child safety

We recently received news in the Mobicip Forum that the App Store ratings are not accurate. For example, Bing is rated as 4+ and anyone can download and search.  This needs to be changed ASAP so that kids are not allowed to use this for open searches.  One of our customers recently created a Facebook page called "Protect Kids From the App Store" to promote safe browsing and downloading from the App Store.

Please read comments below from the forum thread:
Posted by Guest on Wed, 05/25/2011 - 09:22:  "Unfortunately, Bing is back to being rated 4+.  And worse, Bing is just the tip of the iceberg.  I would estimate that about 50% of the apps available on the App Store have an unfiltered embedded browser.  I have contacted Apple about the problem, and they say that they will work on a solution, but they are moving incredibly slowly.  I'm hoping that we can get enough people to put pressure on them (and maybe put them in the media spotlight a little), that they will make a concrete change in their policy.

To that end, I've started a Facebook Page called "Protect Kids From the App Store".  I've included a list of other apps that allow unfiltered access to the Internet (along with the number of links to get there).  If you would like to help, then please spread the word on Facebook. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Protect-Kids-From-the-App-Store/137201153016417

Thanks for the help."

The Mobicip forum guest is absolutely right.  While Apple has corrected the ratings for most other browser apps (like Opera, Privately, etc.)  Bing and Google continue to be incorrectly rated at 4+.  It will certainly help if parents like you contact Apple and voice your concern.  Also, thank you for taking action and creating the "Protect Kids From the App Store" facebook page.

At Mobicip, we are very lucky to serve quality customers. They are a great support team, they notify us when they need help and they let us know when they are satisfied and happy. We are grateful to have an open communication with our customers and supporters. Our number one goal is to provide safe and protected mobile learning and browsing. Thank you Sandy Plains Elementary School Principal Harry Walker, The Daily Digi and WickedLocal.com! Please review and visit their sites below:

"It (Mobicip) might be the answer for schools like ours who are struggling with the idea of letting our kids take their IPods home at night.  I'm not as worried about devices being damaged as I am about kids being exposed to inappropriate content.  Until we address how to help kids self-filter on the Internet, this might be the next best thing.  Check it out: http://www.mobicip.com"
- I Teach Therefore IPod

"Mobicip is an app that I use on all i-devices (iPod Touch, iPhones, iPads) that has parental control settings and you can also view histories.  I know there are similar apps for other mobile devices, but don’t know their names.  It lets filter YouTube as well.  The app is free but you do have to sign up for a paid account for it to work.  It becomes the default internet browser on those apps after you deactivate Safari. I’ve been really glad to have it on our devices and know that my kids are safe in their surfing."
- The Daily Digi

"You can also install an app like Mobicip on your child’s iTouch or iPhone, which replaces the Safari browser with a more child-friendly one and provides reports for monitoring your child’s Internet-related activities."
- WickedLocal.com/Cohasset

Google has for long allowed parents a SafeSearch filtering setting that keeps kids from using the search engine to find inappropriate sites like those with explicit sexual images or text. Without additional protection, like the strict SafeSearch enforcement offered by Mobicip, the problem was that kids could easily change those settings.

Starting Wednesday, however, the company is allowing parents to lock those settings to make it harder (though not impossible) for kids to bypass the settings. To change the settings, the parent will have to log into his or her Google account and enter a password. Once the settings have been changed, the Google search engine will change in appearance to indicate that it’s locked. The new page will have large balls in the upper right corner so that parents can see from across the room that their kids are on the safe search page.

The settings, which places a cookie on the machine, must be configured for each browser the child uses. If you set them only for Internet Explorer, for example, they won’t restrict access from Firefox, Chrome, or other browsers. Also, according to a Google representative, the child can get around the settings by using the private browsing feature that is now built into the latest versions of Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Chrome. So, while this will keep kids from accidentally using Google for inappropriate searches, it will not deter tech-savvy kids who are determined to bypass the filters.

If you need additional protection where kids are not allowed to turn off SafeSearch, Mobicip is a good option for you. Mobicip adds an additional layer of protection by enforcing the SafeSearch feature always, regardless of the user selection or setting.

With all filters and controls, it’s important for parents think about how you use them to help teach your child to exercise self-control and critical thinking so that, eventually, they can safely use the Web without filters or adult supervision.

Child Protection Week promotes the belief that it is everyone’s responsibility to make their community child friendly.

Child Protection Week is coordinated nationally by the National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN Incorporated) and, in Queensland, by the Child Protection Week Committee, comprising representatives from a range of government and non-government agencies concerned with child protection issues.

Promoting the value of children and focusing attention on the issues of child abuse and neglect, the objectives of Child Protection Week are to:

• raise the profile of all issues connected with child protection, including child abuse prevention, treatment, research, education, service provision and support for children, young people and families
• create a statewide umbrella focus for child protection allowing government and non-government agencies to present a cooperative and coordinated community oriented campaign
• support and value professionals and volunteer child protection workers by providing ‘best practice’ training and a forum to exchange ideas and information
• offer a framework to recognise advances in the field, and thereby contribute to better outcomes for all children and young people, especially those who have been harmed or are at risk of harm.