Privacy, Security & Virus Information
Challenges in Designing a Great Filtering Software
One of the biggest struggles that parents currently face is how to protect their children while they are surfing the internet. The dangers are well known, ranging from cyber-bullying to exposure to damaging content, but still many parents feel unequipped to take an effective stance.
As the struggle for parent’s grows, the struggle for software developers to provide smart solutions also mounts.
1. Insuring Effective Use.
Even the best software is only effective when it is used properly. The challenge for software developers is to build protective tools that parents will install on their computers and use consistently.
2. Stopping Fence-hopping.
For every boundary that filtering software establishes, there will be a crafty and tech-savvy teenager to try to undermine the software’s limits. The challenge for software designers is to make the product flexible enough for parents, but still impenetrable to youngsters.
3. Not Throwing Out the Baby with the Bath Water.
Filtering software must be dynamic and able to adapt to the growing mass of online content. A static list of banned sites would be obsolete before it was even begun. This means that the software must rely on algorithms to determine whether a site should be filtered out or allowed to pass. This means that software designers must work carefully to ensure that while sites with pornographic content are stopped, those with educational content are still allowed through.
4. Choosing the Right Response.
Just as you must choose how to respond when your child tests your boundaries, so too must the software. Developers have to decide if they simply present a message that the content is banned, if they alert the parents with a message about the site that was sought, or if they disable the modem.
5. Picking the Battles.
We all know how challenging it can be to find the balance between setting boundaries and allowing children to explore. It is not any easier for a software program that has to say no to your child online. The challenge faced by software developers is to set limits without stifling the child’s online experience – after all, internet access is an amazing opportunity that we do not want to deprive our children of.
For parents, these struggles result in a range of products, each with their own unique strengths and challenges. As you evaluate your options, you should consider:
- How is the filtered content determined? Would you be happy to have all sites with the word “sex” banned or do you require most sensitive discrimination? Would you like to create your own banned dictionary or would you rather have a list that is ready made?
- Would you like to be notified of your child’s online behaviour? Do you want to know if your child tries to access inappropriate content or would you rather the software provide the message and leave you to fight other battles?
- How will the software influence your online activities? Would you like the rules to apply to everyone in the house or should adults be able to by-pass the software? How does the software strike the balance between remaining user-friendly for you, but still impenetrable to your child?
Raising children in the digital age is not easy, but it can feel better to know that you are not alone in the battle.
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