InternetSafety.com
Seminary Combats Cyber-Temptation with 'Safe Eyes' Software, Distributes Internet Filtering Program Free to Incoming Students
Innovative Approach to Helping Ministry Students Avoid Unhealthy HabitsATLANTA, GA — April 28, 2009 — InternetSafety.com announced today that Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, NC, is distributing the company's Safe Eyes filtering software free to all incoming students to help them avoid the temptations of Internet pornography. The school began dispensing copies of the program to its incoming students earlier this year for optional installation on their personal computers. The software automatically blocks millions of websites dealing with pornography, sex, nudity and related content as users browse the Web.
The seminary is encouraging use of the Safe Eyes program during new student orientations and throughout the year as well as suggesting that students find an 'accountability partner' to support their efforts to resist inappropriate Internet surfing. Accountability partners - such as a friend from a local church or a resident assistant at the school - can split passwords with the user to prevent program removal, adjust settings to add controls such as blocking or recording instant messenger sessions, gain access to the student's usage logs to monitor their online behavior, and receive alerts when a user posts sexually suggestive language in chat rooms or instant messages.
The software complements the Internet filtering system on Southeastern Baptist's own computer network, providing protection for students when they are off campus. The seminary provides three years of Safe Eyes usage free of charge to all students who choose to install the program.
"Our mission is to help students prepare for their future ministry. Easy access to Internet pornography and online sexual conversation obviously interferes with that mission," said Seth Bible, the seminary's Director of Student Life. "Safe Eyes is a useful tool for helping us help students establish their personal relationship with Christ and thereby produce healthy pastors who will lead healthy churches."
Secondary goals include familiarizing students with the availability of Internet filtering software that can be used to help members of their future congregations - whether those members are struggling with a pornography addiction or just wanting to protect their children online, Bible said.
"Seminary students face considerable challenges in trying to live a spiritual life in today's environment. As far as we know, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary is the first institution to promote the use of personal Internet filtering software to this degree," said Joe Stradinger, EVP of InternetSafety.com. "This is a creative and courageous campaign that other seminaries can replicate to assist their own students in their quest for spiritual health."
Originally designed to help parents limit inappropriate Web surfing for their children, Safe Eyes has also been widely adopted to help older computer users resist the temptation to view online pornography. The program is recommended by various addiction ministries, including Setting Captives Free and XXXChurch, to aid individuals with pornography habits in the recovery process. It is also recommended by schools, churches and family organizations such as Focus on the Family.
About InternetSafety.com
InternetSafety.com has been a leading provider of web filtering solutions for consumers and businesses since 1999. The company's flagship software, Safe Eyes, is the two-time recipient of the PC Magazine Editors' Choice Award, earned a separate Editor's Choice Award from LAPTOP Magazine, and was rated as the #1 parental control solution by America's leading consumer advocacy publication. Other products include Safe Eyes Mobile, the first family-safe browser for the iPhone, and EtherShield, a hardware appliance offering plug-and-play Internet filtering for business environments. The company's products are used by customers in more than 150 countries. For more information, visit www.internetsafety.com.
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