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KEEPING KIDS SAFE
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Internet Safety - Would you deposit your child on a street corner in a strange city at 3:00am and tell them, "I'll be back to pick you up in a few hours"? No? Well, in my opinion, giving your child long periods of unsupervised Internet access would be just as ridiculous. The Internet is a wonderful resource, but it can be a very dangerous place. Child predators cruise the Internet, posing as other children. Scams, fraud and misinformation are also common. Horror stories abound. Parents, please supervise your kids whenever they are online!
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- Does your child use Instant Messaging or Chat Room services? Read this article from PC expert and radio host, Kim Komando:
Do you know what your kids or grandkids are saying when they use instant messaging? Of course not! You're over 30! They have a code that's intended to leave you in the dark. For instance, if your child types a message that consists solely of a number, such as 5, that means a parent (you) is in the room. When they double that number up, such as 55, that means the coast is clear. Here are some other codes the kids use when IM'ing:
- POS - Parent is over my shoulder so watch what you say
- POP - Parent is on prowl and could walk in any moment
- SOS - Sibling over shoulder who will tell on me
- ASL - What's your age, sex and location?
- TTYL - Talk to you later
- BRB - Be right back
- HHOK - Ha hah, only kidding
- MOATM - Music on at the moment
- LQ - Laughing quietly because someone is in the room
- G2G - Gotta go!
- CTN - Can't talk now
There are many more codes. So my advice is simple. Make sure you watch your kids online. It's a dangerous place. If you need help, download and use my free 10 Commandments for Kids. You'll find it here:
http://www.komando.com/kimskidscontract.html
- Protecting Kids Online - another good article by Kim Komando
- Kim Komando's 10 Commandments for Kids Online - a simple "contract" between parents and kids to help keep your family safe
- GetNetWise - a parental resource for the Internet family
- A Parent's Guide to Internet Safety - courtesy of the FBI
- Parents Guide to the Internet - from the US Department of Education
- America Links Up - an archive site of a past public awareness campaign for Internet safety
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Other Child Safety Resources
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