Parental controls

These controls were created to assist parents in their ability to restrict certain content viewable by their children.

[1] This may be content they deem inappropriate for their age, maturity level or feel is aimed more at an adult audience.

[4] The demand for parental control methods that restrict content has increased over the decades due to the rising availability of the Internet.

A 2014 ICM survey showed that almost a quarter of people under the age of 12 had been exposed to online pornography.

Virtually all parental control software includes a password or other form of authentication to prevent unauthorized users from disabling it.

These devices plug into the home router and create a new wireless network, which is specifically designed for kids to connect to.

Some examples of mobile devices that contain parental controls include cell phones, tablets, and e-readers.

In the following years, the developers of all major operating systems have presented in-built tools for parental control, including Linux,[17] Android, Windows, and even the more business-oriented platform Blackberry.

[20] Mobile device software enables parents to restrict which applications their child can access while also allowing parents to monitor text messages, phone logs, MMS pictures, and other transactions occurring on their child's mobile device; to enable parents to set a time limit on the usage of mobile devices; and to track the exact location of their children as well as monitor calls and the content of texts.

Implementing parental controls and discussing internet safety are useful steps to protect children from inappropriate information.

[23] In extreme cases, a child may become so angry that they destroy their device, defeating the purpose of parental controls entirely.

However, While parental controls have been added to various electronic media and have increased in popularity, the question has been raised if they are enough to protect and deter children from exposure to inappropriate material.