Adult content filter

[#1]

Does anyone else think that PlusNet should offer server side adult content filtering?  I've got young kids and they've started using the PC (CBeebies etc) and it's bothering me that I don't have a good way to protect them from accidentally (or otherwise!) viewing porn.  Sure, I could set up various adult filters on the PCs in the house, but not the iPod touch, not the TV, not the smart-phone, not the Wii etc etc.  I'd also have to be much more careful with admin logons etc.  Frankly, I'd much rather stop it entering the house, but PlusNet don't currently offer this option.  Most mobile companies do, and a few ISPs, but not PlustNet...
The stats from Channel 4 research are:
- 90% of children have accidentally viewed online pornography
- The average age for first exposure to pornography is 11
- A third of teenagers say they learn about sex by viewing porn
OK, so I'll probably be labelled as a kill-joy, a prude or limiting free-speech, but is this not a no-brainer?  It's so easy to do server side, and it's so hard to do client-side (if at all possible).
Anyone else agree?

[#2]

Quote from: chrisandhelen

OK, so I'll probably be labelled as a kill-joy, a prude or limiting free-speech, but is this not a no-brainer?  It's so easy to do server side, and it's so hard to do client-side (if at all possible). Anyone else agree?

lol, no, both are equally hard or easy, you can easily purchase things like Net Nanny (client side), or use things like OpenDNS (server side) and I think it entirely pointless anyway, much better talking and explain to your kids, obviously to the extent they can understand at their age, but its pointless (in my view) because they will see porn at their friends, or on their phones and I also know that my first experience of porn was when I was pre-school when me and my friends used to look at porn mags of the factory workers down the road who kept them in the outdoor toilet cubicles (were talking 35+ years ago now).  Never did me any harm that I am aware of, and in truth as an adult now I'd be far more concerned about pre-school kids hanging around outdoor toilets.

[#3]

You can reduce, but not eliminate the amount of porn - after all no blacklist is ever up to date.
Instead you could try placing PC's where you can see them, not in bedrooms etc
You could try blocking everything, but you can't stop your children seeing images outside of the house.
I never allowed my children any internet device except PC's - no PS2 / Nintendo / Wii / X-box / mobile phone...
But I expect they saw images or text - simply because adults thought it was something awful.
I bet those "accidentally" viewings was counted by the child as a successful circumvention of any blocking software.

[#4]

Quote from: fourfourdevon

as an adult now I'd be far more concerned about pre-school kids hanging around outdoor toilets.

Lol!
Yes, I'm not trying to delude myself that you can completely shield your kids from porn and when they're old enough to understand, then talking to them is definitely the key thing.  That's probably also the same age as they'll work out how to circumvent everything in any case!  Nevertheless I wouldn't leave adult mags lying around in the living room and wouldn't let my kids go and watch an 18 film (regardless of whether they wanted to, or whether their mates were going to!) so it seems only responsible to put something in place to shield them from on-line porn, at least until they're old enough to understand.  I'm afraid I'm not a huge fan of the "oh well it will probably happen anyway, so why bother trying" although it can feel a bit like trying to stop the tide coming in... 
Given that everything under the sun will soon have an internet connection, this is very hard to do client side.

[#5]

I use OpenDNS to block such sites and although not foolproof it is pretty effective.

[#6]

Quote from: chrisandhelen

Given that everything under the sun will soon have an internet connection, this is very hard to do client side.

Ah!  Now I get your point about client side/server side.  I would go with OpenDNS then, as that will prevent them from accessing most forms of porn (and much else at your discretion), that is until they learn how to change DNS settings and discover that is the source of your power.

[#7]

Thanks guys - I'll give OpenDNS a go.
adie:quote

[#8]

Have you heard of K9? Its good and free...Here Is a link to It, Have a read, Try It out see what you make of It....http://www1.k9webprotection.com/

[#9]

Plusnet carried out a trial of Aladdin's Secure Surf system in spring/summer 2008. The system operated server side and the trial showed some deficiencies but also promise. One of the major deficiencies at the time was lack of direct user control of settings and site blocking. However provision would have been at additional cost to users and, personally, I feel potential take up wouldn't have made it economical.

[#10]

Interesting to read about the trial and personally I think it's a shame it didn't go any further.  It seems much the cleanest and most effective solution, and all the settings would be through the familiar PlusNet portal. It would be yet another differentiator for the already good PlusNet service, and you could take the lead on it.
OpenDNS works pretty well (thanks for the advice!), and it only took me about 10 mins to set up but for most non-technie parents it will be a step too far.  Very few people will ever have logged into their router as an admin, let alone have any idea what DNS might or might not be...  Is it worth a Help article on how to protect your kids from on-line porn?

[#11]

If you enter "google dns" into Google, it will give you comprehensive instructions on how to (effectively subvert) OpenDns
for a range of devices.

[#12]

Quote from: chrisandhelen

OpenDNS works pretty well (thanks for the advice!), and it only took me about 10 mins to set up but for most non-technie parents it will be a step too far.  Very few people will ever have logged into their router as an admin, let alone have any idea what DNS might or might not be...  Is it worth a Help article on how to protect your kids from on-line porn?

Yes. Why not have a go at writing a help article for this yourself? Describe the set up procedure whilst it is fresh in your mind.
The Customer Support Library (right-hand tab at the top of this forum) is a suitable place to put it. A guide to writing articles for the library can be found here.