Protecting Your Children

We all have moments when we feel like the younger generation will always be one step ahead of us when it comes to computers. Their little minds soak up information like sponges, and their fingers fly across computer keys at a speed faster than most adults can even think. Maybe it is true that children will always be more computer literate than their parents, but it remains the case that, despite their technical talents, children need moral and safety guidance from a responsible adult online and in RL (real life).

The natural curiosity of children can have disastrous results when it comes to the dangerous content easily accessible on the World Wide Web. According to the White House Fact Sheet on Increasing Online Safety for America’s Children, about 30 million children and young people visit Internet sites each year. Included in this number is the stunning statistic that three-quarters of all children between 14 and 17 in the United States use the Internet. I think we all remember what we were like during this tumultuous age. Information, at least in my day, was hard to come by, and I would scour far and wide for subjects that interested me. With the kind of content easily available online these days, this extremely high 75% statistic is a warning to parents that they must “chat” with their kids on the subject of Internet safety.

In 2001, 1 in 5 children between the ages of 10 and 17 were assaulted with a sexual solicitation online. As most people know, cyberpredators are a growing threat in the online world today. While government agents are cracking down on cyberpredators (Dateline’s “To Catch a Predator” is a famously televised example), the optimal way to fight against this cyber crime is by having a serious talk with your children about the potential dangers of the Internet.

How do I know if my child is at risk?
Any child who uses the Internet unsupervised is at risk for being contacted by a cyberpredator. If your child is spending long hours online (especially at night), receiving strange phone calls from numbers you don’t recognize, receiving strange letters or packages in the mail, or you find suspicious files on your computer after your child has been online, your child may be in contact with a cyber predator.

How can I take positive steps to ensure my child’s safety?

Have a frank discussion with your child about Internet danger. Answer questions openly and honestly.
Go online with your child. As you navigate the pages of the World Wide Web, allow your children to teach you what they do on the Internet. Express an interest in their online interests, and keep an eye out for potential dangers.
Keep your computer in a common room of the house, placing the computer screen in a position that is easily viewable to the rest of the household.
Use parental controls on your child’s Internet browser. Parental controls will help you keep tabs on what your child sees and does while online.
Remind your child that he or she should never meet face to face someone they meet online. Also be sure to remind them that not everything they read or see online is necessarily true. Children should NEVER give out their home address or phone number online.

Cyberpredators are a real danger today, but with the right preparation, you can ensure that your child can protect him or herself from harm. The key to protection is knowledge on Internet dangers, so be sure that your child is as informed as he or some needs to be.