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I was recently doing some browsing on the web to find out  how many parents were actually using some sort of parental controls software on their home computers.  While through my brief research I didn’t find firm numbers, it seems that many studies show that around 80-90% of parents know about controls while roughly 50% actually use them.  Personally, I think that is a pretty decent number, but could obviously be better.

There are also some feelings about how well these filters and controls work, and if they are actually necessary.  I came across this blog by Joshua Schnell out of the UK on a study regarding Kids, iPhones and Parental Controls.  He believes that kids are naturally curious and industrious, and regardless if you have a filter or not, they’ll find a way around it.  It’s a valid point, and I think very true for older children and teens, but just like you probably wouldn’t leave inappropriate materials like pornography or bomb-making instructions lying around the house, why make it easy for kids to find this stuff online?

I actually think it is a very important tool to use.  I’m not naïve enough to think my kids won’t come across things they shouldn’t … heck, just like the author of the blog I referred to, as a kid, I “came across” my fair share of adult oriented material, and often went out of my way to find it!  But I also think he underestimates both the sheer number of sites out there that are harmful, but also the level of, for lack of a better word, disgusting-ness that is out there.  I’ve certainly stumbled on to some things online that I really, really wish I hadn’t, and to a child, that can be very damaging.

Regardless, I believe littleye offers some even more useful tools than just filtering.  Just the fact that you can limit the time as well as set internet use schedules is invaluable as a parent, because often, it is the time spent on the web that can be most damaging.

by Grant Stoner

Twitter & Linked

Do you want to post photos online?

With the proliferation of Facebook, along with other social networks and photo sharing sites, many parents, including myself, are curious about the safety of posting photos of their children online.  When it comes to social sites, such as Facebook, I would certainly count myself in the “proceed with caution” category.  But is it a legitimate concern or just paranoid fear?

I think most parents are on the overprotective side when it comes to their children, but with the ease of the technology and an excitement to share every moment with family and friends, it seems most act before thinking about potential consequences.  Certainly the risk is extremely low for your child to be targeted and sought out solely based on an online photo, but if you’re uncomfortable with these same people possibly downloading and using these photos, as I am, then proceed with care.  It is extremely difficult to control what happens to your photos once they are online, so you want to be sure you’re doing everything you can to prevent misappropriation.

When using photo storing sites such as Shutterfly, iPhoto and Snapfish, you can feel 99.9% sure that your photos are safe.  Sites like Twitter, Facebook, Flickr and others, however, are entirely a different story.  The Facebook security setting in particular are very complex, so you really need to be on top of how your photos and information get shared, along with all of the inevitable changes that the site rolls out periodically.

Here are some quick tips on photo sharing on Facebook:

Know your friends… Many of us on Facebook have hundreds of “friends,” many of which we’re probably not all that sure about, or may not even know.

Check those security settings… Facebook allows you to set who can see your photos – friends, friends of friends or everyone.  You can also manually create lists so that only those that you choose can see your photos.

Avoid listing names or other identifying information... Your child’s name, school name, friend’s names, etc. can be used to track their location.

Be aware of your phone’s GPS settings… Photos taken with iPhones and other smart phones are embedded with information that can pinpoint where the photo was actually taken.  Best to turn off that function if you’ll be posting photos.

Communicate your wishes to friends and family… Often, loved ones are the culprits in posting your kids’ photos, and those are much more difficult to control and/or delete. Make sure everyone knows your personal stance.

Don’t post embarrassing photos.… We’ve probably all had memories of our parents showing an embarrassing photo to dinner guests.  Well, imagine hundreds upon hundreds of people seeing the same thing, along with judgmental peers.  It may be cute to you at the time, but could be potentially devastating to your child down the road.

So, it may seem we’re harping on Facebook a little here, but we found this infographic recently that illustrates the world’s largest photo libraries.  Powerful stuff!  Although it is unlikely anything bad will happen by posting that cute photo of your kid’s first bike ride, my advice would be to just think before you post.

 by Grant Stoner Twitter & LinkedIn

Raising Kids on Screens

While every generation of parenting has certainly come with its own inherent time-specific challenges, it feels that in this day and age, it’s an entirely different ballgame.  We’re living in an extraordinary time in history where our nearly every waking moment is spent in front of some sort of screen.  TVs, laptops, iPads, smart phones … screens are everywhere.  When I was growing up, there was most definitely an awareness of spending “too much time in front of the television,” but at that time, there wasn’t nearly the number of options that kids have today.  Of course, it’s not all bad.  Computers have taken the place of typewriters, fax machines and, for all intents and purposes, the telephone.  This has increased efficiency and productivity, and has made life just plain easier.  The problem is all the other stuff; Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, video games – on and on and on.

I recently read an article on Huffington Post by Kari Henley entitled Detox Your Kids From Screen Time.  In that article, she cites a Kaiser Family Foundation study that found that kids 8-18 spend an average of 7 ½ hours a day in front of some sort of screen!  Kari actually took the dramatic solution in her family of banning all screen time for a week, including her own.  While admirable, it’s not necessarily practical.  What we can take away from it, however, is the need to reduce screen time to a more healthy, manageable level.  This, of course, starts at home … and I mean REALLY close to home.  Reading that article among others on the web truly forced me to look at my own personal screen habits, and I’ll be the first to admit that I am a pretty poor example for my children!  But, I’m willing to improve by limiting my smart phone use when I’m supposed to be experiencing quality time, and probably most importantly, limiting my phone use while, ahem … driving.

