Hi I discovered this forum from the site safekids.com which, I think, all in all is a very good site to pick-up information with regards to the safety of children on the internet. Being a parent myself and mother of 3 children aged 7,9 and 12 who are avid internet users. One of my major concerns is preventing my children from accessing adult or adult related information when performing searches, as... I would presume, is a major concern for most parents. I can appreciate that there is no substitute for a constant vigil while ones child is surfing the internet but on rare occasions this is sometimes not possible with 3 hyperactive kids like mine. I have in place as many restrictions as possible to avoid my children accessing content I would not like them to see but was disappointed to find that the search box, included on the homepage of the safekids.com website was not all that safe! Having entered the word "sex toys" returned results for all kinds of things I would rather not mention here and apparently this was with google safe search on. So... Is Google safe search really that safe? Shouldn't the word "sex" be removed from the text input? I think you should be looking into this one Safekids.com as the words "sex toys" are not the only words which return results. I have been conducting several searches myself to find a reputable search engine I can use as a default search engine for my kids and am also considering starting my own blog listing them and describing the advantages and disadvantages of each one, if there isn't one already! Obviously time is a major factor for me doing this but hopefully one day I may get it off the ground. I have currently checked out some of the following: http://www.searchengines.com/kids/safe_searching_engines.html Which lists a small selection of Child safe engines. The Ask Jeeves (AJ for Kids) and Yahooligans being my favorite at the moment but even these have flaws. These are Human edited directories so sites who maybe beneficial to children but do not include themselves would be overlooked. In the meantime if anyone knows of a General Search Engine similar to the big 3 (Google, Yahoo, MSN) which really can distinguish between a site for children or not, leave your comment. Maybe I am being presumptuous in believing one exists and the only way to achieve such an engine is for it to be Human edited.
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Mimmy23
Posts:
16
Registered:
4/6/10
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(24 of 24)
Re: Child web safety - safe searching for kids.
Apr 29, 2010 7:00 AM
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Try to use ActyMac DutyWatch Remote to know what your children are doing in the Internet. But I think it is not good idea to forbid them something. They will know about it later. May be they will have problems because of this. With this program you can see what websites they visit, what they are printing and so on. And if it is dangerous in your opinion, you can speak with them and explain, but not forbid.
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tigger
Posts:
3
From:
NH
Registered:
3/18/10
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(23 of 24)
Re: Child web safety - safe searching for kids.
Mar 18, 2010 2:42 PM
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Have you tried www.kidrex.org - It is a free kid safe searching site from Google. When I put in your "sex toys" it came back with Oops...try again.
Another site for educational searches and educational games would be www.nettrekker.com. This is not a free site, however. Your kids may already have a paid subscription through their school. You can ask about it. All sites are previewed by teachers for the classroom.
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eibany
Posts:
4
Registered:
10/12/09
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(22 of 24)
Re: Child web safety - safe searching for kids.
Oct 12, 2009 12:48 AM
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Children's self-control abilities are weak,and there are many bad information on the internet,i know SentryPC is a good software to protect children's online security ,maybe you can try |
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Trudinger
Posts:
5
From:
Singapore
Registered:
6/15/07
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(21 of 24)
Re: Child web safety - safe searching for kids.
Oct 12, 2007 11:24 AM
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I agree with your points. However, stopping "sex" could have implications. After all, sex is not bad in itself. We're starting a new safe search engine for children, and we haven't stopped the words "sex" or "breast". Instead, we vet the sites on the search engine so that results are safe. I'd really appreciate feedback on the engine since we are a new company and need a lot of help and advice! http://www.kindernet.com I should add: your point is very valid. According to UNH researchers, 33% of children that do come across pornography do so from an unexpected search result. |
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bamalady
Posts:
1
Registered:
10/5/07
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(20 of 24)
Re: Child web safety - safe searching for kids.
Oct 5, 2007 8:24 AM
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Yeah there are alot of perverts out there. I'd check out Eye Spy Pro here: http://lowbudgetdesigns.net Cindy |
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olav
Posts:
39
From:
Norway
Registered:
9/30/06
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(19 of 24)
Re: Child web safety - safe searching for kids.
Oct 4, 2007 4:32 PM
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Purity queen: Great observations. Well reflected and sensible words.
But - I need to stress this :
What ever did happen to the US society that made a breast worse than a dismembered body ?
Most Americans I know will do what is needed to prevent their kids from seeing porn - and their definition of porn is so broad that Ruebens should hide in shame !!
The same parents will tear down a TV station for sending movies filled with swearing.
And yet again - the have no second thoughts when it comes to violent real-life news broadcasts.
It it not about time to shift focus ?
--
Edited by olav at 10/04/2007 4:33 PM
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PurityQueen
Posts:
1
From:
FL
Registered:
10/4/07
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(18 of 24)
Re: Child web safety - safe searching for kids.
Oct 4, 2007 10:33 AM
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I agree that there are many tools we can use to protect our kids from porn on the web. Pornography is destructive and addictive, and ruins individuals and families.
