Internet safety for parents

The internet is a great place and can provide a wealth of information if used safely and carefully.

However, it is important that you take the time to talk with your child and go through the ‘online safety rules’ with them and the reasons behind them.

Below is information on how to make this a fun and enjoyable experience for you and your child whilst minimizing the potential risks and dangers.

It is recommended that you:

• Have your computer in an open room with the monitor on clear display for you to see and monitor the length of time your child is online.
• Discuss with your child importance of never revealing any personal information. Children may feel that they are not revealing too much personnel information – in their mind personnel information may be their name, address, phone number etc. Take the time to explain to them that even if they just gave their first name and the name of the school then it would be easy for predators to track them down.
• Have the appropriate parental blocks on the computer and discuss the reasoning behind this.
• Take the time to discuss the possibilities that the person your child thinks they are chatting with may not be telling the truth about who they are. Sexual predators will use photographs of teenagers and pass them off as themselves to lure your child into a false sense of security.
• Be aware of changes in your child’s behavior- if they become sullen, secretive about their computer use, requesting that the computer be moved into their bedroom.
• Watch for the sudden use of headsets. Sexual predators will suggest this so that their conversations will not be overheard.
• Remind them that everything they post online will be out there forever and will never be deleted. Don’t put anything up you don’t mind the whole world seeing!
• That they must leave a chat room if there is anything they hear or see that makes them feel uncomfortable or scared and tell a responsible adult right away.
• If they are using a web cam that they are aware of what they are wearing and the angle of the camera, if the camera is not switched on that it is facing a wall or pointing down and that there is nothing in the background that highlights to anyone their physical location or personal information.
• Remind them to have respect and dignity for themselves and otherswhen online.
• Look for new phone numbers which appear on your phone bill repeatedly.
• Take an active role in your child’s internet activity ask them to give you their password and username. Explain why you would want this information for example if anything were to happen to them.
• Inform them that when they are creating a username or screen name that they incorporate numbers and letters that in the name there is nothing to indicate their sex.
• Advise them to have different screen names and usernames so that if they have to leave a chat room in a hurry the person can’t trace them.
• Communication is vital between you and your child. Openly discuss the different chat rooms they use, topics of conversations etc.
• Whilst it is advisable that you do not encourage your child to meet with anyone they come into contact with online if you do agree to this there are important guidelines that you should discuss with your child prior to them meeting them. Discuss appropriate locations – always a public place, they do not meet them alone but if they do you need to know the location of the meeting, times they are meeting and what time they will be home.

There are several steps that you as a parent can take to ensure their personal safety whilst they are "surfing".

Parental controls software is available through your service provider which allows you to control websites and chat rooms that your child can view and has access to.

Filtering programs can block specific websites and op-ups from coming through and restrict the amount of personal information that can be sent online.

Additionally programs and software is available to monitor and track online activity.

For additional information on online safety please take a few moments to look at www.kinsa.net