How Can I Track What My Kids Are Doing Online?

Monitor your teens Internet use.

Older children require more freedom, but as a parent you still want to be able to watch what they are doing. By supervising their Internet use, you can direct them to online activities that would be beneficial to them. However, it is unlikely that you can sit and watch them on the Internet all the time. Monitoring your child's Internet activity when you are not present is easier than you think.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Internet
• Child protection software

1. Walk in the room every once in awhile when your child does not expect it. This way she cannot hide what she is doing. This method will need to be used along with other methods, but will keep your child on her toes, and only on websites that she is allowed to visit.

2. Check the browser history after your child has used the computer. Click "History" from the top of your browser, and then click "Show All History." You will get a result that shows all of the websites your child visited. It will not tell you what she looked at while she was on the site, but this feature is still invaluable. You can quickly glance to see if your child was on any harmful websites.

3. Become your child's friend on social websites, such as Facebook and MySpace. As her friend you will have full access to her profile. You will be able to see who her friends are, how she talks and what she is up to.

4. Look over past emails. Free email accounts, such as Google, have a sent email feature. When you click on it you will see all of the emails that your child has sent out. You can read them to make sure nothing inappropriate is being said. You also want to make sure that no cyber-bullying is going on.

5. Purchase child protection software. This software can be installed on your child's computer. You can then program which type of websites your child does not have permission to visit. You can also check what your child was doing while she was using the Internet.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure you take the time to explain Internet safety to your child before he or she is allowed to use the Internet.

• You should always let your child know if you are using a tracking software program, or if you plan on checking their emails. Otherwise, your child will become upset that you are spying on them.

References

• Common Sense Media
• PCMech
• PC World