As parents, above all else we all want our children to be healthy, happy and safe.
When I was younger, we were taught about stranger danger, the Green Cross code, and what to do in an emergency. It is, of course, still vital to teach children about these things. But, it is now also essential that we teach them how to stay safe online and protect them from anything that could frighten them, upset them or cause them harm.
My four daughters, aged between six and 13, are far more technologically savvy than I am. And with new social networking and messaging sites springing up all the time, I can’t keep up with what is out there. I worry about not knowing what they are looking at online and whether they are age appropriate for them.
That is why I set up my BT Parental Controls. With no software to download and no complicated procedures, it took me just a few clicks of the mouse and a matter of minutes. I was able to customise the controls to suit my family’s needs and I know that I can always change these as my daughters get older. It has given me the peace of mind that I do now know what websites my children can access and more importantly, that I can block specific sites or categories that I don’t want them to look at.
But it’s not just frightening or dangerous elements of the internet that I want to protect my children from. Many social networking sites, while extremely valuable to older children, are not suitable for my younger girls, so I want to know that they cannot access these. Setting up my BT Parental Controls has given me the reassurance that they won’t be able to inadvertently get onto these sites.
I absolutely think that the internet is hugely valuable for children, allowing them to learn, explore and develop. It is also essential for doing their homework. However, I don’t want them spending hours every day glued to their computers or phones. I want them to have an active childhood like I did.
So, while I am pleased that they have the positive aspects of the internet, I want their use of it to be measured and appropriate for their age.
Knowing that with just a few clicks, my BT Parental Controls are set up and my children will be safe online, is a huge reassurance for me. It means I don’t have to be monitoring their internet use or worrying about what they might stumble across.
BT Parental Controls are free to all broadband customers. New customers will be offered the chance to activate them when they set up their Home Hub. Over the next year, BT will also be contacting all existing customers to give them the option of turning the controls on.
If you have young children, it really is a no brainer to take a couple of minutes to protect your family.
Austin Healey is a BT Sport pundit and the face of the BT Parental Controls campaign
Content on this page is paid for and provided by BT, sponsor of the technology and innovation hub.
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