AVG Technologies has launched “AVG Family Safety”, an application that helps parents protect their children online.
According to an online survey by Bullying UK, 43.5% of respondents aged 11-16 have been bullied on social networks such as Facebook, Bebo, Myspace and Twitter. The onus is now on parents to take control and protect their children by preventing online abuse before it develops into a potentially harmful situation.
“At AVG we are aware that many parents are concerned they might not have the necessary tools to effectively protect their children from online threats. Parents need to feel safe in the knowledge that their children understand and are protected from web-based dangers,” said J.R. Smith, CEO, AVG Technologies. “With “AVG Family Safety”, AVG is taking its expertise in security technology and expanding it to new areas of online protection for the modern family.”
“Parents don’t want to feel like it’s a fruitless exercise trying to tell their children they can’t be online alongside their peers and involved in social networking.”said Smith. “Kids are early adopters of the latest ways to communicate – which arms them with technical skills but not the worldly awareness of threats and untoward behaviour.”
“AVG Family Safety” acts as a virtual guardian for children, letting them roam freely online while ensuring they are protected at all times. It achieves this by allowing children of different ages to set up adaptable profiles that can be adjusted as the child gets older and as their digital behaviour and habits change.
Parents are right to be anxious about who their child is talking to across social networks such as Facebook, MySpace and Bebo. Unwanted communication from online predators and cyber-bullying from over 80 different social networking sites can be filtered by “AVG Family Safety,” while chats and network threads can be monitored.
Recent research from AVGThis is according to a new AVG study ‘Digital Diaries’, launched in January 2011 exposed how small children (aged 2-5) are developing technology skills, such as using a mouse or playing a computer game, ahead of more traditional life skills like riding a bike or learning to swim. “AVG Family Safety” gives parents the ability to encourage a balance by making sure their child does not spend too much time online by monitoring when they are using the internet and applications.
It also helps monitor what websites children are visiting and what searches they are conducting online, with different filter options available to suit the age and awareness level of each child in the house. Full reporting is also available to help parents engage with their children about their online habits.
“Family computers tend to be out of the way in the home – in a study or a bedroom. Whilst AVG recommends that family computers are used in central areas of the home, it is recognised that parents simply can’t watch everything that their child searches. This technology allows them to monitor popular search engines like Google, Yahoo! and Bing, as well as sites being visited and block unsuitable games and apps. Parents can also apply the technology to mobile devices – which are fast becoming the preferred way for young people to connect,” said Stephen Simpson, Global Head of Consumer Propositions, AVG Technologies.
“AVG Family Safety” is an example of AVG’s ongoing commitment to developing secure, safe and easy to use consumer products. Although children may be adept at using the internet, they also need to be educated about its potential risks. “AVG Family Safety” enables parents to understand these risks, and educate their children about them,” continued Simpson.
FIVE ADDITIONAL TIPS FOR DIGITAL SAFETY FROM AVG’S STEPHEN SIMPSON:
•Speak openly with your children about their friends online and the websites they use. Open the conversation with an enquiry about the ‘newest trends’ or latest websites.
•Have the family computer in a location that can be easily viewed by other family members – communal living areas are ideal.
•If you suspect your child is being bullied or victimized online, contact the relevant help line, like for instance: www.bullying.co.uk,
http://www.stopbullying.govandhttp://www.cyberbullying.us
•Discuss with your children what personal details they think are acceptable to share, and let them know why some details are better kept private.
•Log on yourself! Become familiar with the sites and social networks your child is using. This will help you understand what your child might be doing online, and enable you to identify possible dangers before they occur.
www.AVG.com