Parental Controls For Computer-Savvy Kids

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You never know what your kids may find online.

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You never know what your kids may find online.

Gone are the days when a simple password was all it took for parents to keep their kids out of trouble online. But today, with so many ways to get online — from your home computer to gaming consoles to cell phones — traditional parental controls have gotten more complicated and less reliable.

NPR's Michele Norris, a parent herself, talks with Omar Gallaga about some of the latest tools available to adults who want to keep tabs on their high-tech kids. Gallaga is a regular contributor to All Tech Considered and covers technology culture for the Austin American-Statesman.

A good starting point for parents, according to Gallaga, are the standard content filters often included with new Web-enabled devices, including gaming consoles and televisions. And, for the home computer, parents can use safeguards already built into many Web browsers or use one of several browsers designed specifically for children.

For some parents, filters may not offer enough peace of mind. Rest assured, there are plenty of software options out there. Among them are a program that will send parents an instant message or e-mail when their child accesses a restricted site and another that records a child's every keystroke.

While the technology itself has changed rapidly — and will continue to do so — Gallaga insists that the basic rule of parental controls has not: Talk to your kids. Dialogue and trust are the best content filters money can't buy.