Parental controls struggle with Web 2.0

Adult online content is not efficiently filtered on mobile phones or games consoles

Parental-control programs aimed at keeping children safe online do not function well with Web 2.0 sites, smartphones or games consoles, the European Commission has said.

Research revealed that although 84 percent of the software tested worked well with traditional home computers, it doesn't efficiently filter content via mobile phones or games consoles.

Currently, 31 percent of European youngsters access the internet on their mobile phones and 26 percent go online via games consoles. In addition, content from Web 2.0 sources, such as social-networking sites, forums, blogs and instant messaging, frequently slips through the safety net.

The study, which analysed 26 parental-control tools for PCs, three for games consoles and two for mobile phones, also found a one-in-five chance that unsuitable content, such as sites promoting anorexia, suicide or self-mutilation, could evade filters.

A second survey, funded by the European Commission and conducted by EU Kids Online, found that only s quarter of European parents use parental-control software to monitor, track or filter what their children can do online. Significant differences from country to country - ranging from 54 percent in the UK to just 9 percent in Romania - could be the result of language options. Many programs are available in English, but the survey found support for other languages is limited.

The tools were tested according to four criteria: functionality, security, effectiveness and usability. The study interviewed 25,142 children aged 9 to 16, plus one of each of their parents.

 

Source: PC World

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