Spinoff from Porn User at Library Thread...
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We use CyberSitter ($40 download at their website) and it is really good at blocking bad sites on the web. We also have our only internet connection in the living room where the screen faces where our sitting area is so that we can see what is on the screen at all times. Oldest is age 12. What do you use to protect your child(ren)?

Also, what are your feelings on kids using Webcams? I am so paranoid after I saw the Oprah with the boy that got involved with online prostitution that all started innocently with his Webcam... My son is begging for us to let him buy one and I have told him, "NO". He's mad... Am I being overprotective?

It is a different day and age. I truly feel that we are pioneers in the computer age. We must protect our children!

Thanks for any input.

We use NetNanny. Works really well, plus you can indicate specific sites that might not normally be blocked to be blocked.

Saddest thing is we had to start using it when we realized that the babysitter over the summer was POSSIBLY doing some things that were not cool on OUR computer!!

We have almost 9 and 7 y/o's. The 9 y/o is a computer game/video game nut. He loves Ruinscape online--and we allow it because he has some friends that play online and they will chat. But, we monitor it closely to make sure that he's only chatting with kids we know.
Recently, he bought Age of Mythology--which can be played online, but we do not allow that one yet to be played online. We limit the RPG to 30 minutes a day. We allow him to play on Nick, Cartoonnetwork, PBS, etc. for longer, but the RPG is 30 min.

The 7 y/o doesn't like the computer games and video games much--so it's not an issue w/ him.

oh, and NO WEBCAM at our house. Probably won't have one for a LONG time.

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Mental that one, I'm telling you. ---Ron Weasley, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

Cybersitter has same individualization features... If you enter something like www.b****.com, it will take you to www.benfranklinmint.com. Haha.

Talk about loss of innocence... My DS was fine until a friend of his who was older and had an even older cousin came over... My son was about 9. We were playing board games in the other room with the kid's parents and the boys were in the living room on the computer and giggling.

My DH went into the History after the kid left and they had been looking at all kinds of risque sites. So, we talked with his parents and told them what happened and still, three years later, they have no blocks on their computer and have internet in his bedroom.

Needless to say, we do not allow my son to go play at his house... *sad*