Breaking Free

Many computer applications use the Internet in order to work properly, not just Web browsers: chat programs, games, email, and file sharing to name a few. Covenant Eyes now gives our Windows users and accountability partners the option to track and monitor these types of programs in the accountability reports.

Why are we doing this? In short, better accountability. Now, accountability partners can have an even better picture of how the Internet is being used by the people they are holding accountable.

- – - -

Closing Another Door to Porn

Web browsers are not the only way to use the Internet to access pornography. File sharing, for example, is a very popular way to gain access to adult material. Networks or Protocols such as BitTorrent, Limewire, Napster, and eDonkey2000 are popular for file sharing. It is estimated that 35% of all peer-to-peer downloads are related to pornographic material.

Online games and chat programs can also be conduits for pornographic and mature material. For example, participants using Second Life, an online virtual reality environment, can engage in cybersex with other participants. Instant messenger programs such as Yahoo! Messenger, AIM, Skype, and Windows Live Messenger can be conduits for adult conversations and cyber-sexual relationships.

These programs do not use a Web browser, so they will not be given numerical scores like other parts of the accountability report. The report will not contain text conversations or show whether the programs were used to access adult material. What “Program Tracking” will do is give the Accountability Partner(s) a more complete picture of all the ways a user is accessing the Internet.

- – - -

Time Management

People are spending more time online than ever before. Internet now rivals TV for entertainment. A survey six years ago showed that one-third of teens, ages 15 to 17, spend at least 6 hours a week online. Today teens are spending an average of 11.5 hours per week online, doing everything from instant messaging and visiting social networking sites to shopping and listening to music.

Online games, for example, can sap a lot of time. If a Covenant Eyes user wants to be held accountable for how much time is spent playing these games, this new feature will enable someone to do just that.

This feature on the reports will also be very valuable for parents. Let’s say little Timmy comes home from school one day with a note from his teacher that says Timmy didn’t do his homework. Wait a minute . . . didn’t he spend 6 hours on his computer the other night? Why didn’t he get his homework done? You go to check his Covenant Eyes report and discover that instead he was playing World of Warcraft all evening.

- – - -

How It Works

The “Program Tracking” module on the accountability report will show what type of program it is, the filename, a program description (if available), and the duration of time the program was used. Some programs may fit into multiple categories but will appear in the category that most closely matches up with their purpose. Covenant Eyes is striving to categorize all applications that access the Internet, but new ones are constantly being developed.

If you are looking at an accountability report and don’t recognize a specific program or filename, there are several websites that you can use. We recommend using ProcessLibrary.com or TaskList.org. Simply go to one of these sites and type in the application name or executable filename in the search box and click “Find,” “Go,” or “Search.”