Q: Why did FamilyClick create this service?
A: FamilyClick is designed for parents who want their children to experience the benefits of the online world without being subjected to offensive content, inappropriate material or predatory activity. As a leading Internet Service Provider (ISP) and a destination site at which families can find top-quality online content, FamilyClick does just that and provides a service that consumers demand.
Q: What technology does FamilyClick use to block offensive material and predatory activity?
A: FamilyClick uses five main tools that work to protect families from offensive or inappropriate material on the Internet.
- Two Step, Server-Based Filtering Technology:
- Site Review Filtering: Filter checks sites against a database, updated daily, of blocked sites containing an extensive list of reviewed URLs - both filtered by technology and human-reviewed - which contain inappropriate content. Site review is the standard process by which most server-based filtering solutions operate.
- Dynamic Document Review™(DDR): Second step of FamilyClick solution represents "next generation" of filtering technology. Dynamic Document Review scans pages in real time and scores each web page based on a review of the relationship and proximity of words to other words on the page using a specially built dictionary of 5,000 words and phrases. For instance, DDR can distinguish between a site on "sexual harassment" and "sexual pictures." However, if inappropriate word patterns are detected, the filter blocks access to the site. Additionally, DDR filters offensive text often found in email, pornographic search results and HTML-based chatrooms. DDR was developed by UR Labs, a Symantec Company.
- FamilyClick filters all Newsgroups.
- Two Ways to Search the Web:
- Smart Search Engine: FamilyClick's default search engine for ISP subscribers, powered by LookSmart, filters out offensive material, lists only the best sites and eliminates the thousands of junk sites. The Smart Search Engine is integrated with the Dynamic Document Review and only includes within its search results the sites that have passed the FamilyClick layered filtering system.
- Filtered Search Engine: FamilyClick members are also free to access any search engine they choose as all results are filtered through the two-step process at the appropriate access level.
- Although FamilyClick filtering technology is not 100 percent guaranteed, users can obtain search results free from offensive content by searching the FamilyClick site of pre-approved family content or through the FamilyClick smart search engine, LookSmart. .
- Access Levels: Five different access levels are offered so that parents can determine the level of filtering most appropriate for their child. For its most restricted level, FamilyClick has developed a “Children's Playroom” that only contains sites approved by FamilyClick as appropriate for children. The Children's Playroom is 100% safe. The five access levels from most restrictive to least restrictive include: The Children's Playroom, Kids, Preteen, Teen and Full FamilyClick Access.
- Monitored Chats: FamilyClick only provides access to chat rooms that are HTML-based so that the Dynamic Document Review can be used to block out inappropriate language that may occur in chat rooms. There is currently no technology that is able to detect a disguised predator who does not use offensive language.
- SecureClick: FamilyClick has established a proprietary SecureClick network between each member household, the filtering servers and the Internet to help ensure that the filtering technology cannot be disabled or circumvented by tech-savvy young people.
Q: How effective is the FamilyClick system?
A: While no system can ever be 100 percent secure (hackers have broken into the White House and FBI systems), FamilyClick promises that it will always use the latest and best technology to keep the system as safe as possible.
Q: Aren't there desktop filters out there that do the same thing?
A: No. Although there are a series of desktop filters on the market, they do not prove as effective or reliable as the multi-layered technology used by FamilyClick.
FamilyClick uses next-generation filtering technology. With the FamilyClick system, the filters are housed on the FamilyClick server, providing the strongest line of defense to prevent inappropriate material from reaching the user's desktop or creative teens from disabling the filter. Unlike desktop filters, parents will not be responsible for installation of continuous upgrades.
In addition, most parental control systems/desktop filters have an opt-out feature that allows some users full access to Web material. As a result, pornographic or otherwise inappropriate material could be downloaded and automatically saved on the hard drive – allowing children to access it. However, with FamilyClick and its instant ON feature, all users are blocked from visiting offensive sites, making such sites inaccessible to children.
Q: How do the filters work?
A: FamilyClick uses server-based filtering technology that involves a comprehensive two-step process:
Step 1: FamilyClick uses both human review and automated processes to scan the Internet and determine which sites belong in each content category and the sites that will be completely blocked. This massive database of reviewed URLs known to contain inappropriate content is updated on a daily basis.
Step 2: State-of-the-art Dynamic Document Review technology then looks at key words and also reviews the relationship and proximity of these words to other words on the page. This allows FamilyClick to distinguish between sites concerned with “breast cancer” and sites concerned with “naked breasts.” Based on the access level selected by parents, a site concerned with breast cancer can be reached only by members in age appropriate tiers.
Q: Who decides what is blocked?
A: Many Web sites contain content that is offensive and, in some cases, illegal. Other Web sites contain content that is not considered offensive or objectionable, but rather intended for a mature adult audience. FamilyClick categorizes all such sites into content categories. Access to each category is based on the access level that has been selected for the user. On the Web site, FamilyClick fully discloses which of the categories are filtered at each level of access so that parents can determine the appropriate access level for various family members.
FamilyClick subscribers are also encouraged to report sites they believe are inappropriate for viewing or which they believe should not be blocked. FamilyClick will immediately review these requests and respond back to the subscriber.
Q: How is the Account Administrator chosen?
A: The Account Administrator is the person in the household who registers for the service, picks the payment plan and supplies their credit card number.
Q: How does FamilyClick protect members' email?
