internet browsing and block access to inappropriate content. Get something, but it's not a miracle, so option B is worth having. In addition, by exercising control only over the computers that have the software installed, children can access the Internet with mobile devices.

2. Computer control software

They are the classic programs, protection packages against "Internet dangers". Sometimes anti-malware or antivirus incorporates parental controls. And vice versa. You can block websites, set screen time limits, control online and social media activity, monitor chat conversations or receive a summary of iKid's online life. The classics:  Kaspersky and Protegent360 Total Security Software (which I especially like) or McAfee, Safe Eyes from McAfee / Intel and Panda, for example.

3. Apps

This possibility is in growing demand. The reason: iKids are more connected to the Internet through tablets and smartphones than through computers. They are usually applications that track text messages, calls, photos, that manage filters and control the online activity of children. There are many types so it is essential to compare (price, service and compatibility above all). Some examples of apps that I like are Parental Click, SmartMeFamily, PlayTime Kid Crono or Qustodio, for example. 

4. Web browsing filters

Browsers (that software that allows you to walk online) offer different ways to filter the websites that you do not want your children to reach. Safari, Chrome and Internet Explorer let you select websites and domains that you want to block. With Firefox, for example, its Prefer: Safe application recognizes parental controls that are already active in your operating system.

It is about restricting access to certain web pages. There are many ways to do it and each browser has its own "modus operandi", although the usual thing is to go to Settings (or similar) and mark the types of websites you want to disable. What will you get? That every time the child -or you, depending on the user- want to reach a non-recommended website, the computer will show you a blank screen. Of course, if the iKid is smart and uses another browser, what was given is over. Also, most parents find this option uncomfortable because it limits our own navigation. Different prevention techniques are used: white lists (allowed) vs. black (denied), blocking by keywords (verification of website content and restriction of access to sites that have certain words - "porn", "sex", "drugs", "kill" -). Many options allow you to customize the severity criteria (how many times must a word appear to consider the site as unfit?) And even select the words by categories and adding words specifically indicated by the user.

This parental control over the browser can not only be done on a computer; There is also a browser on the tablet or Smartphone that your iKid uses.  5. Children's browsers and content streaming platforms

Children's browsers are like a mix between an operating system and a browser, designed for children, with suitable games and websites, adapted e-mail and activities. In short, tools that gives access to pages suitable for children and adolescents. They have a design and characteristics appropriate to the smaller public and allow the use of different profiles, depending on the age of the user. There are also child search engines with similar characteristics.  And since video streaming is already a daily part of our lives, for the little ones there are also parental control functionalities on YouTube Kids and on Netflix, for example.

6. Router and DNS servers

About the router, we already talked (and a lot, I know) a long time ago. By exercising parental control from this digital door to our house, parents can filter the accessible contents of all connected devices and determine connection time limits. With certain router models we can limit the hours of Internet use for our children, for example, or filter the content they can see. Brands like Linksys  and  Belkin usually have built-in parental controls.

Most of the Parental Control & Total Security Software available on the market allow filters to be incorporated into the router, but there are also systems through filtering by DNS servers (domain name system), which are an interesting solution because it can be applied to all of devices and operating systems of the house. Example of a server that performs this function is OpenDNS , among others, and configuring it is not that simple, but hey, yes we can .

7. Devices

Some smartphones and tablets come standard with a basic parental control, so there are always options to avoid accessing certain purchases or games or to hide features that you do not want iKids to see. Here you can see how to activate Parental Controls on the iPhone and iPad, for example. In addition, I recommend that you take into account the possibility of creating family accounts in which the iKids are identified as minors, so that you are the one who downloads the apps and thus give them digital autonomy similar to the one you give them in «the world real". With Apple you can do it now and Google's Family Link will arrive in Spain, predictably, in the coming months.

In the consoles there is also Parental Controls, but nothing like activating the access code, to make it easier to manage the moments in which the iKids use video games.

There are other solutions on the market, which are physical devices as well, which provide interesting news: my favorites are Fing (it is not parental control per se, but it performs functions in that sense) and Circle with Disney. They connect with the smartphones-tablets that are in the house and fulfill the task that you have decided to ask them (time limits are the ones I like the most with small iKids). 

8. You

Well yes, Parents - our example, dialogue, rules, hobbies- we are the best Parental Controls. It is not so much about MONITORING as about GUIDING and ACCOMPANYING THEM. At home, with my iKids, I try many things but what works best is:

·         Technological control to limit access to Wi-Fi

·         Help them understand the times and rules

·         Build trust so that they tell me what they like or care about

·         Balancing autonomy with supervision

·         Combine your hobbies offline with your use of screens

·         Create shared moments of technology use. 

So:

·         You can ask for help from technological Parental Controls to:

·         That apps are not downloaded without your knowledge;

·         That the Wi-Fi does not work at night;

·         That there is a countdown of time of use;

·         They can't activate the console if you're not at home.

BUT

·         Technological Parental Controls:

·         It will not 100% prevent sensitive content from being found;

·         It won't stop someone from making you feel bad;

·         It will not help them to know how to manage their time;

·         It will not teach them to self-control their impulses.

We want to protect them, but we cannot guarantee that everything will be great in their lives. So better to prepare them to manage problems and conflicts, instead of avoiding all the scares or wanting to spy on their feelings. Talking, talking and talking bring us much closer to our children.