Safety Net

Rating:
Summary: Online Children Require Adequate Online Guidance!
Review:   One of the major strengths of the book is the author's discussion of how some of the more popular software programs available today are designed to block problem Websites and their indecent material. Although these programs do not assure 100% successful filtering, the author does rate them and discusses the advantages and disadvantages of each one. The author correctly states that human oversight is always superior to filtering software. Therefore, parents, teachers, and others should always exercise adequate control over the child use of the Internet and the online services.

     Another strength I found fascinating was the description of clever programming and marketing ploys used to gain the attention of those online. As the author points out, some people will use extremely clever means to ensnare children and adults alike. To his credit the author cites examples of other threats apart from sexually explicit material. He writes of twelve children who followed easy-to-follow instructions found on the Internet on how to build homemade grenades. A number of these children were badly hurt when their grenades exploded. Other children online have formed close intimate ties with others and have actually left home to meet their newly found "friends".

     The author rounds out the book by offering an adequate glossary of terms, a list of safe Websites for kids, instructions for surfing the Internet, setting up and operating parental control software, and a very helpful guide to detect the presence of suggestive material. The book is footnoted to provide readers with documented sources. Readers should visit the Kidshield Website for updated and additional information.

     The incidents cited in the book are reason enough to be on guard for the welfare of children today. Sadly, at present we cannot rely upon local, state, and federal governments to protect children from the exposure of negative influences that exist on the Internet, whatever they may be. We should take immediate a! ction to make such threats much less of a problem and burden. This book offers a thoughtful response to a problem every parent, teacher, and other concerned persons in this technological era should become familiar with. Get a firm grip on this problem before this problem gets a firm grip on your kids!