Keeping Children Safe on the Internet:

Guidelines for Parents/Guardians

Only your personal interaction can provide the type of protection your children need on the Internet.

The Internet opens a world of information and access to everyone who uses it.  In and of itself, it doesn’t know how to protect users from the dangers of those who use it for their own ends.  As parents, we must realize that the responsibility for keeping our children safe resides solely with us.  It’s unfortunate we live in a time when you can’t put your trust in much of anything or anyone anymore.  So what can you do to keep your child safe on the Internet?  At Home, it is often recommended that the family computer, with Internet access, be placed in an area of the house in eye shot of others.  If your child has a computer in their own room, there are a number of ways to lock down their ability to surf the net when you’re not around or after hours.  You see, it’s after hours that counts too.  A computer in a family room, in view from the kitchen is fine during waking hours.  However, in the wee hours when the rest of the family is asleep, the computer is readily available to be used.   The strategy to correct this takes on different venues according to your situation and comfort level.

First and foremost, if you’re not computer savvy- it’s time to get savvy. If your computer naïve, then your child already has a competitive edge. This leaves them, and your entire family, at risk.

They are unaware of how dangerous the Internet can be.  Find out from your ISP if there are any parental controls that allow you to customize access privileges for other users to the Internet.  Be sure that you and you alone are the Master account holder and Not your child. You see, the dangers are not just from actions taken by your child while on the net but from those who exploit them.  Your computer has much sensitive and personal information, just by virtue of its set-up and licensing.  A savvy user can usurp information about you, what’s on your PC and your whereabouts more easily than you think. Follow some basic advice: 

·   Establish online rules and an agreement with your child about Internet use at home and outside of the home (i.e., at a friend's house, at school, at the library, etc.)

·   Check with your ISP to set-up the available parental controls which limit on-line access to age-appropriate content.  Never allow children to have access to the Master account or your own passwords.

·   Recognize that chat rooms are the playground of today's sexual predator. Only direct, over-the shoulder parental supervision of your child's chat-room session is advised in un-monitored chat-rooms. . Chat-room services that provide human monitors are generally more safe than un-monitored chat rooms, however, parental supervision is essential.

·  Block instant/personal messages from people you and your child don't know. Regularly check your child's buddy list to ensure that it has not been altered.

·   Do not permit your child to have an online profile. With this restriction, he or she will not be listed in directories and is less likely to be approached in chat rooms where pedophiles often search for prey. (Some Online Service Providers such as America Online, offer subscribers online profiles.)

·   Check with your child's school to see if student projects, artwork, or photos (where material is identified by name) are being put on school home pages. Schools often want to post school newsletters or sports scores, but every time a name or photo is displayed, there is vulnerability. Schools need to be reminded of that risk and encouraged to allow access to student activities posted on the school's website by password only.

·   Monitor the amount of time your child spends on the Internet, and at what times of day. Excessive time online, especially at night, may indicate a problem. Remind your child that Internet use is a privilege, not a right.

·   Watch for changes in your child's behavior (mention of adults you don't know, secretiveness, inappropriate sexual knowledge, sleeping problems, tiredness, etc.).

·   Implement software tools to protect your family from the intrusion of inappropriate content, hackers and predators.

·    Spend time online alongside your child and establish an atmosphere of trust regarding computer usage and online activities.

·   Place your computer in an area of your home where you can easily supervise your child's Internet activity-both day or night.

·   Report any content or activity that you suspect as illegal or criminal to local law enforcement and your ISP.

·    Keep track of what is going on by checking 'Bookmarks' 'Favorites' or 'History'. 'Options' or 'Preference' or 'History' menus and icons can provide a list of recently visited sites.

·   Don't let your children engage in on-line shopping.

·   Teach your children never to give out their name or the names of friends, or fill in questionnaires. Children should never send images of themselves over the net as they may be used for other purposes.

·   Teach them not to download content of any kind (games, images, …etc.) and never allow pop-up Upgrade messages (latest scams use Microsoft and AOL) to fool them into accepting downloads. No Anti-viral Company sends an on-line pop-up or upgrades.

·   Set-up spoof e-mail accounts for media/game upgrades, on-line shopping and bulletin boards.

·   Change IM and/or e-mail names if they have become targets by unwanted messages by Spam or individuals.

·   Beware when forwarding mail that contains many valid e-mail addresses, particularly form sites which indicate removal from list links-they are decoys to gather and sell active e-mail addresses.  Simply block future mail from them.

Be “SMART”

Kids and the Internet - The Facts