The Internet opens up the world for many kids—allowing them to do research for school assignments, watch video clips of their favorite cartoons or music groups, keep in touch with family and friends—and play interactive games. Despite its myriad of positive uses, it can also expose kids to unsuitable content and to dangerous people such as Internet sex offenders. Teach your child never to share personal information online and emphasize the importance of coming to you if she experiences dangerous or explicit chats or emails.
Keep the Computer in a Common Area of the Home
Placing the computer in a place that you and other family members enter often can help keep your child from going to places with inappropriate content. It can also help him avoid the temptation to engage in risky online behaviors such as sharing pictures or personal information. The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation suggests that keeping the computer outside of your child’s bedroom makes it harder for sex offenders to communicate with your child.
Monitor and Limit Your Child's Time Online
Go online with your child to see where she goes and whom she encounters online. Show her some of your favorite sites and teach her how to use child-friendly search engines. Limit the time she spends online—especially in the evening hours when, according to the FBI, computer sex offenders are often the most active. Make sure you know about any other computers your child uses—at school, after-school programs, grandparents' or friends' houses—and whether these locations provide supervision and safeguards.
Block or Limit Your Child's Access to Private Chat Rooms
Sex offenders often try to lure children into private chat rooms where they can engage in explicit sexual conversations or gather personal information about the child. NetSmartz, an Internet safety education program created by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, urges parents to limit their child’s access to child-friendly chat sites.
You can usually block access to chat sites completely by using parental control safety features provided by your Internet service provider. These parental controls can also allow you to filter your child’s access to certain information or even limit his access to a list of pre-approved sites. If you do allow your child to participate in chat sites, keep in mind that posting in these areas can reveal his email address to others.
