(MS) - Today, thousands of entertainment options are available at the push of a button or click of the mouse, making a parent's job as protector more challenging than ever. According to Internet Filter Review, 12% of all Web sites are pornographic in nature, and as every parent knows, some TV shows are just not appropriate for younger children.In an effort to improve public information about parental control technologies and ways to positively influence viewing choices by young people, Comcast Cable partnered with the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) to bring educational resources and safety campaigns to consumers nationwide.
"Comcast takes an active role in helping parents ensure their children use the Internet and TV in a safe, secure way," said Mitch Bowling, senior vice president and general manager of Comcast's High-Speed Internet Services Group. "We provide both tools and public information about parental control technologies to give parents and other caregivers the power to decide what is appropriate for their children to access and watch, even if they are not around."
To help parents keep children safe, Comcast offers the following comprehensive approach and tips for Internet and TV safety:
1. Get Smart - Comcast and NCTA offer a breadth of information for parents and children, teaching both parties about harassment, cyber-bullying and online predators, as well as details on parental control technology for the Internet and TV.
Comcast's comprehensive Security Channel is a lead resource for online safety and security, offering materials that teach about safety protections, plus a free download of McAfee Internet Security Suite, a $120 value. One of the most robust, highly-acclaimed Internet security solutions offered by any Internet Service Provider, McAfee's Internet Security Suite provides a simple, convenient and reliable way for Comcast High Speed Internet customers to protect their families with best-in-class security protection and award-winning software. Parents can also visit www.thetvboss.org, an educational site developed by the NCTA and the Ad Council to educate parents on media management, using the V-chip and utilizing TV Ratings to determine which programming is suitable for their children.
For kids: In partnership with the Internet Keep Safe Coalition, Comcast promotes cyber safety awareness among youth. The iKeepSafe Campaign, www.iKeepSafe.org, equips parents with tools for teaching children and teens to strike a healthy balance in their online and off-line worlds. The Web site also features animated shorts for children, stressing the importance of protecting personal information and avoiding inappropriate places on the Internet.
2. Get Protected - Use what you've learned about Internet and TV safety to keep your family safe.
- "Hide" select TV networks, specific shows and/or ON DEMAND content with a PIN code.
- Take advantage of Comcast's new content locks, allowing you to block programs based on genre, rating or description. In addition to blocking programming rated "TV-MA," for example, parents can now block programs featuring "graphic violence" or "explicit sexual situations," all through their user-friendly digital cable guide.
- Install McAfee Internet Security Suite to monitor and filter selected Web sites and content.
3. Get Help - Comcast's Customer Security Assurance assists Comcast High Speed Internet users who wish to report an online security threat or scam. Resources include:
- If a child is in physical danger, contact the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) through a portal at www.comcast.net/security.
- Report online harassment or cyberbullying to local law enforcement and Comcast through abuse@comcast.net.
- Report child pornography to Comcast and NCMEC through http://www.cybertipline.com/.
Building Internet safety protections and digital cable parental controls has become part of the very fabric of Comcast, and its commitment to creating effective safeguards has led the company to partner with many other leading advocacy organizations to provide tools and resources to protect families, identities and other digital assets.
CAPTION: There are more ways than ever to safeguard children from innapropriate content online and on TV.
Keywords: safeguard children comcast tv safety internet tips online safety online security cyber safety mcafee internet security suite filter web sites technology
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