More Points To Ponder - Internet Safety
What parents need to know
Keeping children safe online means teaching them to be smart, responsible users of the Internet. Click on an age group to see tips from WiredSafety.org’s Parry Aftab.
Teach your children to:
Think before they click: With whom are they chatting or e-mailing, what are they saying and how are they saying it? Will the person on the other end know they are joking?
Walk away from the computer and “Take 5” before responding to something that upsets them online.
Avoid spreading rumors, assisting in cyberbullying or sharing private communications online.
Follow the golden rule of cyberspace: Don’t do anything online you wouldn’t do in real life!
Follow responsible safety practices yourself:
Install spyware and adware blocking software on your computer
Make sure you have a working firewall
Install anti-virus software and update it regularly
Take advantage of spam-blocking tools offered by your Internet provider or e-mail software
Use filtering or parental control technologies. Block everything that isn’t pre-approved, rather than just filtering out the “bad” sites.
Think about whether your children really need e-mail or IM, and if you determine they do: block all communications from anyone other than pre-approved senders and make sure their buddy list is no longer than the age of the child and that you know (in real life) everyone on it.
Bookmark their favorite Web sites so they won’t mistype them and end up at a “bad” site.
Use kid-sized search engines such as Yahooligans and Ask Jeeves for Kids.
Limit their online time to no more than a 1/2 hour a day, unless they have a special project for school.
Check with their teachers often for suggested Web sites and for recommendations for good resources online.
Don’t let them use interactive games, such as X-Box Live or Sony Playstation network yet. Try Toontown.com instead.
Sit down with them as often as possible and find out where they go online, what they like and ask or answer any questions.
Tell them to get your permission before posting any content, including profiles and blogs, to a Web site or sending it via e-mail or IM.
Look for safe site lists you can trust. Check out WiredKids.org’s approved safe sites list.
Raise the bar on filtering or parental control technologies if you find they are complaining or are locked out of school-recommended sites. Or make sure that you use a product that will them send you an e-mail at work to let you unblock a particular site. (MSN has this feature.)
If you add IM, make sure only pre-approved senders can send your child an IM.
Use a pop-up blocker or toolbar (like Google’s), an antivirus program and a spyware remover (this begins the age of dangerous downloads).
Keep using the Yahooligans and Ask Jeeves for Kids search engines.
Make sure that they understand what information can and can’t be shared online with anyone.
Practice chatting online with them so they know how to handle strangers they encounter online.
Consider using a monitoring software to be able to review what they are saying and doing.
Keep a close eye out for spyware in case they accidentally corrupt the files on the computer. Back everything up!
Limit online time (aside from special school projects) to under an hour a day (including all IM and text-messaging time).
Raise the bar on parental controls and filtering programs.
Start using full-sized search engines with filters applied (check their advanced settings) or use a toolbar (Google’s comes preset with a medium filter).
Teach them not to divulge personal information and double-check their IM “away messages” to make sure they’re not posting their cell phone numbers there.
Make sure they can’t share pictures online, or set up profiles or blogs or webcams without your okay.
Web sites they build should be reviewed carefully, as should screen names.
Without going into details, warn them against predators – tell them you are concerned about people showing up at the house.
Give them privacy as long as it is with people you trust.
Block all but pre-approved senders.
Interactive games should still be limited to Toontown.com and other kid-approved sites.
Google their name, screen names, address, and telephone numbers at least once a week. Many kids post nasty things about others at this age.
Make sure that you control the family account password and have their passwords too. Lock your private files with a password they don’t know. Change all passwords often.
In addition to watching for spyware, search your computer regularly for images (porn or of your kids), and any music, movie or media files you don’t know about.
Watch early media piracy, teach them not to steal online or offline.
Get them started in online safety education, check out WiredKids.org or internetsuperheroes.org. Check out starting a tweenangel chapter at your local school. (For more information visit teenangels.org).
If they have a cell phone, make sure you know its ability to play games and download images and software. Think about limiting their cell phone usage in a way that shuts it down when they exceed it, instead of just charging you extra.
Respect their privacy more and talk with them about their online experiences.
Filter sites that are inappropriate for young teens, instead of blocking all but approved sites. Some bad ones will get through, though. So talk about it beforehand.
Give them more leeway on people they can accept IMs or e-mails from. But check and account for everyone, in real life, on their buddy list. No friends of friends.
Make sure you filter or block image searches, which are often a way around many filters.
Block peer-to-peer technologies and get your kids an account with iTunes or another legal music download site.
Teach them to guard their passwords. Password theft is a serious problem at this age.
Teach them not to pirate software or motion pictures.
Have them Google themselves often: screen names, telephone and cell numbers, addresses, full names, nicknames, etc.
Try and limit their use of chatrooms to monitored chatrooms or themed chatrooms on safe topics.
Limit their online use (including text-messaging) to under 90 minutes a day aside from a special school project).
Keep them out of social network or online dating sites such as xanga.com, friendster.com or match.com.
Talk to them about not meeting strangers offline, and agree to go with them or teach them large group safe meeting tips (see wiredteens.org).
Buy girls a copy of “A Girl’s Life Online” (formerly known as “Katie.com”) to read.
Keep the computer in a central location and watch new interactive devices such as cell phones, text messaging devices and interactive gaming devices, like Xbox Live. Use parental controls if they come with them – Xbox does, for example.
Consider setting up a teenangels.org chapter, or starting an online safety club at their school. (Visit Internetsuperheroes.org for available free materials.)
All bets are off. If they have earned your trust, give it to them. If not, unplug the computer and take away their cell phones and interactive gaming devices.
If you haven’t taught them what they need to know by now, we’re all in trouble.
Focus on teaching them to be responsible cybercitizens and to use the filter between their ears.
Emphasize again the risks of sharing personal information and meeting strangers offline.
Make sure they Google themselves often and report what they find.
Teach them to use anti-virus software, to not believe everything they read online and to respect others. Check for adware or spyware often, use a firewall and teach them to come to you if anything goes wrong online.
Ask them to help keep their younger brothers and sisters safe online.
Remind them that you’re still around if they need your help.
Source: Parry Aftab/WiredSafety.org© 2007 MSNBC.com URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11030746/