Mywebsearch - My way to Search

Children today are part of the “Web Generation.” They are growing up with the internet, entirely at ease with the ability it gives them to investigate anything and socialize with anyone without ever leaving home. However, for all its virtues, the power of the internet can be dangerous, especially for children. It is up to parents to maintain the same level of control and concern for their children’s internet use as they do for every other activity in their lives.

Children, however, especially in their pre-teen and teenage years, may become defensive when their parents attempt to exert this control over exactly what their children are exploring online. “But it’s my computer and my web search,” an irate teenager is likely to cry, when asked by his or her parents to explain what s/he has been looking up on Google, Bing or Dogpile. As with all parent-child issues, communication is key, and explaining to your children just why this kind of direction is important can help them to understand that the issue is not one of mistrust of them, but of general concern about the anonymity of the internet.

Parents should also take certain steps as a matter of course to help create a safe World Wide Web environment on their home computers. These steps include installing filters and/or parental controls that will block inappropriate content before your kids see it; adjusting your Web browser security settings to assign security levels to Web sites;  monitor where your children go online by reviewing their viewing history; and remind your kids never to speak to strangers online.

By implementing these safety and privacy options, and maintaining a healthy and open relationship with your children, you can ensure that when they say “I need to do my web search,” you will feel confident that they are engaged in a productive and safe activity.