Internet_SAfety_Workshop

Is Your Child’s Device Porn Proofed?

If you can’t answer this question with an emphatic YES,  it’s likely your child has access to porn.

Everyday young children are exposed to graphic pornographic images and videos on the internet while using their device.  Most children see these images accidentally and with just a few innocent clicks. It makes you wonder just how many children have actually seen these harmful images and may be keeping them a secret.

Recently I conducted an Internet Safety Workshop in my community for parents of young children and tweens, after learning more about the dangers on the internet.  This workshop specifically focused on empowering parents to protect their kids from inappropriate content and porn.  The presentation ended with parents getting expert technical advice on how to set parent controls and restriction on their child’s devices.

I hope to continue to empower parents by giving them the information and resources they need.  Here are 3 ways you can protect your child.

How to Protect Your Child from Inappropriate Content:

1. Talk to Your Child.

The biggest danger to your child on the internet is your child on the internet.  Kids are naturally curious and want to know more about the world around them including body parts.  It’s too easy for your child to stumble into a rabbit hole of hardcore pornography while exploring on the web.

  • Talk to your child as early as possible about good pictures bad pictures and to tell a trusted adult if they see them.
  • Teach them how to conduct specific safe searches online to avoid random results.
  • Use possible scenarios or “what if questions” to engage your child in the conversation.
  • Make sure it’s a never ending discussion that continues as they get older and began using the internet for new things.

2. Restrict Access to Inappropriate Content

Devices do not come porn proofed.  Parents must take steps to keep their kids safe.  Fortunately there are many ways you can filter out the bad stuff but realize that nothing is 100% which is why talking to your child is #1.

  • Web Filters and Parental Controls software are a good way to monitor and restrict inappropriate content like pornography from the computer or device.  Most are a few dollars a month but allows you to monitor multiple devices.
  • Turn on the parental controls on your child’s device using the “settings” menu.  It can also be found under “restrictions” on Apple devices.
  • Add a firewall to your home router similar to what you may find in school. This is a good way to make sure guests in your home doesn’t have access to that stuff either.
  • Turn on Safe Search on your search engine and YouTube, that way they’re less likely to get the garbage on their search results.

3. Share and Speak Up

Your child will have access to the internet on devices other than theirs which is why its important for you to share Internet Safety to parents in your community.  Devices are becoming part of playdates and it’s better for you to know that the device your child’s friend is carrying has adequate parental controls.

  • Bring up internet safety in a casual manner.  By asking parents to share ways they monitor their children on the internet or how they filter inappropriate content is less threatening than asking if their kids device is porn proof.
  • Check out the firewalls at the school, church , or community center.  If you can get to the porn so can children.  Speak to an administrator if you find something that you know you shouldn’t.
  • Communicate your expectations to caregivers and sitters.  If another adult is monitoring your child than they should also make sure your child can’t access porn or violence during their time with them.  Its better not to assume they know to keep your child away from that stuff.  Some adults are oblivious to the ease of access to porn.
  • Attend Internet Safety Workshops or considering hosting a class for your community.  There’s lots of resources available online to assist you.

Here are a few helpful links to aid you in protecting your child from inappropriate content:

Common Sense Media – Privacy and Internet Safety

Protect Young Minds – Kids Learn to Reject Porn

NetsSmartz Workshop – Internet Safety Pledge

PC Magazine – Best Parental Controls 2016

Digital Parenting Podcast – Porn Proofing 

5 thoughts on “Is Your Child’s Device Porn Proofed?”

  1. naturally like your web-site however you need to check the
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    1. Thank you very much for the heads up. I must admit, spelling and writing is not my strong suite. I’m glad you appreciate the content. I promise to be more careful if you promise to come back again soon! Thank you!

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