PARENTAL CONTROL: WHAT IT IS AND TOOLS - ECONOMÍA - 2025

The parental control network is vigilance of parents of children going over excessive time on the internet or visiting websites with adult content. Given the digital divide that exists between different generations, parents are encountering a new problem characterized by regulating their children's internet use, in addition to playing a role that they had never performed before.

As we can see, the Internet provides a range of resources, as well as skills, that are important to develop properly in the society in which we live. However, few parents benefit from the tools that the Internet makes available to guide their children to make safe use of new technologies.

What is parental control or mediation?

Parental mediation or control could be considered as "a necessary practice by adults or parents aimed at minors making good use of these devices", We can find that adults can have different conceptions regarding new technologies, a positive position in which we would frame families that provide information to their children and are concerned that they make good use of them.

On the other hand, there are also families that have a negative attitude towards the use of these devices, even rejecting it completely, due to its multitude of risks for minors.

What tools can we use as parents and educators?

There are many tools that we can use on our computers so that minors can navigate safely. Here are some tips and tools:

Digital identity

When we navigate we leave a fingerprint or digital identity. It is important that minors know that this digital identity can be both negative and positive and that it can have an impact on their later life.

It is recommended that we use tools so that they understand the importance of their digital identity as well as what can be seen about them on the internet. For this we can use the search engine "Yasni", in which there is a section entirely dedicated to finding information about a person on the internet.

Another tool that we can use if the minor has a Google account is the alerts web address. If we activate the option "presence on the internet" we will be able to know each time they mention us.

It is important that minors are aware that digital identity is important and that it can affect their life, so we have to be vigilant to create it in a positive way.

Parental control in Windows

We can do this Parental Control configuration if we have a device that uses Windows.

• Access the start button, then click on settings and enter the control panel.
• If you click on user accounts and child protection, you will enter the option to configure parental control for all users.
• We have to check that the team administrator has a password, if not, we have to put it.
• We should create an account that is only used by the minor.
• Once we have done all the previous steps, we would begin to activate parental control by selecting the places and activities that the child can perform on the device, from blocking downloads to setting limits on use.

Qustodio Program

There are also other tools that we can use for parental control such as the Qustodio tool, which in a simple way allows us to see what the child has visited on the computer that is installed. In addition to this, it also blocks searches that are not appropriate for the minor, you can limit the time and even restrict games and applications.

This type of tool is usually easier to install and we just have to follow the steps that it gives us. If you have several devices you can install it on all of them.

Something that characterizes this tool is that it can be hidden in the device so that the child does not see that it is operational. It also provides summaries of the child's activity.

Once it is installed on the computer, we simply have to go to the family portal and enter our data. Then we can configure the device and can even block web pages, add valid ones, label sites as invalid, etc.

Within these possibilities we can also make a schedule of use of the device, so that it only works in the schedule for which it has been previously programmed by us.

How do we guide our children?

There are multiple tools to establish rules for the use of equipment, but we have to be aware that we must talk with minors so that they understand the rules and protection measures, as well as their safety beforehand and use them as a last option and even as reinforcement of your safety.

However, it can create some doubts for us as to whether we are doing it well, since the exercise we have to do with a minor will not be the same, since it depends on their age.

According to the Internet Security Office we have to make this difference in the type of parental control or mediation depending on the age, something that may be quite obvious to us, but how can we do it ?:

3 to 5 years

Currently, children have their first contact with new technologies at the age of 3 to 5 years. Since they are quite small, it is recommended that they be fully supervised in everything they do with the devices and as parents educate them in their proper use.

6 to 9 years

In this age group they take their first steps online. It is important that we continue to monitor your activities on the network using all the tools that we have at our disposal.

10 to 13 years

In ages between 10 and 13, minors start with the use of social networks, online games and mobile phones. Therefore, minors have to be aware of the risks that exist with social networks as well as with their digital identity.

Therefore, the role of the family is once again fundamental.

Over 14 years old

Given their age, it will be more difficult for parents to mediate the activities they carry out with new technologies.

That is why it is important that we have a relaxed attitude and trust that they will put it to good use.

Recommendations for parents and educators

As parents and educators, it is necessary that we always keep in mind that we have a minor at home who uses new technologies the following recommendations:

• The information that we publish on the internet is difficult to erase completely, so we can create an inappropriate digital identity for ourselves.
• Since the devices are used by minors, it is important to have them in a place that is frequented, in order to see what it does regardless of whether we use programs to control the use they make of them.
• It is important, to make its use more secure, that we use strong passwords as well as that our computers have antivirus and firewalls. We can make a simile of this in the real world, when a child goes out to play with the bicycle he wears a helmet, knee pads etc.
• As parents we have to watch what our child plays or what he does with these devices. Not in order to scold or prohibit their use, but to guide you in their proper use and warn you of possible risks.
• Use parental control systems. If our child is a minor, it is important that in addition to talking with them to explain the proper use of these devices, we consider using these types of tools to reinforce that proper use.
• If the devices that our son / daughter uses have a webcam, it is important that we keep it covered with some material since there are programs that allow you to hack it and could take photos of it, among other dangers.

conclusion

The incorporation of new technologies into daily life has led to a considerable change in the performance of the roles of fathers and mothers. Therefore, it is important that we have knowledge of these in order to guide and advise our children in their proper use.

It is important that we know the diversity of tools that exist to help us do this job correctly, but it is even more important that we know pages that keep us updated and guide us on how to do it.

References

1. Bernardes, F. (S / F). Children online: risks, opportunities and parental control.
2. Hargittai, E. (2010). Digital na (t) ives? Variation in internet skills and uses among members of the “net generation”. Sociological inquiry, 80 (1), 92-113.
3. Junta de Castilla y León (2016). CyL Program: Parental Control and Mediation Measures for fathers, mothers and educators. Online seminar.
4. Lorenzo, MA, Lopez, MJR, Curra, SP, & Gutierrez, ER The regulation of fathers and mothers on the use of the internet by their sons and daughters.
5. Martínez de Morentin de Goñi, JI, & Medrano Samaniego, C. (2012). Parental mediation and the use of the internet. INFAD Magazine.
6. Negre, JS, Forgas, RC, & López, MM (2010). Minors and internet access at home: family norms. Communicate: Ibero-American scientific journal of communication and education, (34), 135-143.
7. S. Livingstone and H. Helsper (2008): “Parental Mediation of Children´s Internet UE”, in Journal of Broadcasting & electronic Media, 52 (4): pages 581-599.