Your family computer and Internet access are important parts of your children’s lives. Your child probably uses the family computer for homework and school assignments, and for leisure activities like sending and receiving email or chatting with friends using an instant messaging type program. It’s our responsibility as parents to protect our children from the dangers on the Internet, and one easy way to do this is through the use of a product called Net Nanny by LookSmart.

Net Nanny has many features and options that allow you to control your child’s use of the computer. First, Net Nanny lets you create different user profiles or accounts to establish what type of activities are allowed and what are not allowed. Net Nanny allows you to:

• Limit the amount of time your child spends on the Internet with their time management feature.
• Block the transmission of any personal data from your child.
• Block applications like gaming sites or instant messaging programs if you don’t want your child participating in such activities.
• Block adult themed sites from being viewed.

Net Nanny creates an activity log for each user, so you can see where your child has been on the Internet. Net Nanny will even have these logs emailed to your personal email address for your review.

Net Nanny also has a stealth mode feature. What this allows you to do is to monitor your child’s Internet activities without blocking or preventing any specific web sites or activities.

Net Nanny is sold as an annual subscription, and one year costs $39.95. It’s really a small price to pay when you think about all the protection you are getting for you and your family.

Some people will tell you (and they’ll most likely be your teenagers) that using this type of software is a violation of their privacy. I’d disagree. Net Nanny gives you as a parent the opportunity to teach your children safe Internet surfing practices while monitoring any potentially dangerous activities.