Something that complicates the decision regarding Internet at Home, or Not is the fact that many, if not most, children and teens can access the internet even if their parents don't have an internet connected computer at home.

• Friends - While this is a bigger issue in some communities than in others, it is a mistake to assume that none of your children's friends have access to the internet at home.  I personally know too many people in communities where "no one" has internet access, who, in fact, do have internet access.  And, often enough, in these families the children have far more access than they should.  There are a variety of reasons for this, which may not necessarily be relavant. What is undoubtedly relavant, though, is that you simply cannot assume that the children your child is friendly with have no access.  (This doesn't even touch the issue of friends who have other internet access that your child may share.)

• Libraries - Most libraries in the US do provide internet access, and it is often unfiltered.  In fact, despite the fact that many librarians are quite uncomfortable with the stance the organization has taken, the Americal Library Association has been vehemently opposed to any level of filtering on library computers, even for children. Despite the ALA's stance, many libraries do have some level of filtering, but it is not something I would advise any parent to depend on.

• School -  I was appalled and astonished to discover that there really are frum schools that have improperly secured computers avialable to their students without proper supervision.  The worst part is that schools generally don't admit to this. Sometimes they don't realize that they even have a problem, and if / when it comes up, they mostly go into denial.  It is not common, but it does exist.  If your child has access to computers at school, try to find out what kind of access contols are in place, and how they are implemented.

• Game Consoles - All the newer game consoles (Wii, playstation, gameboy etc.) are internet connected devices.  They are designed to automatically pick up the nearest wi-fi (and sometime wi-max) internet connection.  And, unlike most cell phones and PDAs, these toys have relatively large, good looking screens optimized for downloading and displaying images and motion.  The implications for the tznius temptations are scarey.  If you have doubt as to whether a console has internet access look for the words "multi-player".   Any multi-player device has to have internet access, because that's how players joing each other. 

• Cell phones -  Even on a "go phone" without an internet plan, it is possible to get to the internet.  And, if the child has a "smartphone" or PDA phone (such as a Blackberry, Apple iPhone or Palm Treo) everything mentioned about PDS's below applies. Also, while text messaging is not strictly internet access, many of the same issues that IM and email pose, exist with text messaging.  If your child has a phone with a plan that you are paying for, you can block any extra services. If anything does get on, you will see it on the bill.  Also, if you do want to allow your child to use text mesaging, most cell phone providers will give you a detailed list of every text message, including content (generally for an extra fee).  However, with a "go phone", (ie a phone where you refill minutes as they get used), it is usually possible for a child to buy access to text messging or content without a parent knowing.  This is why, if you need to give your child a cell phone, get a low end model, and put it on your family plan, if either parent already has a phone (you can upgrade an individual plan to family very easily) or put it on the lowest cost plan offered. 

• PDAs - If the PDA has bluetooth, or wifi (or has a slot of some sort), then it's possible to get on line.  Same is true if you have a PDA phone. PDA screens are not generally the best screens for looking at certain types of content, but they are not terrible, and there has been serious, and continuing, improvement. They are also great for email, IM and text messages of any type. 

This list is not exhaustive.  But, it does cover some of the most common or least likely to be suspected places that your child could access the internet. 

This does not mean that you should assume that your child is on the internet.  It does mean that if you want your child to stay off, or minimize access to, the internet,  then techincal measures are not enough. Nor is making your home internet free a guarantee.