What is Parental Control Monitoring Software?

Parental control monitoring software are computer programs which help parents monitor and control their children's access to the Internet.

Such programs include:

• Filtering and labelling programs  which allows or blocks content
• Monitoring programs  which can record and report on online activities and behaviour
• Time control programs which specifically monitor and limit the amount of time spent online

Many of these programs can be used in popular Internet services such as email, chat rooms, instant messaging and browsing the World Wide Web.

Parental control monitoring software can help to provide technological solutions.  They should not however, be relied upon as a complete solution to Internet safety.  They should form part of a family Internet safety strategy.