14 DAY TRIAL // Many parents believe that using the parental control tool found in basically any security solution on the market keeps their children perfectly safe from dangerous or offensive content. The latest Norton Online Living Report shows that children not only don't care too much about the threats, but they also do things they know to be inappropriate.
20% of the children who answered Symantec's questions said they are aware that their online conduct is related to activities their parents wouldn't agree with. When it comes to teens, the situation is even more dramatic. 40% of them say that their tutors don't even know what their online activities are. One of the biggest fears that parents encounter is that their children could be contacted by unknown, possible dangerous persons via the Internet. While Americans believe that only 6% of their children might face this threat, nearly one third of the respondents, all kids or teenagers, have been approached by a stranger.
Other disturbing information comes from a Rochester Institute of Technology survey aftermath, which proves that almost half of the youngest respondents, namely kindergarten, found online content to be considered embarrassing, and 11% of older children admitted to have faked their online identity. In order to raise awareness among parents and convince kids to have an appropriate and safe conduct while using the Internet, Symantec has partnered with School Family Media. The program supported by the two will be launched during the soon to come school year.
Meanwhile, Comcast, an important Internet provider, has also partnered with McAfee, a famous security solution provider. The two have the same purpose: making parents realize that their children need adult support to avoid confrontation with traumatizing situations while navigating the web. Besides using the "parental control" tool shipped with McAfee's products, parents are also advised to communicate with their youngsters, action that can determine them to be more open when they wish to talk about embarrassing Internet related moments. Children should be taught that information meant to be private should remain that way. Also, kids' personal computers should be put in a place where parents are able to check on them without any difficulty.