5 Tips to Protect Your Children Online
As a responsible parent, you know that if something is bad for your children, you take it away from them. Sadly, sometimes solving the problem is not that easy.
The Internet can be an unsafe place for young people. However, it can also provide a valuable source of research for schoolwork, and a way for your children to stay in touch with friends and family members around the world. The educational and socializing benefits far outweigh the dangers, but those dangers aren't going away.
Too many parents don't know who their children are corresponding with online, and sometimes the children don't know either. The perceived anonymity of the Internet has emboldened sexual predators to freely stalk potential victims, under the guise of a schoolmate or a person of the same age who shares your children's interests in music, hobbies, etc. Some will immediately try to engage in a sexual conversation and try to arrange a meeting, while others will devote weeks - and even months - to luring one victim into a dangerous situation.
Many websites have tried to restrict access to some users when appropriate, and firewalls and security programs have helped limit access to material children should not see on websites and search engines, but these systems are not foolproof. And while social sites have tried to impede communication between children and adult strangers who may pose a threat, there's no way to know for certain if members are representing themselves accurately in their online profiles.
Fortunately, technology and awareness have caught up with the crisis. By following these five tips, parents can feel more secure about the time their children spend online.
1. Keep the Computer in an Open Area
It is easier to monitor your children's online activities if they are working in a high-traffic area of your home. If the child is using the computer in the living room or the family room, he or she will be less likely to engage in online behavior that could be dangerous. In a home with a lot of children, where distractions from a television or siblings might make it difficult for a child to do their homework or conduct online research, you may consider locating the computer in that child's bedroom, but insist that he or she keep the door open while they're online. Be wary if your child changes the screen when you enter the room, or if he or she spends several hours a day on the Internet.
2. Monitor Your Child's Online Activities
Most children have an assortment of web sites that they visit on a regular basis. As a parent you should find out what these sites are and if they're appropriate for children. You can find these sites in the Internet browser's history files, or on a list of bookmarks or favorite sites. You can also buy monitoring software to track a child's online activities.
Monitoring Internet usage is just one part of the equation. It is also necessary to oversee email, instant messaging and chat room usage, to get a sense of who your child is corresponding with and whether he or she actually knows them.
3. Set Boundaries
Certain online activities should either be forbidden or performed only with your specific consent. Make sure your child knows not to give out his age, address, phone number, or other personal information, including where they go to school or where they like to play. Help your child set up their profile on social networking sites so they do not give out any information that they shouldn't. If they have to create a login name for a site, make sure they choose one that is appropriate. Don't let your child send their photo to anyone they (and you) do not know.
4. Keep the Lines of Communication Open
Make sure your children know they can come to you with questions or concerns about anything they find on the Internet, or if someone says something to them that makes them frightened or uncomfortable. Also, make sure they know that everything they read online is not necessarily accurate. If you suspect your child has already had online contact with a sexual predator, report your suspicions to law enforcement or the National Center For Missing and Exploited Children's Cyber Tipline.
Be aware that changes in "real world" behavior and activities can also be traced back to the Internet. If your child receives phone calls, mail, gifts, or packages from someone you don't know, get to the bottom of the situation immediately.
5. Use eGuardian to Protect your Children's Online Activity
Parental controls and site blocking software offer some protection, but they are not foolproof. With the eGuardian system, children receive only safe, age-appropriate content. The system also blocks pornography sites, and allows popular search engines to automatically filter search results for the age of the child visitor.
The eGuardian application, which runs on any Windows- or Mac-based computer, verifies the age of a child offline. Each child is given a unique eGuardian ID that cannot be compromised. The application blocks contact with predators by allowing children to interact online only with other eGuardian-verified children. As a result, it would no longer be possible for an adult cyber-predator to pose as a teenager on MySpace or any other social networking site.