Getting Started With Parental Controls

Example 1—One Computer for the Whole Family

One common setup for all family members to share one Windows computer at home. The parents might use other computers at work and kids might have occasional access to computers outside the home, for example, at school or at the library.

Recommendations for maximum protection:

• Create a sub account for each family member other than the primary account (including the adults).
• Set up age-appropriate restrictions for each family member’s account (for example, full access for the adults).
• Install and activate the Parental Controls client on the family’s computer.

Now whenever anyone uses this computer, he or she will have to sign in to BT Yahoo! and any restrictions associated with his or her account will be enforced.

If a family member uses Mail or Messenger on another computer, any restrictions are enforced, but no restrictions are enforced on web browsing on other computers.

Example 2—Different Computers for Different Family Members

In another typical setup, different family members use different computers. Dad has a laptop from work that he also uses at home [Computer A], Mom has a Windows desktop computer that she shares with the 10 year old [Computer B], and the teenager has an Apple laptop that she uses at home and at school [Computer C].

Recommendations for maximum protection:

• Create a sub account for each family member other than the primary account (including the adults).
• Set up age-appropriate restrictions for each family member’s account (for example, full access for the adults).
• Computer A: If Dad’s the only person who uses this computer, don’t bother installing the Parental Controls client on it. He can then freely access the Internet without having to sign in to BT Yahoo! first.
• Computer B: Install and activate the Parental Controls client on the desktop computer. Then anyone who uses the computer (typically Mom and the 10 year old) must sign in before accessing any Internet services and all Parental Controls restrictions are enforced.
• Computer C: You can’t use the Parental Controls client on a non-Windows computer. If you’ve set Mail or Messenger restrictions for your teenager, they’ll be enforced, but you won’t be able to restrict web browsing on this computer.

As in the first example, if your children use computers outside your home, any restrictions on Mail or Messenger are enforced, but no restrictions are enforced on web browsing on other computers.

Do I Still Need to Supervise My Kids When They’re Online?

Absolutely! Parental Controls includes powerful tools you can use to help keep your children safe online. However, they’re not a replacement for supervising your kids when they're using the computer. Even if you install Parental Controls on every computer that your children use, it's a good idea to keep those computers in a central and open location in your home.

Letting your kids browse the Internet without supervision is never a good idea, regardless of any software you install to help keep them safe. To learn more about online safety for your family, visit the Online Protection Site.