Parenting Vivian | 31 Mar 2011 09:00 pm
Internet Parental Controls – 3 Reasons Why They Are Essential to Keep Your Child Safe From Predators
Would you let your child wander around unsupervised in an adult bookstore? Without the proper internet parental controls in place, this is what letting your child use the internet can be like. Here are three reasons that proper internet parental controls are essential to your child’s safety on the internet.
Reason 1: Pornography is pervasive on the internet-There are currently over 4.2 million pornographic websites on the internet. That means 1 out of every ten websites contains objectionable sexual material. This industry needs to hook new customers & targets them at an early age. Over 26 childrens character’s names have been used to link to pornographic sites. Furthermore, studies have shown that viewing pornography stimulates the same parts of the brain as crack cocaine does. Once someone is addicted to viewing pornographic images, breaking the pattern can be very difficult to achieve. Internet parental controls can block your babies from this constant barrage of objectionable sexual material & keep them safe from this industry.
Reason 2: Sexual predators target kids & teens through the internet-Here are some sobering statistics:
- 1 out of every 5 kids ages 10-17 have been sexually solicited over the internet.
- 70% of unsolicited sexual advances have been directed at children using the internet
- Over a million & a half Americans a year are stalked online. Out of that total, 4 out of every 5 are female.
And how often have you seen a story on the news where some pervert tried to set up a meeting with a teen or pre-teen girl only to find out that they were set up in an internet sting by the police? Let’s face it, setting up the proper internet parental controls is crucial to your child’s safety!
Reason 3: Pornography & unwanted sexual advances aren’t the only hazards on the internet- your child can also be exposed to graphic violence, gambling sites, religious cults, & hate groups on the internet. Without the proper internet parental controls in place, someone else can be placing objectionable material & ideas that do not fit in with your values at your child’s fingertips.
The internet is an invaluable resource that can help you learn, have fun, & seek out new information, but not everybody on the internet shares your values. Your kids are relying on you to keep them safe & protect them from people who do not share your values. Making sure you have the proper internet parental controls in place will keep them safe while they are on the internet.