Are you relying on a blocker or filter to protect your kids online? Do you think checking browser history is enough? Kids are very creative in circumventing fences to the internet. How?
1. Kids erase browser history.
2. Kids turn off blockers/filters when using the computer and turn them on again when they stop using the computer… parents never the wiser.
3. Another easy way kids are bypassing filters/blockers is instead of using the website name; kids are looking up the IP address and using that to get to the desired website.
For example with a simple google search I found:
Reaching Facebook by IP address:
Facebook.com utilizes some but not all of the addresses in these ranges. Below are the most common active IP addresses for Facebook.com:
• 69.63.176.13
• 69.63.181.15
• 69.63.184.142
• 69.63.187.17
• 69.63.187.18
• 69.63.187.19
• 69.63.181.11
• 69.63.181.12
4. Kids use web proxy sites such as unblocked.org.
Unblocked.org explains: “Unblocked.org is a free anonymous service which aims to bypass internet restrictions (such as web filters, firewalls etc) to give you freedom online. The chances are you are at work, college or school and can never access your favorite sites due to the web filter – use our service to bypass filters.
Not only does Unblocked.org bypass restrictions it also acts as an online anonymous service which protects your identity. We hide your IP, ISP and location so you remain anonymous to every website you visit!
How: You have an IP address which is your unique identity on the internet. When you use our service your IP will change to our address which resides in Texas, USA thus tricking sites into thinking you are someone else.”
Sound pretty sophisticated… Kids are very computer savvy and most know more about computers than their parents. The best protection for kids is to actively monitor what they are doing online as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. With 125,000 new websites daily, blockers and filters can’t keep up even when kids aren’t using the above tactics to circumvent filters/ blockers. Parents are getting a false sense of security and kids are still being exposed to inappropriate websites and content.
Don’t rely on fences to protect your kids online. “Swimming pools can be dangerous for children. To protect them, one can install locks, put up fences, and deploy pool alarms. All these measures are helpful, but by far the most important thing one can do for one’s children is to teach them to swim.” National Research Council Study
