ScreenRetriever’s Online Safety Blog
Kids Circumventing Fences to the Internet
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...
read moreFacebook Profile: A Predators Dream
While I was using ScreenRetriever to check in on my daughter’s computer activity, I noticed her friend’s Facebook profile. I was shocked to see that this bright, attractive, smart 16 y.o. girl had posted her real first and last name, the town she lives in, her real birthdate, and the school she goes to. A predator’s dream profile! I know her parents have taught her and wouldn’t approve of her posting this much personal information online…that is if they knew. Parents need to trust but verify! Child “online” predators are arrested frequently by posing as as young teens to lure their...
read moreScreenRetriever Introduces Replay — A First Of Its Kind Playback Feature For Family Computer Security
Only Live Web Monitoring Solution Now Records Children’s Computer Activity Boston, MA (PRWEB) June 02, 2011 ScreenRetriever, the first and only online safety product to offer parents live supervision of their children’s computer activity, announces the availability of ScreenRetriever REPLAY. REPLAY records children’s computer activity and allows parents to review playback directly from their computer. REPLAY gives parents the opportunity to make sure that their child is practicing safe Web surfing habits. REPLAY captures online sessions when parents are unavailable to supervise their child’s online...
read moreKnow and No are the Best Protectors for Kids Online
7.5 million kids under the age of 12 are on Facebook, a consumer reports survey revealed. Currently there is no way to verify age of anyone on Facebook. Kids lie about their age to get on Facebook. So, is this a Facebook responsibility or a parent responsibility? The reality is that kids 12 and under should not be on Facebook. They lack the judgement, experience and maturity to handle all of the potential risks associated with Facebook usage, such as cyberbullying and extreme cyberbullying, like busto pages. There are horrific Facebook groups such as “Let’s go f…ing mental” which promotes binge drinking....
read moreAre you aware of dangerous websites that kids are exposed to online?
I’ve been amazed when I ask parents if they know about ChatHopper or other video chat sites? By far the majority do not. I go on to explain that ChatHopper (there are many other sites like this) is a chatroom that connects people with random strangers via webcam. What’s at the other end of the webcam most often is more than inappropriate for children, it’s usually downright disgusting and disturbing. Chatrooms are also a place where predators hang out. So why are parents so unaware of this type of site that their child may be exposed to? Do they just not care? Are they just too busy? Are they...
read morePediatricians Tell Parents: Active Participation Required to Supervise Online Activities
Pediatricians have taken a stand on internet safety. The American Academy of Pediatricians recently said that doctors need to “Discuss with parents the importance of supervising online activities via active participation and communication, as apposed to remote monitoring with a “net-nanny” program (software used to monitor the internet in the absence of parents.)” I couldn’t agree more! It’s absurd for parents to rely on any filtering, blocking, keystroke recording, and monitoring technology that runs without parental involvement. When parents know what their children are doing online, then they...
read moreIt’s time to change the "Not My Child" syndrome!
The “not my child” syndrome continues to be a problem when it comes to parenting, especially online. In a recent study of 1500 families, not a single parent believed their child could be a cyberbully. This attitude spills over into all issues related to internet usage. According to a Common Sense Media poll, “49% of parents think that their child didn’t start surfing online unsupervised until they were at least 13, only 14% of teens say this is true. 12% of teens say their parents don’t even know they have an account on Facebook. Only 16% of parents think that their child has shared information...
read moreKid’s fingers are getting a workout but not much else.
Obesity in kids is the hot topic du jour in the news these days. There are all kinds of studies trying to answer why? What’s the big mystery? When children go to school, sit, come home, eat junk food, sit in front of the T.V, the computer, listen to their ipods, eat some more, go on Facebook, play games online, maybe get in some homework, eat again, go online again, sit again…What do you think will happen besides bad grades? According to a study released by the Kaiser Family Foundation, 8-18 year-olds devote an average of 7 hours and 38 minutes to using entertainment media across a typical day (more than 53...
read moreIs Teenage Depression related to heavy use of the internet?
According to an article on teenagers and depression, “Spending time online is normal behavior for teenagers. But too much Internet use by teens — or too little, for that matter — might be related to depression” Other health concerns that were pointed out that are related to heavy internet use, of two hours or more, were obesity in males and sleep deprivation in females. The study involved 7,200 individuals ages 16 to 20 about their Internet use. Moderation is the key to so many things in life… eating, partying, even working. The internet needs to be used in moderation too. Kids need help with...
read moreWhen it’s not possible to get the computer out of the bedroom, is there another option?
Lori Getz, M.A. (Education Technologist) showcases the ScreenRetriever product release on her site Cyber Education Consultants Parent Resource Center When It’s Not Possible To Get The Computer Out Of The Bedroom, Is There Another Option? Posted By Lori Getz On February 13, 2011 @ 9:00 am In 1-step-ahead,Front Page,Headline ScreenRetriever (www.screenretriever.com) proudly announces the launch of its flagship namesake product, ScreenRetriever, the first and only online safety product to provide parents with real time supervision of their children’s computer activity. ScreenRetriever provides an...
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