I’ve been on the Internet for a little over 10 years, and there have been a few occasions where I quickly had to avert my eyes from the screen until I could close whatever had popped up.
I’m dating myself, but I do remember the pre-public version of the Internet, back in college. We used it to chat with computer users at other state universities in Kentucky, mostly to get the answers to the old text-based “Adventure” game, written in Fortran, and running on a Data General computer.
One thing I’ve noticed is the proliferation of adult-themed websites. You can’t hardly search for anything and click on a result link without being whisked away to some site promising biologically impossible acts (I’m trying to be tasteful here instead of blunt).
Here’s some eye-opening stats of a different sort:
- 9 out of 10 children have been exposed to pornography online, most unintentionally
- 57% of people have used the Internet to flirt
- There is a high correlation between cybersex and subsequent real-time sexual affairs
- Spammers and pornographers assault your children and spouse with unsolicited, deliberately misleading pop-ups, Instant Messages (IMs) and offensive emails (from BSafe’s website)
As an adult, I can make responsible choices about what to look at (and NOT to look at), but I want to make sure my children are not exposed to situations that they are not prepared for at their age.
I recommend that you install some sort of Internet filtering on your home computers, if you have children in your home.
The one we use is Christian-based, and is called Clean InterNet, (866) 752-5326. Their website is located at www.cleaninter.net.
Clean InterNet works quite well, and even pops up an appropriate Scripture verse when a person tries to go to a questionable website. As of this writing, Clean InterNet is $4.95 per month, billed quarterly, with a $10.00 setup fee, and no credit card required. We use only their filtering service, but they do offer other types of service as well.
Another Internet filtering system that I have heard a lot of good things about is BSafe, although I have not personally used their services. Their website is at www.bsafehome.com.
BSafe. offers an entire suite of “patented technology (which) is simple to use and keeps pornographers, hackers, viruses, trojans and spammers from invading your home”, according to their website. They offer Internet filtering, SPAM filtering, and anti-virus software, with various different combination packages available.
Let me say, though, that no filter is completely effective.
The most effective filter I know of is to monitor what sites your kids visit. This might mean that you wouldn’t let them have a computer in their room, but I think the benefits are well worth it.
We have one computer in our house, and it is located in the living room, where anyone can see what is going on there.
If you find that you have an addiction to adult websites on the Internet (or any other kind of addiction, as far as that is concerned), I also highly recommend Reformers Unanimous International. My family was involved with RUI for more than a year, and it works. Their website is located at www.reformu.com.
If you have any questions, I’ll be glad to try to answer them (click here to send me an e-mail).
