Use of filtering software

Filtering software programs filter out websites not suitable for children and young people by compiling and updating a database of objectionable websites. Due to the growing nature of the Internet, it is essential to constantly add new websites to the filtering software through the software vendors. On top of filtering out web pages with objectionable content, some filtering software programs or Internet service providers' value-added services provide the following functions:

• to establish an allowed list or block list
  
  
• to provide monitoring reports on online activities
  
  
• to provide time management
  

Please ask your Internet service providers or any computer software providers for advice on such installation. The following are some filtering software programs available on the market for home computer users.* Also included in the list are hyperlinks to the websites of those programs and other related websites :

Parental guidance is an effective means to protect young people from objectionable materials on the Internet. Parents should spend time with their children on surfing the Internet. If children are allowed to browse the Internet by themselves, parents are advised to pay close attention to the content of the web pages to which they are exposed, and encourage them to discuss with you if they find any offending materials, particularly those with indecent or obscene content. By doing so, their "immunity" to objectionable materials can be strengthened and their mental health maintained.

For enquiries or complaints, please e-mail to the address: nrs@tela.gov.hk.