Computers and Technology
10 Ways to Protect Your Kids Online
Magazines and newspapers are full of stories about kids and the dangers they face on the Internet. And with new types of web sites popping up all the time (e.g., MySpace) it seems the dangers just keep growing. That?d be because they are.
So are these dangers real? Absolutely. Are they overplayed in the press? Absolutely. The Internet is a vast and diverse place. At any one time you and your kids are likely to be online in the company of millions of other people. Some of them may be folks you don?t want your kids to know. Yes, the Internet is as exciting and enriching as Manhattan, and it?s also as dangerous.
But do you think your children should avoid Manhattan at all costs? Manhattan has some tough and nasty neighborhoods, certainly unsuitable for kids to explore alone. But would you be satisfied if they never saw the metropolitan Museum of Art to make sure they were always spared from Times Square? Didn?t think so. Instead, you?d take them to Manhattan yourself. You?d show them what you wanted them to see, and you?d avoid the areas that make you nervous, You?d also teach them some coping techniques; give them some guidelines for looking out for themselves, You?re going to do this on the Internet too!
With this in mind here are 10 rules for keeping your kids safe on the Internet.
1)Know if your communication is in a public message area or a private one. Message boards are public, even if you have to ?qualify? in some way to gain admittance. Whatever you say in these settings is the same as shouting it in the middle of a crowded mall. Email is more private (except when your boss reads it, but kids don?t have that worry yet). Instant messages are private too, although like email they can be tracked and monitored with the right software and access.
2)Never post personal information in a public area online. Personal information includes your address, phone number, your school, age, etc.
3)Teach your kids never to reveal your family?s schedule and routines. No one needs to know when you get home from work versus when they get home from school. No one needs to know when you?re going on vacation.
4)Remind kids that online communication is faceless. People may not be who they say they are. Teach them to be alert for anything that doesn?t ?feel? right, and make sure they report these things to you immediately.
5)Teach your kids that they must never respond to someone who is trying to bother them online. Most instant messaging software (for example, AOL?s AIM) includes the ability to ignore unwanted messages. If someone says something that bothers you or your child put him or her on ignore, and they will just disappear. You can also teach your kids to make people disappear by just logging off, or closing out of their browsers. In a real pinch, they can just shut down the computer.
6)Make sure your kids never plan to meet their online friends face-to-face without your permission and input. Your child may make a friend he wants to meet in person, but that meeting should be under your supervision.
7)If you arrange a real-life meeting, make sure that first meeting is in a public place, and make sure all parents are present.
8)Never let your child reveal passwords or similar information. They should also be taught something about phising and pharming (Google these terms if you?re unfamiliar with them), as they are a part of online communications.
9)Teach kids to change any passwords periodically before undesirables can figure them out.
10)Keep track of how much time your kid spends online by checking billing information if applicable, and also placing that computer in a more public part of the house. Later on, when kids need their computers for school they can have their own desktops in their rooms.
Bestselling author Brad Schepp has written 13 books including KIDNET: THE KIDS GUIDE TO SURFING THROUGH CYBERSPACE. His latest book is the eBay PowerSeller Secrets. He is AOL's former Editorial Director. |
Brad Schepp
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