Content Filtering/monitoring and kids

[NewChief]

I know this thread has come up many times most likely, but I'm about to bite the bullet on this. My oldest kid (11) does nothing but Netflix, so he's fairly easy to filter. My 9 year old has become a streaming video addict, though (minecraft, ARK, etc..). At this point in time, he's really good at self-monitoring and filtering (he'll rat out his buddies if they show him inappropriate content), and I really appreciate that. I know that it's coming, though. On top of that, I don't really want him just stumbling into some bizarre shit while rabbit holing on youtube.

So: what strategy do you use? How do you balance teaching kids to be responsible vs. outright banning stuff. I know that there will come a point when I can't "protect" him, and he'll have to make good choices on his own.. but I'd still like to limit his exposure to crazy shit until he makes conscious decisions to explore crazy shit on his own.

Second: what software or device do you recommend? One friend really likes the Disney Circle for ease of use at home (right now, he only accesses stuff on our wifi). Qustodio also gets really good reviews. My main concern, at this point, is keeping him off of inappropriate content on youtube (as some of the game streamers are highly inappropriate).

Oh: he accesses from both an iPad and a Chromebook.

TIA!

[ModSocks]

Im in the same boat. My son turns 10 this month and he's mostly into Youtube streamers.

My son, like yours, does a great job of filtering himself. He knows that if i so much as hear a cuss word, or any sort of rant that's not related to the game, then it has to go.

But he's bound to run into something. It's coming.

[BlackHelicopters]

Keep their devices in the family/living room , not in their bedrooms.

[Otter]

You're fighting an uphill battle. I used to do internet filtering at my last job and people always find a way around passive filtering. When I say passive filtering I mean blocking websites you don't want them to have access. There's simply too many ways around this approach such as proxies and URL manipulation. To top it off your son is probably more tech savvy than your giving him credit.

The only technical solution I found effective was to grant access to ONLY the websites you want him to be able to access via a router configuration. For instance if he has a computer in his room configure the router to allow access to ONLY Netflix and YouTube and whatever else you see fit. To top it off YouTube and Netflix aren't exactly safe if you're looking for a clean stomping ground.

As an example of the battle you're facing go to Google image search and type something like "shaved pussy" and see what you get for results.

The most common sense approach is what was mentioned above and keep internet access in a family room. It's a new age man. Trying to keep a young boy from looking at nude girls with such easy internet access is sticking your fingers in the dam to prevent leaks.

Accept it's going to happen while teaching moral responsibility. This is an IT savvy person's opinion. Not a fathers just for the record.

[NewChief]

Originally Posted by Otter

You're fighting an uphill battle. I used to do internet filtering at my last job and people always find a way around passive filtering. When I say passive filtering I mean blocking websites you don't want them to have access. There's simply too many ways around this approach such as proxies and URL manipulation. To top it off your son is probably more tech savvy than your giving him credit.

The only technical solution I found effective was to grant access to ONLY the websites you want him to be able to access via a router configuration. For instance if he has a computer in his room configure the router to allow access to ONLY Netflix and YouTube and whatever else you see fit.

As an example of the battle you're facing go to Google image search and type something like "shaved pussy" and see what you get for results.

The most common sense approach is what was mentioned above and keep internet access in a family room. It's a new age man. Trying to keep a young boy from looking at nude girls with such easy internet access is sticking your fingers in the dam to prevent leaks.

Accept it's going to happen while teaching moral responsibility. This is an IT savvy person's opinion. Not a fathers just for the record.

Well, like I said. Once he is consciously choosing to look at stuff, I don't have any illusions that he'll find ways to access. My bigger concern is him stumbling on shit that he shouldn't by wormholing on youtube. That is, "Oh hey! I'm looking at this minecraft video and this other little video preview over the right looks cool..." then click and he's watching something in appropriate.

[Otter]

Originally Posted by NewChief

Well, like I said. Once he is consciously choosing to look at stuff, I don't have any illusions that he'll find ways to access. My bigger concern is him stumbling on shit that he shouldn't by wormholing on youtube.

It's been a couple years since I was on top of this game but I don't know of any easy ways to censor a good YouTube video from a bad one without blocking the entire site. It's the equivalent of herding cats.

Good luck.

[Just Passin' By]

"Here's a list of sites you're allowed to access. If you want to access any other, you come to me for permission. If I find out you're going to sites you're not allowed to, that'll be your ass."


Problem solved

[hometeam]

snitches get stitches

[Fish]

I use a combination of OS Parental Controls, Net Nanny, and Google/Youtube protected mode settings. Youtube is a tough one though, because it's a free video service and it usually takes another actual person(s) flagging the video as inappropriate before it will be blocked by Youtube's own settings. There's only so much you can filter. Nothing is 100% or even close. You have to juggle trust/software/accountability. What works for me is explaining to my daughter why the internet is dangerous, and why she needs accountability at all times while being online at her age. I explain that it's not that I want to violate her privacy, but at her age she's incapable of knowing what all to avoid. I explain to her that I have complete access to all her accounts, and I can and do check her online activity frequently. I have her Youtube/Gmail accounts linked to mine, and I have her accounts configured to log everything and send email notifications to me for every single post/comment/reply/email/etc. Basically if she wants on the internet, she has to accept that every bit of her online activity is tracked and monitored. That way, if she does fall down the rabbit hole and find some inappropriate content, she comes to me and tells me because she knows I check it and will find out. Punishment for violation is pretty effective too. A week or two without internet for a kid is damn near torture for them and tends to prevent repeated mistakes.

It's helps that I'm in IT, and she knows there's no feasible way for her to hide anything from me. But convince your kids that you're capable of this whether you completely understand it or not. Be sure and check browser history settings frequently to make sure nothing's being deleted. The parental controls and Net Nanny can help with not allowing history to be deleted and such.

I think you're on the right track already, with your child voluntarily monitoring. Accept that there's no perfect solution, and do the best you can.

[The Rick]

I picked up a Disney Circle last month and love it. It's not perfect (nothing will ever be), but it works pretty well.

[Demonpenz]

Just have him use it when you are in the room. If not he can't play on it

[kcfanXIII]

Originally Posted by hometeam

snitches get stitches

In the tech world, you snitch on yourself. You leave a evidence of every where you've been all over the internet.

[Taco John]

In this thread: people without kids telling parents to just have their kids use their tablets when they're in the same room.

[The Rick]

Originally Posted by Taco John

In this thread: people without kids telling parents to just have their kids use their tablets when they're in the same room.

[NewChief]

Originally Posted by The Rick

Yeah. Kind of defeats the purpose of a tablet.