The best tool, though, may be a lot of openness in training and talking. When a child is "caught" looking at porn on the Internet, it's a great teachable moment. If we freak out, we may shame the child and color their perception of sexuality forever. But if we validate their curiosity and engage with them, we can start to celebrate the fact that being a sexual being with sexual feelings is normal, and then instruct on how to manage those feelings–and especially with our boys, make it clear why those images are inappropriate and what it really means to respect a woman and to wait to enjoy the beauty of the female form in the safety of a committed relationship (in our household, marriage).
Not that we shouldn't set limits on online time or use guardian devices—virtual relationships will never replace face-to-face interaction and a good knowledge of good communication. But our kids are going to see SOMETHING sooner or later, and what they really need is US, giving our time to explain these things, accepting them as they are in their natural curiosity, and preparing them to manage their sexuality as they grow.
Just an important perspective to keep in mind. Anything that makes us "too busy" is a worthy sacrifice for our children's well-being and life training.
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woodstock
Posts:
39
From:
gettysburg
Registered:
9/19/07
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(17 of 24)
Re: Child web safety - safe searching for kids.
Oct 4, 2007 3:34 AM
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I put in a posting about my 12yr old that got porn off google. So, I went in and made sure I had the "strick" level on the site. However, when I went back on google I found if I wanted to I bring up all the sites he had been looking at. So, those strick levels on google don't really mean a thing. My son typed in 'Girls having fun', and got 'Girls on Girls'. To a 12yr old this was exciting to say the least. We have talked about it, and since I'm a single mother. He is my adopted grandson, I called in the troops. My oldest son, he's 36, and he has a kind of father relationship with him. But, still I'm the one who has to monitor what is seen, and downloaded on the computer. Hey, I can't get google off, and with google helping with some of his required homework it's a catch 22. So, how do you make it safer. And, don't all computers come with google, or now with 'ask.com'. So, don't we have to be the ones who set the standards and make sure they are kept or take actions when our children don't keep those standards. And, we have to keep the same standards as our children. And, if we let our kids on the computer from the time they get home til the time they go to bed. Well, then aren't they going to go places we aren't going to be able to protect them from. Just as if we let them roam the streets. Isn't the internet considered the cyber-highway? Just asking?
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Sohphie
Posts:
1
Registered:
10/1/07
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(16 of 24)
Re: Child web safety - safe searching for kids.
Oct 1, 2007 6:54 AM
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Im sorry i don't mean to be rude
but when is a child ever going to type in "sex toys" anyway?
and as for the 12 year old they are most probably going to learn about sex the next year or they most probably already know the gist of what happens..
yet again the internet and successful search engines such as "google" are now considered dangerous as overprotective parents who watch those current affairs programs go overboard and test the ropes which children most certaintly would not climb. and if you really were a concered parent you would most probably be on the seat next to them watching there every move especially at the ages of 7 and 9.
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thng
Posts:
1
From:
Singapore
Registered:
8/5/07
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(15 of 24)
Re: Child web safety - safe searching for kids.
Aug 6, 2007 12:04 AM
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Yes,I agree that search engine like google is not safe.
It is a very powerful search engine which could locate a lot of information,both good and bad.
I do not know whether many of you out there agree.
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olav
Posts:
39
From:
Norway
Registered:
9/30/06
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(14 of 24)
Re: Child web safety - safe searching for kids.
Aug 1, 2007 4:41 PM
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I did sound a bit too harsh - so I am glad you picked up the important part !
YES - the layout was great - and given time - the site will be a great alternative !
Keep up the good work.
Olav
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Piffany
Posts:
6
From:
Somerville, MA
Registered:
6/7/07
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(13 of 24)
Re: Child web safety - safe searching for kids.
Aug 1, 2007 7:37 AM
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I am glad you liked the layout. I am also sorry you were not satisfied with the search results, but I hope you will agree with the concept of what we are trying to do. As I said before, we are developing (emphasis on development) a search engine for kids. We are not yet at the point where we have a product to take to market. I hope you will check back in the future to see our improvements.
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Anne
Posts:
507
Registered:
6/26/06
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(12 of 24)
Re: Child web safety - safe searching for kids.
Aug 1, 2007 5:54 AM
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Great, Lizzie. Welcome!
Anne
--
Anne Collier
ConnectSafely co-director
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Lizzie
Posts:
1
Registered:
8/1/07
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(11 of 24)
Re: Child web safety - safe searching for kids.
Aug 1, 2007 3:33 AM
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Hi
I have just discovered this forum and it is a great help to me as I am currently working on esafety in schools.
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olav
Posts:
39
From:
Norway
Registered:
9/30/06
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(10 of 24)
Re: Child web safety - safe searching for kids.
Jul 27, 2007 2:56 PM
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Honestly, kids.piffany.com ,is not a searchenging I would like my kids to use. Great layout - and thats it.
After having tried it - I was left with a feeling : This is a webcrawler that searches for the word you have written - and brings you the most bizarre results.
Sorry - I'll use my old engine.
Also - I agree with Anne - this is dangerously close to advertising.
Olav
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