New Way to Screen Kid’s Net Presence is in the Works

Symantec is developing a Web-based service that will let parents control almost all aspects of their child's Internet activity from anywhere in the world. Still in the demo stage and without a formal name, the application gives parents sweeping control over their child's activity. Parents can set it up so that they have to approve a new buddy for instant messaging or they can scrutinize content before it is posted to a social networking site. Symantec is terming it a "family online safety" program rather than the more negative term of "parental control" and is emphasizing that parents and kids can work together to set up these controls. The program is Web-based and can be accessed through a Web browser, so parents have control even if they're not at home. After logging in, parents can click on a tab labeled "news" and see a list of recent actions by their child. The application was rolled out within the last two weeks for Symantec employees. Down the road it will then be offered on a forthcoming Web site called the "Incubator" that Symantec plans to launch within the next two months. After that, the family online safety application will go into beta with a commercial release planned before the end of March 2009.

Parental Controls Now Available Onboard Leopard and Vista

Both Apple's newly unveiled operating system, Leopard, and Microsoft's slightly older Vista are making a bigger deal out of the parental controls they have onboard. Settings in Leopard, for example, help parents manage a child's time online, block use of certain Web sites or applications like instant chat or iTunes, and watch over what kids do and who they communicate with when Mom and Dad aren't around. The biggest trick, though, is finding them!