Short of banning the Internet altogether, you may feel at a loss for how to protect your children online. You can purchase software to block or filter certain websites, but you may wonder if censoring is really the answer. According to the National Academy of Sciences, you may want to monitor your child's Internet activity. Although monitoring a child's Internet activity will not prevent your child from viewing inappropriate content, it may work like a deterrent and give you the chance to teach your child the importance of online safety.
Step 1
Keep a list of your child's Internet accounts, passwords, blogs and online profiles. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children says you should tell your child you plan to review each account periodically to check for inappropriate content or communication.
Step 2
Share an email account with your child. This will give you access to all your child's incoming and outgoing messages, and help you protect your child from exposure to online scams and predators.
Step 3
Click on your child's browsing history to see a list of sites your child visits. Depending on how long your computer stores online history, you can view all the websites your child visited within the last several days, weeks or months. Consult your browser's "Help" section for specific instructions on how to check Internet history.
Step 4
Place the computer in a common room in the house, advises the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Do not allow your child to surf the Internet without an adult present.
Step 5
Inspect your child's cache. The cache is a temporary file on your computer's browser containing images recently displayed on the screen. The exact steps for checking a computer's cache will depend on your browser, so check your browser's "Help" section for instructions.
Step 6
Purchase keystroke software. This software catches everything your child types into the computer. This may prove especially useful in monitoring your child's chat room and instant messaging activity.
Tips and Warnings
- Keep an eye on your credit card bills. Many adult websites require a valid credit card to view content. Monitoring your credit card for unfamiliar charges will let you know right away if your child subscribes to any adult sites. If your child's computer frequently "crashes" when you walk into the room, this may mean he wants to hide what is on his screen. You may need to monitor his activity more closely.
- Your child may know how to cover her tracks on the computer. She may know how to erase her browsing history or open an alternate email account. Talk to your child about the importance of maintaining honest, open communication in your relationship. Remember that your child can browse the internet on cell phones and other devices. Your child may also access the Internet at school, at the library or other people's homes.
Things You'll Need
- Keystroke software
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