'Parents should monitor kids' online behaviour'

A prime concern in the world of fast expanding information technology and access is the susceptibility of children on cyberspace.
At a meet on the occasion of the World Telecommunication Day on Monday, speakers debated the ways in which children could be protected from the harmful influences caused by the unrestricted access to information on the internet.
Addressing the audience on “Protecting children in Cyberspace,” Head of Information Security at TCS, Geet Prasad said that children can be lured on networking sites to part with personal information and they can also accost criminals who can brainwash children into anti-social activities.
“Three out of four children who access the internet share personal information online like sending out phone numbers or their residential address. With 3G services, the internet will be available on the phone itself and it will be even tougher to monitor the information being accessed,” he cautioned.
He suggested that parents could visit website which offer tools like filters to ensure children are browsing the right sites.
He advised parents to provide a strong moral and ethical education and guide them on acceptable social behaviour. He also advised parents to study the Child Protection Online initiative by the International Telecommunication Union for Information on Youth Safety.
IGP of State Human Rights Commission R P Sharma stated that any measure for protecting children required the definition of standards of tolerance. “Our level of tolerance has increased. There is more parental tolerance and more legal tolerance. The prevention lies in education and awareness, but it is easier said than done,” he rued.
He suggested coming up with a system where access could be denied to a particular IP address to certain sites. He also said that some method of grading the websites should be put in place, so there would be certain degree of regulation and control over information accessed.