The Internet, computers and technology are unavoidable, and are advances that are mainly helpful to society. From school work to games to talking with friends, most children have cause to go online. It's up to parents to keep children safe while they surf the web. While there are benefits to the Internet, children must be made aware that there are also risks, and parents must have a plan to effectively monitor their kids' usage.
Risks
One of the main risks to children's online safety is exposure to inappropriate material. This material is not only sexual in nature--there are also websites that are violent, hateful or encourage activities that are dangerous. Sometimes children go looking for material like this, or the material can be part of a website they are already surfing.
Bullying doesn't just take place on the playground anymore, and harassment can take place via e-mail, chat sites or social networking pages. Children may also unknowingly download a virus or expose information to hackers that can put privacy and safety at risk. There is also a risk of physical molestation or worse, when children provide predators with information so they can meet up in person.
Signs
Parents should be aware of key signs that their child's online safety is at risk. If a child is spending a lot of time online, especially at night, there is a safety risk. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, most children who fall prey to computer sex offenders spend a lot of time online, especially in chat rooms after dinner and on weekends. If parents find pornography on the computer, or if children receive calls from people not known to the family or the child begins to withdraw from the family, there is a higher safety risk, and parents should investigate.
Law
To help protect children during their online activities, the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, COPPA, was passed in to federal law. This law is meant to protect personal information about a child by prohibiting anyone from obtaining the information without a parent's knowledge and consent. To adhere to COPPA, websites must have their privacy policies explained on the site and require parental consent before collecting or using personal information like a name, address, Social Security number or phone number. For gaming or contest sites, COPPA stipulates that the child is only required to give the minimum necessary personal information to participate.
Precautions
Microsoft.com provides four key precautionary steps to help guard children's safety while they're online. The first is for parents to decide where children can and can't go while online by researching sites and blocking any inappropriate sites. The second step is to increase security and privacy settings. This can be done by limiting the number of downloads, using antivirus software and adjusting the web browser security settings. Parents also need to monitor what sites children are visiting. The final step is to remind children not to talk to strangers while online, just like they wouldn't talk to strangers face-to-face.
Rules
Parents can't watch every keystroke a child makes while online, but setting up rules for computer use and having an open line of communication can help protect children online at all times. Basic rules for online use should include never giving out personal information; not agreeing to meet up with someone they have "met" on the Internet; not responding to a message that is suggestive, threatening or generally uncomfortable; and remembering that people are not always what they seem to be online.
