5/16/2006

Free Software Helps Protect Kids from Pornography and Other Online Dangers

BOSTON, May 15 /Christian Newswire/ -- TechMission Safe Families Program has released free software to protect children from pornography and other dangers by blocking them from accessing objectionable material on the Internet.The software is available as a free download at  http://www.safefamilies.org.

The software builds on technology by We- Blocker.com, which is the most widely used free Internet filtering software with hundreds of thousands of downloads. TechMission’s Safe Families software represents a long awaited update building on the We-Blocker.com software which was last updated in 2001. The update adds over 300,000 blocked sites and expands the features available in the free version including extensive training materials online.

TechMission is a Christian nonprofit organization addressing social issues brought up by technology. Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, Mrs. Romney and Jim Towey, Director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives visited TechMission last week in recognition of its Safe Families program and their work in at-risk communities. TechMission launched the Safe Families program in response to the growing pornography industry that is increase targeting families. Some resent statistics include:

• 9 out of 10 children between the ages of 8 and 16 have viewed pornography on the Internet (London School of Economics January 2002).

• Adult industry says traffic is 20-30% children (NRC Report 2002, 3.3).

• 1 in 5 children who use chat rooms have been approached by a pedophile online (Telegraph.co.uk. 1/02).

• The Internet was a significant factor in 2 out of 3 divorces, according to the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers in 2003 (Divorcewizards.com).

To address this, the Safe Families Website provides free software as well as Online safety manuals and Webcast presentation trainings which include the following materials:

• For parents: steps to implement an online safety program in your family, a software ratings guide, a family internet safety pledge and how to change your child’s homepage to a kid-friendly search engine

• For pastors: steps for dealing with pornography in your church strategy including church bulletin insert sample

• For nonprofits and schools: training materials and curriculum for online safety

• For pornography addicts: steps for recovery from pornography addiction including a media/pornography sobriety covenant and questions to test for sex addiction and lists of counseling and other resources.