Controls needed for young internet users

Barriers must be used in order to prevent children using the internet from accessing inappropriate content, it has been stated.

Christine Blower, acting general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said that technological controls need to be put in place so that children cannot visit websites containing pornographic or violent imagery.

She went on to say that such internet barriers for children were "standard" in schools.

Ms Blower commented: "There are no restrictions on when children first use the internet, but technological controls are needed to prevent the inappropriate use of the internet.

"It is standard to have these controls and all the material in school is protected. There is a whole set of barriers against access to pornography and violent sites et cetera."

In a recent Ofcom survey which looked at the use of social networking sites by young people, it was revealed that a third of parents do not set any rules for their children´s use of social networks.

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