According to various surveys conducted with regard to internet security recently in US, almost 100% of children in the age group 11-17, use the Internet for email, over 70% use social networking sites, about 60% of children ages 3+, use the Internet,43% of teenagers have been contacted by online strangers when using a social networking site. And most parents are concerned about predatory behavior as well as pornography exposure.
There is an urgent need to educate ourselves as well as our children, in order to keep our children safer online. While some things may be disturbing or difficult to discuss with our children, but by not communicating honestly and in a direct manner, we are putting them at a grave risk.
Here are some of the pertinent things which parents need to know and take relevant action:
1. Find out your childs user name, email address and password.
2. Never allow children to have computers in their own bedrooms. Keep it in an open space at home, so that it is visible when they are browsing and will not be able to access any pornographic sites.
3. Do not allow them to have a webcam on their computer, if they insist keep the pass word with you and allow it to be accessed when you are around.
4. Instruct them, educate them constantly, not to give out or post personal information, such as their full name, social security number, home address, location, email address, school name, phone number, date of birth, or real age.
5. Firmly insist to your children that personal information must remain PRIVATE and that they use non-descript gender neutral screen or user name such as Table10 or Internet 2.
6. Guide them that when using social networking site to restrict access to their profile by using privacy settings. Ask them to talk only to people known in real life. Explain to them the pitfalls of dealing with strangers.
7. Warn them never to accept unsolicited emails, files, photographs, videos or attachments from online strangers.
8. Google your children and go online with your children.
9. Register for your own account on Friendster or My Space or Orkut or any other social networking sites, so that you too get an accurate idea of the sites your children visit.
10. Learn your children’s passwords. And also advise them not to share their pass- words with anyone including friends.
11. Tell your children that what is published or said online today, may come back to haunt them tomorrow. If your child insists and chooses to use a picture, then either blur or morph it before posting.
12. One Golden Rule of language to be used online is “netiquette” or online etiquette.
13. Advise them not to say things on the Internet which they would not say to some one in person.
14. Insist firmly that when it comes to questionnaires or surveys, their permission as parents must be taken first.
15. In case your child is a victim of cyber bullying or stalking, or knows someone who has been targeted. Stress to your children to TELL an adult.
16. Insist to your children that if something online makes them feel scared un-comfortable or worried they should immediately inform a trusted adult.
17. Not to rely solely on parental control but to also TALK and LISTEN attentively to your children.
18. Speak to the school principal and insist on your childs school or college to have a regular Internet Safety curriculum in place. Alongwith an an anti-cyber bullying policy in place.
As it has been wisely told by someone, its always better to be safe rather than sorry later. The safety and well being of your child or teenager is in your hand. Follow the above thumb rules and you can rest assured that all will be fine in your childs cyber world tyrst.
ULTIMATELY THE BEST PARENTAL CONTROL, IS YOU !!
Please check the link below to read this article in Daijiworld.com:
Internet Safety for Children and Teenagers:
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