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Online Safety For Children


When children gain access to an Internet Service, the whole world is suddenly at their fingertips. This can be a very exciting milestone. The internet is the biggest library in the world, and children should feel free to explore it.

But the Internet is also a traveling ground for predators. There are certain basic rules children should always follow in order to stay safe online.

 

List Of Rules For Internet Safety

If you have a child who has access to the Internet, give them the following list of rules to follow for Internet safely:

Never reveal personal information. Don't reveal personal information such as address or phone number. Don't reveal where you go to school, where your parents work, or whether you're home alone. Many people enjoy online interaction, because they can remain completely anonymous. A man can say he is a teenage boy; an elderly person can claim to be young; a hardened criminal can claim to be someone new in the area.

Don't send a picture. Pictures of yourself shouldn't be transmitted over the Internet to a total stranger. Before you send a picture, get your parents' permission. Also, don't download pictures from an unknown source, as they may include sexually explicit images.

Take someone along if you decide to meet a stranger. If you correspond with someone for a while and want to meet them in person, ask your parents' permission. If your parents agree that you can meet this person, take a parent along, or make sure someone knows your exact location.

Create a completely anonymous online identity. Choose a name that doesn't let anyone know if you're a girl or a boy.

Tell your parents if you see something online that makes you uncomfortable. Don't respond to any messages that make you uncomfortable. Log off if you receive messages that are mean or suggestive.

Follow all rules established by your parents regarding how long you will be online, what time of day you will be online and what sites are appropriate. Parents set rules, such as curfews, and whether or not you can visit your friends if the parents aren't home. Expect to follow similar rules for your online behavior.

Don't disable any filtering software set up by your parents. Pop-up blockers and any other software put in place by your parents should remain in place.

Don't give out your password to anyone. Passwords are meant to protect your privacy. Don't let anyone know your password except your parents. Creating and remembering a password is part of learning to use the Internet responsibly.

 

Some Basic Rules For Parents

These are a few basic rules you can share with your children. As a parent, there are some rules you should follow as well:

  • Keep computers in a common area where you can keep an eye on your children.
  • Establish rules and expect them to be followed.
  • Help kids find information online.
  • Use advanced Internet software. Parental controls can help you filter harmful content and monitor what your child is doing.
 

Additional Online Child Safety Resources

The following resources provide additional help for keeping children safe online:

 

Installing Internet monitoring software is one of the most important things you can do to protect your children. It can run discreetly in the background and it will enable you to monitor websites visited.

 
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