Commercial Online Services and Parental Controls
Many commercial online services include parental controls in their online
features and make them available to all subscribers. Typically, these controls
allow parents to limit children's access to certain parts of the service
or Internet sites. Many services also let parents set up logs to monitor
where their children have spent their time online. In addition, most consumer
online services have specially designated areas for children.
The online industry is also working with a leading worldwide standards group
to develop
a system for rating online content. Known as the Platform
for Internet Content Selection, or PICS, the system allows groups
to develop content ratings similar to the U.S. motion picture industry system
for rating movies. Here is how you can find out more information about the
parental control features of some of the major online services:
- AMERICA ONLINE
- America Online provides parental controls that let adults restrict
access to all Internet, World Wide Web and America Online content except
for the Kids Only Channel. It also blocks access to AOL chat rooms. Incoming
Internet e-mail can be restricted, as well as access to specific Internet
sites. AOL offers CyberPatrol to all its subscribers. For more information,
use the KEYWORD "Parental
Controls" while using the service or phone 1-800-827-6364.
- AT&T
- AT&T WoldNetsm Service provides its subscribers with
links to SurfWatch and CyberPatrol, commercial programs that enable
parents to regulate their childrens' access to material on the Internet.
The links, and information on the programs, are available in the "Help"
section of the AT&T WorldNetsm Service public website
(www.att.net) and
the subsciber website (www.worldnet.att.net). For more information, phone
1-800-309-3349.
- COMPUSERVE
- The Parental Controls Center offers CompuServe users the ability to
restrict access to the Internet services through CompuServe, including
Newsgroups, File Transfer Protocol, and Telnet, as well as selected
services on the CompuServe Information Service that may contain
adult-oriented content. Users can also control direct Internet access via
Cyber Patrol software by Microsystems Software, Inc. This Internet
filtering software allows blocking by content category, time of day, or
specific Internet site. The latest version, Cyber Patrol 3.0, offers
several new features, including ChatGuard, which prevents children from
divulging personal information online, such as their name, phone number,
e-mail address and more. It also supports the new rating standard,
RSACi. Download the software without connect-time charges and also
receive a one-year subscription to Cyber Patrol's content review and
update services. This is a $70 value offered free to CompuServe
Information Service members. Cyber Patrol works with all browsers and
with Windows 3.1, Windows 95, and Macintosh (System 7.x.) Additional
information is available by using the CompuServe
command GO PARCON while using the service to visit the Parental Controls
Forum or phone 1-800-848-8990.
- THE MICROSOFT NETWORK
- The Microsoft Network currently enables parents to block access to
adult Internet content. Along with the other online services, the company
is participating in the Platform
for Internet Content Selection initiative. For more information on The
Microsoft Network, phone 1-800-386-5550.
- PRODIGY
Prodigy has a new Access Control center that lets parents block a child's
access to the World Wide Web, as well as PRODIGY chat, bulletin boards and
instant messaging. Internet newsgroups are automatically blocked unless
the household's adult subscriber chooses to authorize other family members
to enter the area. Additional parental control features will be added this
year. For more information, type the JUMP Words "Access Control"
while you're using the service or phone 1-800-PRODIGY.
