Web filters and co: Is control better than trust?
«Trust is good, control is better?»
The quote attributed to Lenin is probably familiar to many. However, Lenin's Soviet Union and the GDR proved exactly the opposite: Control undermines freedom of action and creativity.
Trust, on the other hand, is a prerequisite for human relationships: Neighbours who help each other. Parents who give their children more than mere economic security. Friends who are there for each other in times of need. Trust is the glue of human relationships, beyond coercion and rules.
So should parents simply trust their children completely?
If I trust a person, they have more freedom. However, not everyone knows how to deal with this freedom. Children in particular still need to develop this ability. Parents also have a duty of care and supervision for their children. This also applies to their use of new media and their first experiences with the internet, consoles and mobile phones. But this is where even parents with media experience are not always safe. There is a huge range of digital options and new trends and developments are constantly emerging.
Controlling children on the internet at the beginning can also help to build trust in the long term!
A reason for resignation?
Not at all: parents should not forget that making mistakes and learning from them is part of growing up. Anyone who only imposes bans on new media is acting counterproductively - in terms of children's development and their relationships with each other. Initial control is better than bans. This is because it can also help to gradually build trust. There are numerous technical tools that parents can use to influence what their children see on the internet, for example.
However, they often don't make use of them: «It is known that parents relatively rarely use technical means to regulate their child's internet use,» says Martina Zemp, a psychologist specialising in child and adolescent psychology.
She adds: «Based on the current state of research, it must be considered problematic overall if children are left to socialise with new media on their own.» This increases the risk of them surfing too much or on dangerous websites.
How can parents control or restrict their children's media use?
- Switch off the Internet at night: Many Wi-Fi routers (network device of the telephone/Internet provider) can be equipped with a time switch. This allows the Wi-Fi to be switched off automatically at certain times, such as at night, so that no one can surf the net late at night.
- Web filters: There are many exciting topics on the internet, but also questionable content, for example content that glorifies violence or pornography. Web filters are recommended so that children can surf the net safely. These work with whitelists and blacklists. Whitelists are suitable for younger children. They only allow access to websites that have previously been saved on a list. Blacklists, on the other hand, are good for older children. Here, all sites are accessible except those on the blacklist.
- Passwords: Purchases of digital content should always be secured with a password that only the parents know. This way, they can keep track of what their children are playing on the console or mobile phone and no accidental purchases are made within a game.
- Parental control settings for games consoles: All modern games consoles have parental control settings. Depending on the console, these can be found in a submenu of the «Settings». The playing time can be set there, for example. Another option: Parents can determine access to games based on the age rating (USK/PEGI). For example, you can set that only games with a USK 12 or lower rating can be played on the console. On the PC, many games are available via the Steam distribution platform. Parental control settings are also available there.
- Google Alert: What does my child publish on the Internet? What are others posting about my child? Thanks to Google Alert (simply enter it in your web browser), you can start a search query on a specific topic. Enter your child's «first name last name», start a search query and be notified when there is new content on this topic.
The more children can help shape media rules, the better they work.
- Familonet: Familonet is an app that allows families to communicate their locations with each other. For example, parents receive a message when their child leaves school and when they arrive home. Real-time localisation is not available for data protection reasons. However, children can use the integrated alarm call to communicate their location at any time. Another feature: Familonet can be used to locate lost or stolen mobile phones. The app is available for iOS and Android phones and tablets.
- Fröschli telephone: The «Fröschli» is a small, robust telephone for younger children, pre-programmed with four numbers. The numbers can be freely programmed (e.g. mother, father, grandparents, neighbours). This allows the child to make a call at the touch of a button. There is also an SOS button that can be programmed with an emergency number. Another function is geofencing: if the child leaves a previously defined geographical area, an alarm is sent by email or text message.
- Restricted mode on YouTube: YouTube is extremely popular with children and young people. They almost inevitably come into contact with questionable content here. This is where the «restricted mode» helps, which can be set at the bottom of the YouTube page (scroll all the way down) and prevents access to potentially adult content. You must first set up a free account with YouTube. Don't forget: log out after activating the filter so that the settings cannot simply be changed.
