Way to restrict Facebook use?

[pd123]

My daughter uses Facebook too much. I don't mind her using it properly, but it consumes her. Besides the obvious of me restricting her time (restricting like that just doesn't work) is there any software that times her and turns Facebook off after the limit?

[Nija]

http://secretgeek.net/block_sites.asp



In order to delete Facebook, i opened this file:

C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc\hosts

and I added this line:

0.0.0.0 www.facebook.com

Now when I go to facebook.com, it gets routed to 0.0.0.0 and the browser shows 'Connection closed by remote server'

[pd123]

Thank you Nija for your helpful post. I saved the information but I'm holding off on the appearance of closing the account unless I can't control it any other way. My goal isn't to end the account but restrict it. Facebook became a big problem, that's all my daughter does, Facebook and texting, she ignores homework, if there are no other options, I will do your suggestion.
I followed your information as to where to enter the line in the "hosts" file but not sure how to do that, do I open that file in "Notepad" and just put the line there?

[pd123]

Has anyone tried... https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/4476

[cheapie]

no but it looks pretty sweet!

[attgig]

Thank you Nija for your helpful post. I saved the information but I'm holding off on the appearance of closing the account unless I can't control it any other way. My goal isn't to end the account but restrict it. Facebook became a big problem, that's all my daughter does, Facebook and texting, she ignores homework, if there are no other options, I will do your suggestion.
I followed your information as to where to enter the line in the "hosts" file but not sure how to do that, do I open that file in "Notepad" and just put the line there?


yeah, it's in notepad. and that way, any browser she uses, it'll go to 0.0.0.0.

if you use a firefox addon, she can just open facebook in ie and she can still do it.

nija's suggestion wont' close the facebook account. just not let her use it.

also, what kind of router do you have? check the manual as it may have ways for you to block certain sites...

[pd123]

Thank you attgig for the suggestion to check if the router can block it. Good idea, I have a Verizon router. I called them and they can't, they recommended Cyberpatrol. That cost $39 a year.

[chrissy]

search result (http://www.gotapex.com/software-os-and-the-internet/169106-is-there-a-third-party-software-to-limit-internet-access.html) for my exact question :)

I am sorry, I cannot remember which we used.

[whitealexander]

^ cool link.. yeah you may want to try the vista OS.. i dont know if win7 has it..

[Prngr44]

I could have sworn Windows itself can restrict usage? Or is that just a blank on/off and not site specific?

You could set up two jobs to run that turn it off at a specific time and turn it back on at a specific time? Basically two batch files to enable the block through hosts and then another to disable the block?

The Firefox plugin kind of looks like a prettied up version of editing the hosts file (but I haven't used it either to know for sure.)

*** Looks like that plugin will do the job nicely. I'll have to bookmark that for when I need it in 10 years. ;)

Good luck!

[Airencracken]

Thank you attgig for the suggestion to check if the router can block it. Good idea, I have a Verizon router. I called them and they can't, they recommended Cyberpatrol. That cost $39 a year.

Who is the router made by? There are likely access controls in it. I have something set up at home that doesn't allow my sister online at certain hours of the day. It's a linksys WRT54G. I'm betting this router of yours has something similar.