Using software to protect your kids
58% of kids globally have had a negative online experience.
Press Release from ProtectSoft
Pic: Getty Images
Article originally in
Parent24
As parents, we spend unlimited amounts of money in order to equip our homes state of the art electric fencing, burglar bars and other security measures in order to keep intruders from entering our homes, this begs the question: Why then do parents not do the same when it comes to preventing online predators and other cyber threats from harming your children? According to statistics, 58% of kids globally have had a negative online experience.
Many parents aren’t aware that software exists which makes it possible to be informed about your child’s online activity, thus empowering you to protect them from all the possible threats.
“Although parents encourage their children to be open and honest about what they’re experiencing online, and claim to know what content they are viewing, teenagers are still viewing indecent videos and imagery unsuitable for their age.” says Mike Fisher, Managing Director of HCTech, local distributor of ProtectSoft, provider of protection software that allows you to supervise your children’s online activity on Windows, Mac and mobile devices. “Although you cannot restrict your children from using online portals for school projects and social interaction, you can ensure that your children are safe and protected from the online predators, inappropriate content and bullies; we need to adopt the ‘prevention is certainly better than cure’ philosophy,” continued Fisher.
Arthur Goldstruck, MD of World Wide Worx, a local independent research and strategy organisation is currently working on a research project within private schools of which he already has over 600 respondents and here are some of the alarming figures:
- 25% are being bullied either via the internet or their mobile devices
- 33% witness bullying via these channels
- 66% of the respondents are aware of their friends being bullied
The most common applications with which these activities are taking place are BBM and Facebook however; WhatsApp and SMS platforms are consistently increasing.
Based on the Norton Online Family Report from 2011 conducted by Norton Symantec within 24 countries including South Africa, and more than half the respondents were children:
- 58% have experienced something negative online
- 12% admit to having viewed content on adult websites without their parents knowing
- 40% say they stop what they’re doing online when their parents are watching them
In South Africa, 78% of kids said that they have had a negative online experience with 61% reporting a serious negative experience, such as receiving inappropriate pictures from strangers, being bullied or becoming the victim of cybercrime.*
“People must understand our technology is not used to monitor your children, but rather specifically to monitor the uncontrolled internet,” said Fisher.
For more information on ProtectSoft and their Spector Pro, eBlaster and mobile products to help protect your children from online predators, sexting or viewing inappropriate content , visit www.protectsoft.co.za
How do you protect your kids online?