The Internet is a valuable and necessary tool for your child's education, opening his world to new thoughts, concepts and ideas. But the online world has a potentially dark and unseemly side for your child, too, especially as kids grow older and begin to interact with other Internet users. For parents and other caretakers, the key to keeping kids safe online requires a careful balance of allowing your child independent Internet use while remaining vigilant and informed as to his online activities.
Step 1
Talk to your kids before someone else does, advises OnguardOnline.gov. As soon as your child notices you using your computer and other mobile devices--which can often be when she's just a toddler--it's time to speak with her about online safety. Just like "Don't fight" and "Don't bully" apply to real life, they also apply to the online world--especially the rule, "Don't talk to strangers." Foster an honest and open communicative environment so your child will feel comfortable talking with you about her online activities.
Step 2
Supervise young children during their first foray into the virtual world. Select the websites that your kids can visit, and make sure they don't navigate away from them without your approval. OnguardOnline.gov suggests blocking websites with inappropriate content. As your children gain more online autonomy, you may let them surf the 'net on their own, but always stay close at hand.
Step 3
Keep a close eye on your tween--at this age, between 10 and 12, he's much more likely to want to have independent Internet use. OnguardOnline.gov suggests using parental monitoring (filtering and blocking tools), but cautions you that Internet-savvy tweens may be able to get around them. Put the computer in a common area of the home so your tween can feel as though he has autonomy--but as with younger children, always stay nearby. It might also be a good idea to set time limits for your tween's Internet use.
Step 4
Communicate the right values to your teen, advises OnguardOnline.gov. This is the age at which it's impossible for you to keep an eye on your child all of the time. At this age, teens have access to the Internet at school, at friends' homes and through their mobile devices. Stress to your child that not everything they read on the Internet is true, or are people who they seem to be. If your teen has a social networking profile, emphasize that online behavior has real world consequences--your child should only communicate things with which she's comfortable and wouldn't be ashamed of everyone seeing, including teachers, prospective employers and college admissions boards.
Step 5
Keep on top of your child's online activity. Make sure you know who he emails or "chats" with. If she has a social networking profile, look through her friends list so you'll know who might be contacting her. Make sure there are no threatening comments on her profile page. Sometimes this takes a little detective work on your part if you suspect that your child is engaging in risky behavior in the virtual world--search the Internet for her name, nickname, community, school and hobbies, advises OnguardOnline.gov.
Tips and Warnings
- You don't have to wait for your children to come to you--a television show that features kids interacting with each other online or news report about cyberbullying can be your cue to initiate a discussion about online safety. Tell your child that he should never disclose his address, names of family members, phone number and other personal information online.
- Stress to your teen the importance of avoiding "sex talk" online--OnguardOnline.gov notes that kids who refrain from engaging in intimate conversations online are less likely to be approached by sexual predators. Tweens and teens might want to be discouraged from posting a photo on social networking sites. The Federal Trade Commission notes that photos can be altered in unbecoming ways and broadcast all over the Internet.
