AOL announced today that it has made its Parental Controls software available to all Internet users online at no cost. This is the first time the Internet service provider has made the software available for free to all Internet users (including non-AOL subscribers) since it introduced it back in 1994.
The software allows parents to help protect their children from viewing inappropriate online content. Its features include standard age-based access controls, specific controls on IM and chat, online timers, and e-mail reports on users' online activities.
“Nothing is more important than protecting the safety of our children,” said AOL executive vice president, Access Products and Technology Joel Davidson in a statement. "Today AOL is proud to become the first major online provider to make parental controls available for free to all online users. Keeping our children safe is one of our most important missions, and this step will eliminate the cost-barrier for millions of families, so they can give their children all of the benefits of the online medium.”
The free AOL Parental Controls service also features age controls with three settings for kids, young teens and mature teens; Web unlock for Web site filtering; IM controls for screenname selection; Chat controls for chat room blocking; AOL guardian for online activity reports; and an Online timer to control the amount of online time to be used.
Today’s news follows AOL’s announcement about signing on
five marketers to sponsor Gold Rush, an interactive reality game from reality television guru Mark Burnett and AOL.com where players can turn their entertainment and pop culture knowledge into gold.
Gold Rush presented the idea of having $2.2 million in gold hidden across America. The game combines online gaming with reality. In each round of game play, the first three online players who successfully complete all the required challenges will be recruited by producers and taken to a dynamic location where they will compete for $100,000 in gold in “real life.”
Just last month, AOL announced that Evan Stern of Flushing, Queens, New York was named the game's 1st round winner. As the 1st round champion, Evan Stern won $100,000. The winner, who chose the prize in cash, will return to play in the game's finale round next month to compete for an additional $1 million.
AOL
http://www.aol.com
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Johanne Torres is contributing editor for TMCnet and INTERNET TELEPHONY magazine. To see more articles by Johanne Torres, please visit her columnist page.
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