A resposta é sim, até certo ponto.
Antes de começar a pensar em comprar um cadeado grande para o seu computador, a verdadeira resposta é muito mais complexa.
As parents, naturally, we want to protect our children from the Big Bad Whatever – whether it be outside or online. And we know that parental control software has been offered forth as a holy grail, something that will, in theory, protect our children and prevent them from accessing sites we don’t want them to access – all while we’re away at work.
The problem is our children are using technology at younger and younger ages, creating a new generation of people to whom computers and technology is simply part of their lives, and their comfort levels and competence will far outstrip our own – even now, many of our teens know more about computers than we do. What this means is we have children on our hands who are more and more likely to have the knowledge and skills to circumvent parental control software, sometimes in ways that we will never realize they have done so.
Yet not having this software means we’re unleashing our children into a world of unlimited possibilities and discoveries, some of those unsavory or even dangerous, as well as putting them in the path of people we’d rather they never interact with.
Embora grande parte da mídia promova a ideia de que a Internet é um reduto de pedófilos e outros degenerados, a verdade é que o maior risco para os nossos filhos virá na forma de cyberbullying e pressão de grupos de pares.
Então, se o software de controle parental não é infalível, o que fazemos? Proibir o uso de smartphones, redes sociais e uso de computadores em casa?
Além de isso não impedir o seu filho de usar computadores e smartphones, é também uma forma de humilhá-lo na frente dos colegas, algo que devemos sempre tentar não fazer.
The problem is not the technology – neither the devices nor the software. The problem is the way parents rely on the software too much.
While some parents get their kids to set software and computers up (not a smart move if you think about it), many others simply set the software up and then promptly forget about it, thinking the software is working and doing its job and therefore the parents doesn’t have to do anything more.
Software is not sentient. It does a great job in doing what it’s supposed to do, but a parent needs to be actively involved. For parental control software to truly work how we want it to, we, as parents, need to be involved.
Isso significa verificar o histórico online diariamente, significa ter certeza de que você pode verificar o que seu filho está fazendo no computador, isso significa ingressar no site de rede social do qual seu filho faz parte.
Of course, being the sentient part of the parental control software, it pays to educate yourself and stay up to date on the latest fads among kids, as well as with the latest technology. And it also pays to educate your children, explain to them the importance of protecting their personal information, and being wary of anyone they don’t know what wants to know such information. And it’s just as important to explain to your children why you don’t want them to go to certain sites, or keep away from certain subjects online.
Se você verificar ativamente o que seus filhos estão fazendo on-line e em seus telefones, e conversar com eles, o software de controle parental funcionará em seu nível ideal.
Para ler mais sobre o assunto, acesse PC Profissional e Revista PC e leia o artigo detalhado sobre o assunto.
