How Families Surf The Web Safely
Young people who “surf” the vast internet ocean need help navigating these potentially dangerous waters. While the internet provides a remarkable tool for positive entertainment and learning, it can also provide exposure to predatory adults and unwanted violent/sexual content. Parents can help their children steer clear of this and still enjoy the many benefits of the internet.
A child’s perception of what constitutes normal sexual behavior can be negatively affected by what they experience on the internet. In addition, children are at risk for being contacted by predatory adults online. Information-sharing websites such as MySpace.com, Facebook.com, and others have recently been the focus of much attention because children have naively posted personal information on these sights and fallen victim to those seeking to exploit them. The good news is that there are things you can do to decrease the chance of these dangers becoming part of your child’s internet experience. Following are nine strategies that I encourage parents to use:
1. Filtering. Educate yourself about your Internet Service Provider’s filtering methods. If you’re not satisfied, purchase and install filtering software that will block targeted web sites.
2. Open access. Keep your computer in an open-access area in your house, such as the kitchen or family room. Children are less likely to explore prohibited sites when supervised.
3. Bedrooms. I do not recommend installing a computer in your child’s bedroom, but if the computer must remain there then set a rule that the door must stay open when the internet is in use.
4. Tracking. Regularly check your computer’s History Folder and Temporary Internet Files to see what sites your child has visited. Set a rule that your child is not allowed to delete these files.
5. Bookmarking. Bookmark child-friendly sites to facilitate a positive internet experience for your child. This is easy to do and allows you to mark sites you want them to visit.
6. Communicate. Encourage open communication. Talk with your child about the internet and your expectations of its use. Your child needs to feel confident that he or she can talk to you.
7. Personal Information. Establish family rules about what personal information can and cannot be shared on the internet. For instance, most internet-savvy families set a rule that children are not to give out phone numbers, street or e-mail addresses, or credit card numbers without parental approval.
8. Friends. Know the internet rules at the homes of your child’s friends. Ask their parents if they have blocked inappropriate internet sites. This may be uncomfortable at first, but most parents will be happy to know you care.
9. Fear. Don’t be afraid of being temporarily unpopular as you establish internet rules in your home. Your children may not like the changes, but ultimately they’ll thank you for it.
To be an internet-savvy parent you don’t have to be a computer whiz, you just have to be involved. Remember, safety on the internet is not a matter of trust; it’s a matter of understanding your child’s curiosity, setting limits, and establishing open communication. You can help your children grow up safely and take part in the positive aspects of all that the internet has to offer.
