Thirty-four percent of youths reported receiving unwanted sexual contact on the Internet in a national study of 1,500 children aged 10 to 17 conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Approximately one out of every seven children surveyed was propositioned for sex online. With ever-changing Internet technology anonymity, predators and criminals use high-tech ways to harm children around the world. Keeping kids safe on the Internet seems like a full-time task, but it is possible.
Talk to Your Kids
Talk to your kids about your expectations for computer usage and what constitutes appropriate and inappropriate use of the Internet. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's NetSmartz Workshop recommends posting a list of guidelines and expectations next to the computer. Explain what personal information is and why your child should never reveal it when surfing the Internet. Teach each child not to give out her name, location, age, gender, photo, phone number or school information to people she have met online. Remind children that you are there to talk to if they see something that scares or upsets them, and that it is always appropriate to tell a trusted adult if they view content or are approached by someone on the Internet who makes them feel uncomfortable. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children recommends asking your children to show off their Internet savvy by taking you on a guided tour of their favorite websites and showing you what they can do on the Internet.
Set Restrictions
Set restrictions on real-time chats, social networking websites and instant messaging software. Microsoft's Web Security website recommends parents configure software to allow only approved contacts on these websites. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children advises using filtering or monitoring software to help keep your children safe, but cautions that filtering content alone is not enough. Talk to your Internet service provider about safeguards they may have in place to keep kids safe on the Internet. Some Internet service providers have monitoring or filtering programs that allow you to keep an eye on your child's online activities.
Be Aware
Be aware of other places where your child can access the Internet. The Federal Bureau of Investigation notes that your children can access the Internet in places that are not under your direct supervision, such as school, the library and at friends' houses. Speak to the individuals in charge of the Internet in those locations to find out what safeguards are in place to help keep your children safe. The FBI also recommends keeping access to your children's online accounts and checking regularly for inappropriate content and conduct, and advises parents to be honest and upfront about their actions and intentions in doing so.
