Parents,
take heed. Summer means fun and sun for young people, but there could
be a dark side to all that free time. Is your teen home alone? Are the
computers in your house protected from porn sites? Unfortunately, it’s
possible your students are finding sexually explicit material online
that could hurt their emotional, spiritual and even physical health.
According to TopTenREVIEWS
Google Analytics data reveals a dramatic increase – indeed a 4,700%
jump – in searches for the term "porn" in the days immediately following
the end of school for most students. While falling short of scientific
proof, it's a strong indicator of what many youngsters may be doing on
their summer vacation.
There could be
many explanations for this dramatic change in numbers, but there is no
question it coincides with the time most schools get out.
Since
parents are busy and cannot constantly stand guard over computer use, a
little electronic help might come in handy. Internet filter software
can offer some reassurance to parents that their children are protected
from material that parents deem objectionable.
The internet filter software on
the market today allows parents to block websites and chat rooms that
parents deem inappropriate. This software can do much more including
such things as filtering emails, monitoring social media sites and
sending parents email alerts if someone using a computer is accessing
objectionable content.
Academic
studies have shown that young people who are exposed to sexually
explicit material before age 18 are more likely to become promiscuous,
get pregnant, test positive for a sexually transmitted disease and
engage in forced sex.
Nothing takes
the place of heart-to-heart talks between parents and children about
values, human sexuality and the things that are considered healthy,
respectful and worthwhile according to a particular family’s principles.
However,
internet filter software can shield children from images, language,
videos and other depictions of behaviors that are contrary to the
parents’ standards. It could be another tool to help parents get
involved in the already complicated task of trying to raise healthy,
well-adjusted children.
Dr. Mary Anne Layden, director of the Sexual Trauma and Psychopathology Program,
Center for Cognitive Therapy in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania, is the author of “The Social Costs of Pornography: A Statement of Findings and Recommendations.”
Center for Cognitive Therapy in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania, is the author of “The Social Costs of Pornography: A Statement of Findings and Recommendations.”
"There is
evidence that the prevalence of pornography in the lives of many
children and adolescents is far more significant than most adults
realize, that pornography is deforming the healthy sexual development of
these young viewers, and that it is used to exploit children and
adolescents,” Layden wrote.
How does it deform them?
In a telephone
interview, Layden said academic studies show that there are 23 unhealthy
behaviors that people exposed to "sexualized media" before the age of
18 are more likely to display. These can include a greater likelihood to
have sex earlier in life, have multiple partners, engage in forced sex,
test positive for Chlamydia, be more accepting of sexual harassment and
become juvenile offenders.
“Are any of
those things the kind of things we want for our kids?” Layden said. “My
own research shows that pornography is mis-education about sex. It lies
about sex.”
For example,
she said pornography shows that women love to be degraded and violently
hurt, which is not true in real life. It also depicts men as vicious,
narcissistic and out of control – which is also not true, she said.
“This is hate
speech against men and hate speech against women,” Layden said. “It
sends the wrong message about people, relationships and functions. Porn
doesn’t say anything about love or commitment or caring. It also doesn’t
say anything about producing children.”
The
blunt-talking and often controversial Layden said she tells parents,
“You’ve got to say to children: ‘There won’t be any porn in this home’”
and then take strong measures to keep it away from impressionable
youngsters.
“It’s good to talk to the kids, but I think prevention is 100 percent better,” Layden said.
What is Internet filter software?
Schools
and businesses can easily have dozens of computers operating at once,
with many or even all of them providing Internet access. Wherever
Internet access is available, there’s always the possibility that
members of an organization may visit websites you’d rather they stay
away from, as well as the ever-present threat of the Internet being used
as a tool for Cyber bullying or sexual harassment. With the abundance
of inappropriate material available online, such as pornography, games
and gambling, it can be a challenge to effectively filter and limit
access to those sites.
With Internet filter softwares you can
Block web sites in more than 70 categories, including pornography, gambling, drugs, violence/hate/racism, malware/spyware, phishing
Force SafeSearch on all major search engines
Set time restrictions to block web access during designated times
Configure custom lists for "always allow" and "always block"
Override a web page block with password
Trust the enhanced anti-tampering, even children can't break
View easy reports to monitor and control web activity
Real-time categorization of new adult and malicious sites
Some of Internet filter software available are -
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