Cyberspace is the worlds largest network of computers and on-line services accessible by anyone of any age. The Internet, also known as the "Information Super Highway" travels through some areas that parents should be aware of. Just as any city has it's undesirable areas which no parent would want their kids in, so does the Internet. The only difference is kids can access these areas without stepping foot outside their home.

Although the Internet has these unwanted areas, the majority of it is not all bad. Most of the Internet is devoted to useful and educational purposes. You have access to many sources of information such as reference materials, news, current events, congressional records, magazine articles and more just to name a few. With the Internet people have a world of information right at their fingertips.

The Internet is easy to connect to using a modem which you will find installed in virtually every new computer you can connect to an Internet Service Provider and gain access to the Internet. In fact, most new computers come with free trials of on-line services. You can activate your online membership quickly with a name, address, telephone number and credit card. Many parents do so to be able to enjoy the benefits that the Internet can offer, but what they do not realize is they are also opening a door to a vast world of information which includes unrestricted adult oriented material.

Most parents of families who go online are quickly impressed with the interest that their children take with what they think to be a mostly educational activity, and in fact in many cases the computer becomes a baby-sitter of sorts. Parents are pleased with their children spending less time watching TV and playing games and spending more time improving their computer skills and increasing their knowledge online. In fact, parents soon let their guards down and assume (incorrectly) that the Internet is a safe place for their children to play.

The Internet

Internet access is available from Internet Service Providers in almost every city in the world. Here is where the real danger lies. The Internet is a huge worldwide network of computers and services all connected together. Major corporations, government agencies, colleges, universities, nonprofit organizations, and thousands of individual users are all represented on the Internet. The Internet is highly unrestricted. It is very dynamic and changes hourly. Because of the many different entities from so many different countries regulation is impossible. No local or federal laws can be enforced to regulate the content of the Internet so it is basically an "anything goes" network. While the undesirable parts of the Internet comprise a very small fraction of the total information available they are nevertheless still there, and are just as easy to access as any other area of the Internet.

Internet Service Providers act merely as gateways to the Internet. Once on the "net", the standards normally imposed by the on-line service being used fly out the window, thus making the parent who thinks that their Internet provider is safe for their children, wrong. Everything on the Internet is immediately available.

The Internet features four main functions. While there are many ways to use the Internet, and more functions available, the following four are the most commonly used and talked about:

The World Wide Web

Everyone has heard the phrase "surfing the net". The world wide web is made up of millions of "pages" that contain text, graphics and links to other pages. Almost anyone who uses and Internet provider can publish a "home page" which is a personal web page off of their Internet providers web site. Any web browser can then access that page along with every other page on the Internet.

Along with personal user home pages, corporate web sites and any other information available the web can also be used to search for information using keywords and phrases that find you exactly what you are looking for.

Web browsing can keep anyone entertained for hours and hours. Each page usually has links to other pages, sometimes thousands of miles away. Parents should be aware however that a variety of adult topics can be found on the web including magazine offers, pictures and videos.

Newsgroups

You can think of a newsgroup as a bulletin board where users can exchange information, files, graphics, and carry on discussions on a wide variety of topics with others from all over the world. Currently there are about 36,000 newsgroups available for access. Of these many are devoted to adult oriented topics, pictures and videos covering anything from homosexuality to bestiality. These images are readily accessible by anyone with Internet access.

FTP Sites

FTP sites are locations on the Internet where the users can download files. While most FTP activity is generally related to files that would pose no danger to children, there are many that feature adults only material. New sites come and go daily and the adolescent world knows them all.

E-Mail

E-Mail is the act of exchanging private notes, memos, or letters electronically between two or more people. You can send and receive E-Mail with anyone who knows your E-Mail address. This is a very common service available with all online services, and it even allows you to exchange E-Mail with someone who subscribes to a different online service. Because E-Mail is generally transmitted and received within seconds, it is an extremely powerful tool for businesses and private parties alike.

No Restrictions

The Internet has no, and can impose no restrictions on who accesses what. Adults only areas can be accessed by anyone of any age regardless of what they may say. For instance, the Playboy home page on the web states that you must be 18 to enter the Playboy area where pictures are available for viewing. This is much like issuing a dare to a child. They do not have to provide any proof of their age, and there would be no way of verifying it even if they did. So the over 18 requirement rather acts as a drawing card advertising that there is material there they want to explore. Basically, the Internet sees all users the same, and once on, what is available to one is available to all.

Helpful Software

The following links will take you to several different software packages which help parents monitor and block what their children can and cannot see. Although none of the packages are foolproof, they will help you in your mission to keep the Internet clean for your children.

CyberSitter
SafeSurf
Net Nanny

Please make the Internet a safe place for your children to play. If you have any further questions, please contact Wilkshire Communications Group @ (330) 874-9030. Note: WCG does not recommend, nor promote any of the companies, websites, or software listed above. They are merely links to software that can help your family's Internet experience be a positive Internet experience.