A: The same systems that examine Internet material also filter all email messages sent to FamilyClick accounts - based on the access level. Additionally, the Dynamic Document Review scans email text while messages are being read by a subscriber. Parents have the option of blocking unwanted email from ever reaching their in-box through FamilyClick's proprietary "Mail Block." FamilyClick's spam prevention process will continually update lists of known "spammers" and block messages sent from their addresses or alias addresses.
Q: What about email attachments? Does the filter automatically block access to attachments that include offensive material?
A: FamilyClick will soon implement an option that will allow users to reject any email being sent to them that contains an attachment. This feature when turned on, will reject the email, returning the message to the sender informing them that it was rejected due to the attachment.
Q: Will I be able to do instant messaging with the FamilyClick service?
A: Yes. FamilyClick allows users to access their favorite instant messaging packages, including: AOL Instant Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, Excite PAL and Microsoft's MSN Messenger. FamilyClick provides safety instructions that may be applied to these and other instant messaging packages.
The Family Account Administrator determines whether these services should be on or off for everyone in the family. The user interface will allow the Account Administrator to turn this functionality on or off, and the default is always set to off.
Q: What content is available on the site?
A: Just as they did with The Family Channel, the founders of FamilyClick have created a service full of quality content that will entertain and educate parent and child alike. The following channels, full of original content, are available to subscribers as well as site visitors.
- ParentingClick: Featuring fitness advice by “Body By Jake” and an Internet safety tutorial by safety expert Donna Rice Hughes.
- Home & GardenClick: Featuring activities such as Projects & Crafts; Your Home; Collectors; Gardening; and Pets.
- MoneyClick: Featuring Home Hunting; Stock Quotes; Financial Calculator; and Portfolio Manager. Also featuring a co-branded money site with LookSmart.
- Family FunClick: Featuring Family Fun; Travel; Game Room; and Movies, Music & Videos.
- KidzClick: Featuring original games and activities including Toon-arama; Express Yourself; Brainstorm; Joke Machine; Music and Radio; Polls; Pet Gallery; Jukebox; and Cool Stuff . The Children's Playroom, which is a closed safe environment for children of all ages, is also located in KidzClick.
- LearningClick: Using the Internet as a tool to expand knowledge. Features Homework Help; At School; Reference; How Things Work; and General Interest.
- Additional original content sites include TeenClick, SportsClick and FoodClick, with more to be added in the future.
- Additional services available on the site include: personal Web pages, games, stock quotes, and updated news and weather.
Q: Are there links to other sites available on ?
A: Yes, 's TopClicks contains EXCLUSIVE “best of the Web” sites and licensed “Net-Mom Approved” sites, personally reviewed by Jean Armour Polly, the original “Net-Mom®” and author of The Internet Kids & Family Yellow Pages.
Q: What support and service are available to members?
A: FamilyClick has created technical support and help options that are available 24 hours a day/7 days a week, so that families can best use their time to explore the online world. Help options are available either online (support) or via a toll-free customer service line staffed 24 hours a day ).
Q: Does FamilyClick have any partners?
A: The FamilyClick network consists of the FamilyClick ISP and Web site and its partner affiliates including Oracle, Symantec Corp., Network Appliance, Software.com, Concentric Network, and F5 Network. FamilyClick uses equipment from Cisco Systems. Sun is also a FamilyClick strategic technology vendor.
Q: What experience does the leadership of FamilyClick have in this area?
A: Tim Robertson, chairman and CEO of FamilyClick, formerly headed International Family Entertainment (IFE) and helped establish The Family Channel as the premier provider of family-based television. Robertson is widely credited for successfully creating a network focused on family entertainment and building a marketable brand. After taking IFE public in 1992, Robertson built The Family Channel into one of America's most watched cable networks before the sale of the company in 1997 to Fox Kids Worldwide for $1.9 billion.
Q: What is the role of Donna Rice Hughes?
A: An expert on Internet safety, Donna Rice Hughes is a former vice president of Enough is Enough, and advises FamilyClick on Internet safety issues and best practice strategies. Rice Hughes has worked on Internet safety issues for the past six years and is an internationally recognized expert, speaker, and policy advisor on the subject. In 1999, Rice Hughes received a Congressional appointment to the Child Online Protection Commission to examine technological solutions to protect children online. Rice Hughes has given over 1,700 media interviews on Internet safety and is the author of Kids Online: Protecting Your Children In Cyberspace.
Q: Isn't FamilyClick simply censoring the Internet?
A: FamilyClick was developed in response to consumer demand, and gives parents a choice about how their families experience the Internet.
Q: How much does FamilyClick cost? When and where will the service be available?
A: The subscription fee for FamilyClick is $21.95 a month, with the first month free. The annual fee for the service for those signing a year contract is $234.95 - an 11% discount off the monthly rate. Dial-up services are now available for FamilyClick nationwide.
Q: What's next?
A: FamilyClick will continue to develop and apply the latest technology to ensure the system provides the best possible protection from offensive content. FamilyClick is also working to further develop its email system to allow users to completely control their email flow. In addition, FamilyClick will continue to add new original content and provide additional services to users.
Specific enhancements of the service expected in the coming months include:
- Instant Messenger-MessageClick
- DSL Access for Subscribers
- Safe Search Engine
- Monitored Chat Rooms
- Bank
- Click Corners: A special password protected area for individual groups or family members to share information, available to subscribers only.
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