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What are the Risks for
Children Online?
While the Internet is fundamentally a great place for children, there are
some areas of cyberspace that are not appropriate, just as there are areas
in almost every city that are inappropriate for children. There are also
certain activities on the Internet that may be appropriate for adults but
not for children, and areas that are suitable for some children and not for
others. That's why we wrote this guide: to help parents decide what areas
are right for their own children.
While you're making those decisions it helps to remember there are many
viewpoints on the Internet. How a Web site or activity looks from within one
family is very different from the way it's viewed by a whole society -- or a
whole world, for that matter. The Internet is a global medium. Online
activities that may be distasteful to almost anyone who cares about children
may also be protected by free speech and other laws in the United States.
Other Net activities -- like child pornography or the attempted luring of a
child to a face-to-face meeting -- are illegal in many, but not all,
countries.
Keeping children safe on
the Internet is everyone's job.
- Parents need to stay in close touch with
their kids as they explore the Internet.
- Teachers need to help students use the
Internet appropriately and safely.
- Community groups, including libraries,
after-school programs, and others should help educate the public about safe
surfing.
Kids and teens need to
learn to take responsibility for their own behavior -- with guidance from their
families and communities. It's not at all uncommon for kids to know more about the Internet and
computers than their parents or teachers. If that's the case in your home or
classroom, don't despair. You can use this as an opportunity to turn the
tables by having your child teach you a thing or two about the Internet. Ask
her where she likes to go on the Internet and what she thinks you might
enjoy on the Net. Get your child to talk with you about what's good and not
so good about his Internet experience. Also, no matter how Web-literate your
kid is, you should still provide guidance. You can't automate good
parenting.
TOOLS FOR PARENTS
Parents often wish there was a "fool-proof"
solution for protecting kids on the Internet. Of course there is no perfect
way to protect kids -- online or anywhere else.
The right safety solutions on the Internet are the
ones that best fit families' values and circumstances. A number of software
tools exist, which one is best for you depends on your individual needs.
To help you through the process, go to the following link:
http://www.getnetwise.org/tools/
Get Net Wise is a great site with lots of information and
resources.
REPORTING TROUBLE
If there is an immediate threat of harm to you or your child, call 911, as
with similar emergencies offline.
In other cases contact your local police department for assistance.
There are some very important things that you need to keep
in mind when you're on your computer at home or at school.
- First, remember never to give out personal information
such as your name, home address, school name, or telephone number in a chat
room or on bulletin boards. Also, never send a picture of yourself to someone
you chat with on the computer without your parent's permission.
- Never write to someone who has made you feel
uncomfortable or scared.
- Do not meet with someone you have meet online or have
them visit you.
- Tell your parents right away if you read anything on
the Internet that makes you feel uncomfortable.
- Remember that people online may not be who they say
they are. Someone who says that "she" is a "12-year-old girl" could really be
an older man.
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