11 year old - web access

02-09-2010, 19:15

Evening all,

Seeing as I'm the iT geek of the family, I'm responsible for the security for my partners' sisters' families computers.

Her nephew has his own laptop which currently has Kaspersky IS 2011 installed with parental controls enabled and a limited Vista account.

On his next birthday, he'll be 11 and we're thinking of relaxing the parental controls on the laptop. He's a good lad, and does not do anything suspect.

The Kaspersky IS 2010 licence is up soon and I'm thinking MSE is the way forward.

So the question is - what computer / internet controls do you give an 11 year old?

CycoSymz · 02-09-2010, 19:18

Give him full access, let him find his own way in his new wide world

haydnwalker · 02-09-2010, 19:22

I would be inclined to keep the parental controls until he's at least 13. Or remove them but not let him use the computer while he's in the confines of his room.

I personally was never subject to any parental controls, and the Internet's never done me any harm, but in those days there was only IRC and the odd forum, and today we've got facebook and all sorts of strange websites.

He IS going to see porn at some point, but I think 11 is a bit too soon

**Damien** · 02-09-2010, 19:40

EDIT: I think 11 is quite young. Leave them on, maybe relax a slight amount. Allow him to discover the exciting stuff. I remember finding forums, game sites like neopets are all sorts of things. Fun times.

v0id · 02-09-2010, 19:47

Well, you don't have to worry about sites such as Facebook, Myspace or the like as the minimum age to be on them is 13

colin25 · 02-09-2010, 19:59

Hell, if you are giving him free access to the internet, might as well take him to the local brothel, get him a quickie (use my name, they will know that means quick

), then take him out to the pub for a few drinks.

Might as well start off as he is likely to continue, once he goes out with his mates.

Alternatively, teach him about the perils of the demon drink, tell him his little junior will fall off if he thinks about sex, and to remember the all important rule.."No payee no touchy"

That didn't do me any harm

LondonRoad · 02-09-2010, 20:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by v0id

Well, you don't have to worry about sites such as Facebook, Myspace or the like as the minimum age to be on them is 13

There are people out there who lie about their age.

I only 11 but have been using this forum for years cos nobody checked my age.

Sorry I mean:

mes 11 bt av bn usn tis frm for ynks.

Hom3r · 02-09-2010, 20:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by v0id

Well, you don't have to worry about sites such as Facebook, Myspace or the like as the minimum age to be on them is 13

Unfortunately theres nothing to stop them lying.

To be honest it depents on the child, what you could do trust them not to look at things they shouldn't and take access to the PC if they abuse it.

Stuart · 02-09-2010, 20:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by LondonRoad

There are people out there who lie about their age.

I only 11 but have been using this forum for years cos nobody checked my age.

Sorry I mean:

mes 11 bt av bn usn tis frm for ynks.

That's allright, we don't have any age limits.

02-09-2010, 20:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuart

That's allright, we don't have any age limits.

Yeah - we know. That's why there's a bunch of four year olds that run the place!

**Paul** · 02-09-2010, 21:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by v0id

Well, you don't have to worry about sites such as Facebook, Myspace or the like as the minimum age to be on them is 13

Seriously, do you think that will stop anyone ?

My neice is 10 and on facebook, as are just about all her friends.

---------- Post added at 22:13 ---------- Previous post was at 22:12 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by LondonRoad

I only 11 but have been using this forum for years cos nobody checked my age.

We dont have any age restrictions, only behaviour restrictions

**Maggy** · 02-09-2010, 21:32

Speaking as an educator the best way is to allow access freely but only after you have gone over ALL the perils and pitfalls including cyber bullying( very,very much part of school life these days) and the fact that they should NEVER EVER agree to meet anyone off the net UNLESS you get to meet them too.

Just a matter of common sense,like not going off with a stranger or a person unknown to your family without your family knowing.

Also stress that pornography sites are dirty places because so many of them are rife with viruses, Trojans and malware.

Mind I never let either of my two free access at 11-13.They had no free access to a computer until 14.

I allowed them free access after that because of GCSE research and homework but with the first two rules above being the most paramount.

Indeed I insisted on meeting anyone that my daughter met online up until she was 17..which happened several times.

03-09-2010, 05:36

Cool - thanks for all the info - my second plan was MSE with NetNanny - perhaps that's more of a controlable option.

Osem · 03-09-2010, 07:31

You could always reduce the software controls but make sure he doesn't have access to the internet unsupervised. That's our preferred option with the kids.

Pauls9 · 03-09-2010, 08:49

We had the computer set up in an "office" alcove off the hallway, so anyone passing could see what was on the screen. Restrictions weren't necessary.

Wouldn't work with a laptop of course.