IGLU is a tool which simplifies web safety for kids and adults. It lets children search the web within safe pre-approved webspaces.

Developed with specialists from the Kiwi Initiative, Iglu reaffirms the parent’s role, encourages discussions on Internet use between parents and children; and develops critical thinking skills about online media, according to Iceio.

Tim Szeto, product development, IGLU, explained the tool protects children from inappropriate Internet sites using a kind of white-list solution.

“We’ve broken the Internet down into three generic age groups,” he explained in an interview with TMC’s Carl Ford (News - Alert) in San Jose, Calif. The groupings are: 8 and under, where young users remain in a very safe space; 9 to 13, where they are in a “transition period” as they become familiar with social media and the social aspects of the Internet and games; and 14-plus where they can sign up for email and join social networks.

“We can foster something we call Internet immunity,” Szeto said. He defines that as being able to “build up critical thinking at a young age that Internet safety matters, and then to grow that along so that by the time they are ready for the full Internet experience they have built up the critical thinking that’s required to handle specific situations…”

“Instead of taking the Internet and saying you can’t have access to lots and lots of content, it’s a rethinking and saying this is content that’s appropriate for this age group,” he added.

They have worked with parents and teachers to collaboratively building up web spaces. The product has been tested with some private schools in Canada, with “great success,” Szeto said. It is now in a period of crowd sourcing, where anyone can offer input, especially parents, teachers and those who work with web development.

The underlying theory behind the initiative is that censorship won't work. Other attempts for Internet safety led to blocking of content that was considered offensive or inappropriate.

“Safe webspaces are smaller, customized versions of the Internet that have been peer-reviewed for kids to use,” the Kiwi Commons site explained. “These webspaces are available in a variety of ways. You can use the search engine in a webspace instead of your typical open search services like Google (News - Alert), Yahoo or Bing, or you can secure the web traffic on any PC computer with a product called Iglu by ICE I/O Inc.”

Iglu addresses two concerns with web filtering: finding and eliminating unwanted web content and teaching children to address online challenges without destroying trust, according to a report on TMCnet.

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