Browsers: Glubble
Source: Tom's Guide US | Keywords: child, security, safety | Themes: Software
4. Browsers: Glubble
“Where Families Play!”
Cost: Free, or pay $39.95 a year for unlimited photo upload and storage
Glubble for Families is a private social networking platform for invited family members only. It allows the sharing of photos, messages, notes, calendars, and more, as well as a kid-safe browser installed as a Firefox-compatible add-on. While the network and browser add-ons are free, extra storage and features are available for paid members.
Glubble has two components that require parental activation. First is the family page, which can be accessed via the Web from any location. Here, a parent can add or invite family members, assign privileges, and update other members on family events. The message wall is also here (similar to Facebook) and members can leave comments for one another to be seen by the whole family. Uploading photos is a snap, and each can be added to a timeline for storytelling by multiple contributors. Family members can easily be added as time goes on, so even aunts, uncles, and far-away cousins can communicate one-on-one with your children.
The second component is the downloadable browser add-on. Available only for Firefox, it downloads and installs in about three minutes and lets children access only the Websites you’ve approved. Each child has an individually defined collection of accessible Websites. Once a kid is inside the browser, he or she cannot escape without using the parent-provided password, which keeps children from messing with other programs or desktop files. If a child encounters a Website that he or she doesn't have access to, it is possible to send a message to the parent’s account to request permission–parents see the request the next time they log into their account. If a parent happens to be handy, however, mom or dad can easily type in the password and grant instant access on a site-by-site basis.
The perks of Glubble are numerous. Because it allows parents to set the permissions for an individual site, it can accurately reflect the parents’ values about appropriate online content for the kids. If you’re too busy to add in individual sites, however, you can easily add an entire “Glubble-approved” collection, with entertaining and educational sites that are accepted by most parents (including Sesame Street and Disney, for example). Since permissions are granted for each child, you won’t have to worry that your three-year-old is accessing the same sites as your 11-year-old. A rather limited, but effective search bar generates pre-selected results to help kids practice responsible searching.
Families get plenty of features with the free version, including a specialized Ning group for idea sharing and troubleshooting. With a paid membership, however, there are no limits to the number of photos uploaded and stored to the family page.
- Previous page Browsers: KidRocket
- Next page Browsers: TUKI Browser for Kids
Nicely written-- I like seeing Tom's branch out into a variety of interest areas, even if they arent thrilling.
What i miss in this topic is, how does the Microsoft Parenting control stand out to these programs.
I hope the 12 year olds read this after they get back from school.
What i miss in this topic is, how does the Microsoft Parenting control stand out to these programs.
Thanks for the question mkrijt. Linsey Knerl offers these comments about Windows and other OS parent control tools: "While they had some good features, (like site blocking, permissions requests, time-limits, etc.) it was hard to integrate over several different computers. It also didn't lock down the browser so kids couldn't escape and mess up your desktop folders.
One major complaint to the operating-system based tools that Apple and Microsoft offer, is that they want to tie everything back into your Windows Live or Apple accounts. (So if my 3-year-old wants to have a special collection of websites that he can access on our computer, I'd have to set him up for a Windows account that the computer can access and associate with his preferences.) I'm not a huge fan of having to have my kids set up as "accounts", which is why I like the independently-developed tools. They usually just need me to assign a name and password for my kid, and it isn't stored in my PC.
Another disadvantage to the OS based options is that they aren't practical for multiple environments. Let's say little Johnny has security settings at home all set up, but then wants to go to Grandma's to play games. I'd have to go to Grandma's and find out how her operating system works, and if it isn't the same as what we have, I'd have to reset all the settings on her system. (A lot of work.) With independent browsers, we just download on Grandma's PC, and the web-based settings automatically take effect.
Basically, there's no easy way to use the OS based browsers between machines that are not using the same OS."
Wonderful article. very objective and informative. Thanks for writing it. Good articles like this give me hope for Toms... it's almost funny to me that before I knew who wrote this I assumed it wasn't Marcus Yam because it was actually helpful and intelligent. Linsey Knerl FTW
If children at the age of 3 know those words already then they need more help than what software can do.
But anyways it's not like young kids enjoy watching porn or anything like that. Most kids don't go on very many sites, and site blockers are probably the worst thing ever created. At school we can't even use google images on school projects.
Wouldn't OpenDNS be better for blocking sites? It does so at the "source" rather than having to install a program on everyone's machines. I block all DNS queries and then explicitly allow OpenDNS servers with filtering set to moderate. Works like a charm, no adult content for anyone using anything on my internet connection. And it's FREE for home users!!!
The internet is a place for adults. Do you leave your child in a room with an adult you do not know?
DON'T leave the child alone on the net.
Nice article, it would be a nice thing to do for every OS in the market to adopt the tendency of adding one of these browsers as option for the little ones.
Most parents are not really aware of what internet means, just because they don't care about the non-4child content, or because they doesn't realize about how dangerous for a growing mind that content could be.
Many of us surfers of the web we actually don't pay attention to the stupid propaganda, sex adds and all that crap, because most of us know that those links will probably end up in some weird site asking for personal data, etc.. etc.. etc.. KIDS CAN NOT TELL IF IT'S GOOD OR BAD! THEY JUST CLICK ON IT.