ControlwithCable.org | Helping Parents with the Changing Media Landscape
Are your kids watching TV or using the internet right now? Do you know what shows they are watching or sites they are visiting? Do you worry that they may be exposed to inappropriate content or communication? Have you been putting off discussions about responsible internet use with your children because you just don't know where to begin?
ControlwithCable.org, a recent initiative of the National Cable & Telecommunications Association’s Cable Impacts Foundation, is here to help parents keep their kids safe!
This new portal provides one-stop access to information about available television and online parental control tools, as well as educational resources for supporting parents in protecting their children in an age of unprecedented access to media.
Did you know:
- Just a few decades ago, 49% of all families gathered around one single television in the house to tune in, while a majority of today’s families now report having at least 3 televisions in the household
- More than 900 cable channels are offered to television watchers, not including On-Demand and TV Everywhere services
- Broadband internet is available to 93% of all households
- 80% of children ages 3 – 17 live in a household with at least one computer
Controlling what television programming and online content children have access to has become more difficult for parents as the market has exploded with multitudes of offerings, services, and affordable devices for kids of all ages.
In response to this, cable providers have helped pioneer several solutions to this challenge including television controls that can restrict content based on content rating, channel, or even specific programs or series. In addition, online controls can be used to restrict or monitor the sites children access, or to monitor the interactions with other online users.
Now ask yourself the following: Am I currently making the best use of television and online parental controls? Do I or my children know about “medial literacy” and “digital citizenship”, and how virtual-world (online) communication or behavior can have real-world consequences?
The Cable Impacts Foundation is working hard to spread awareness and keep parents informed about these issues. Visit ControlwithCable.org today to discover tools, tips and educational resources for both television and online parental controls. Go now! It’s too important to put it off another day.
