• by March 18, 2005

Do you set parameters on your kids' Internet usage? Most parents of teenagers who are online do, according to a new study by the Pew Internet and American Life Project.

The Pew study found that 54 percent of parents with online teenagers installed special filtering software to monitor the sites their kids visit, up from 41 percent in 2000. The parents surveyed try to set limits on the time spent online. The study also found that about two-thirds of parents with teenagers online set limits as to how much time their kids should spend online, and about three-fifths of the parents surveyed prefer keeping the PC in a common area.

Interestingly, there are gender differences when it comes to parents setting limits on teens' Web usage with moms more likely to set up software filters to keep their kids from viewing potentially licentious content than dads. Young parents and parents who surf the Web at least once a day are also more likely to install filters.

And get this: 62 percent of parents of teens say they monitor the sites their kids visit, but only a third of kids who surf the Web at home think their parents do that. Tech-savvy kids, however, know exactly how to delete their online footsteps. Even if parents monitor their kids' online whereabouts, they can't control other online content sources like wireless phones.

Strangely, the Pew survey found that 13 percent of teenagers don't use the Web. Of that percentage, nearly half were online at one time, but fell off due to lack of interest and access. Some cite concerns over safety and parents who don't allow them to surf the Web as reasons.

The Pew study was based on random telephone calls with 1,100 kids ages 12 to 17 and their parents.