Protecting your child from the Internet

We have all heard the horror stories about children logging onto the Internet, only to be confronted by some rather unsavoury images that horrify both the child and the parent/guardian alike. The problem is that most children are Internet and PC savvy, and their parents aren`t, which gives the child something of a carte blanche when using the latest gadgets and gizmos.

However, as with all the latest advents in technology, there are sure-fire ways of ensuring that your children gain only the best knowledge and experience from these technologies, without being harmed by the flipside.

Considering the millions of children who use the Internet daily, stumbling across illicit material, whether this be violent, sexual or otherwise inappropriate, is actually quite limited. For example, schools across the world rely on the Internet as a valued research tool and this trend is continued in homes, where Internet access is available.

MSN South Africa has partnered with the Learning Channel to provide a fun and interactive learning experience to South African teens from grades nine to 12. Working in conjunction with the Learning Channel, MSN meets the needs of SA`s growing online teenage community with an e-learning environment.

Other examples of enjoyable interactive Web experiences include MSN`s hotmail and chat facilities. Children and adults alike can communicate in real-time with friends, school mates and overseas acquaintances. MSN chat also provides Internet un-savvy parents with an opportunity to familiarise themselves with the latest communication facility, opening a door to technologies such as the Internet and PC technology. This way parents can bridge the digital gap - and gain more control of what their offspring are viewing.

Ashika Kalyan, country manager for MSN South Africa, Microsoft`s consumer Web site, says: "Parents should exercise the same caution and supervision when their children surf the Net, as they do with all the other extramural activities children engage in. By nature, children are adventurous and like exploring - and this can lead to a broad range of experiences, which needn`t be bad, especially if adequate supervision is in place.

"The Internet should not be seen as a threat by parents. Rather, it should be handled the same way by a parent as they would when their children use a cellular phone, view television or read particular magazines," says Kalyan.

Because children are often more technically literate than their parents, this does not mean that parents aren`t able to administer a certain level of control over what children can and cannot view. Using the Internet is practically hassle-free and if you are anxious about your child circumventing various security measures, then sit down with them from the outset and lay-out the parameters, ensuring that surfing the Net is a fun-filled family experience. That way the `mystery` of the Internet is taken away and children don`t perceive it as some forbidden fruit, which they can then explore while no one is looking.

Consider the following points if you are concerned about what your child may be viewing:

* Firstly - familiarise yourself with the Internet;
* Keep a watchful eye;
* Create boundaries - as you would with any other activity; and
* Block harmful Web sites by using Symantec`s Norton Internet Security 2003 which allows you to prevent your kids from viewing malevolent content altogether. Norton Internet Security 2003 can automatically block hundreds of Web sites known to be unacceptable for children. Plus, you can easily configure Norton Internet Security 2003 to block additional Web sites that you`d rather not expose them to.