Beyond setting the proper example, it is our job to create the rules at home and make sure they are adhered too.  Old fashioned conversations about your expectations, including their input, will go a long way into creating a stress-free transition to manageable screen time.  Aside from that, especially if you have younger kids, littleye parental control software is a godsend.  With it, I can set limits on Internet usage as well as monitor what sites my kids are browsing, which is especially useful for when they are supposed to be doing homework!  I don’t have teens yet, so admittedly my job is currently much easier in this area, but if you do have teens, WebMD has some tips for you on how to Reduce Teen Screen Time Without Stress.  Good luck, and I hope you’re not reading this while you’re driving!

by Grant Stoner Twitter & LinkedIn

In my day (and I assume many of you reading this as well) I never thought about online safety, back to school just meant a few new clothes, some PF Flyers, a few pencils, a Trapper Keeper, and a ream of loose-leaf paper.  Maybe a ruler and some scissors as well.  Oh, how times have changed.  Technology is moving on a bullet train faster than most of us parents, as well as lawmakers and educators can keep up.    Now we worry about smartphones in school, iPads, iPods, inappropriate texting and Facebook IM’ing, just to name a few.  We’re even seeing some social networking laws like the one that just passed in Missouri, basically barring teachers from communicatiing with students outside the school system.

The legislation is vague, causing some confusion and even a lawsuit attacking the constitutionality of the law, but it is a concern nonetheless. At home, we can lay down the ground rules, set up parameters, and even utilize parental control software like littleye.  But how can we make sure that the protection we are providing at home carries over to school?

Well, you can start with these 5 tips on preparing you and your child for back to school and online safety.

1. Reinforce your guidelines at home.  By being strong with your household Internet use rules it is more likely that those practices will carry over to school as well.  Also, if you have young children, make sure that you communicate with their teachers on what is expected of them at home.
2. Know what technology the students will have access to.  Some schools will have desktop computers, some will have iPads or laptops which are utilized as part of the curriculum.  By knowing what technology will be used, you’ll be more able to help your child make better decisions online.
3. Familiarize yourself with the school’s Internet policies.  Does the school have a cyberbullying policy?  Like the district mentioned above, is there a policy on student/teacher interaction on social networking sites like Facebook  or Myspace? What are the school’s rules on mobile devices in the classroom?  Does the school filter the Internet?
4. Teach your kids that not everything they read online is the truth.  This tip can apply to many different avenues, both in personal attacks as well as school based research.  It is important for kids to know that sites such as Wikipedia, or even Facebook cannot be considered trusted research sources and should only be used sparingly, possibly to kickstart further research.
5. Communicate, communicate, communicate.  Nothing is more important than an open communication between you and your child.  This also goes for a strong line of dialogue between parents and teachers as well.

Here’s wishing you and your child a safe and successful back to school transition!

by Grant Stoner

Twitter & Linked

Child using an iPhone

When I heard that the smart folks over here at littleye R & D were developing a “safe browser” for the iPhone and iPod Touch, it got me to thinking about kids and cell phones.  Of course when I was in grade school, cell phones only existed pretty much in the movies (remember the phones in Wall Street?!), then in high school, pagers became popular.  But those were pretty much reserved for the wealthy kids, or … ahem … drug dealers.  So, that all being said, I’m certainly not THAT old, so the whole cell phone/smartphone in schools conversation is a relatively new one.

I do have young kids, however, and my oldest is getting to the age where some kids are actually using iPhones and the like.  In fact, recent studies have shown that 31% of 8-10 year olds have cell phones!  That seems like a staggering stat to me that basically, 1 in 3 8 year-olds has a smartphone.  I guess my question is … why?  It is difficult to for me to see why an 8 year-old needs a phone, unless there are very specific medical, safety or emergency uses for it.  Of course, on the flip side, 5 years ago I would have thought that nobody actually “needs” access to emails, web, phone, Twitter, Facebook, etc. all day every day, but it often feels like I can’t survive without these things!  My excuse is, I need it for business… yeah right.

If you do have young children, and even pre-teens and teens, check out this article over at Parent Dish on Kids and Cell Phones: What Parents Need to Know.  It offers up some terrific questions to ask yourself before you go out and add junior to that family plan.  Their stance is purely neutral on the subject, but the point is to arm you with information and put the responsibility into the parents’ hands.  Ultimately, it’s up to you to make sure your kid uses this technology responsibly, if you choose to go down that road.  In addition, there is also the health risks involved, with certain studies citing a strong link to brain cancer and cell phone use while others argue the contrary.  The bottom line on this is, if your kid does you a cell phone, there are certain precautions that are simple and effective, like using a wired headpiece, that it just makes sense to do them.  And with most phones now having Internet access, parents will need to be more diligent about online safety, and the new littleye feature can certainly help with that.

by Grant Stoner

Twitter & Linked