Online Safety

If you bought or are planning to buy a desk for your childs computer, these tips will help you safely deal with your childs internet use. 

Web communication has evolved into many forms. Today, there are more ways for kids to give out information about themselves on the Web and potential dangers to navigate.  For your kids sake, you should educate yourself about how chat groups, chat rooms, instant messaging, email and blogging are used.  The following online safety tips will help you become more aware of possible pitfalls so you can keep your child safe. 

Safe search defaults

Recently, search engines have taken an initiative to lower the incidence of children being exposed to inappropriate material. They have installed "Safe-Search" defaults that you can use which are located near the search box. These defaults, however, can be easily altered.  So, be aware that dangers still remain even when you use a Safe Search default.

Filtering software

Installing filtering software on your machine is easy and economical.  The software can, however, filter out perfectly good sites. And don't think the software is 100% foolproof, because bad sites, albeit few in number, can break through.

Filtering software should not be a replacement for parenting. Speak with your child about what is inappropriate on the internet, how to avoid inappropriate sites, and to report anything out of the ordinary that comes up.

Computer placement

Where you put your computer is probably the most important decision you will make in regard to your childs online safety. Placing a childs computer desk with a PC in a kids room with no restrictions is asking for trouble. Ideally, a computer with internet access should be in or around a high traffic area and in open view.  Parents should have a "view anytime" policy when their kids are online.

Email

With email, it is nearly impossible to filter out spam - especially using web-based email offered by the major companies. While legislation to protect children and adults from dangerous emails has increased, there is still inappropriate material getting through and emails with viruses attached to them.

Personal email accounts

If you decide to let your child have an email account or address of their own, make sure they NEVER submit it to any web site, or email people they don't know. Predators scan sites directed at kids to get their email addresses.  Spammers also have programs that search web pages on message boards and guestbooks to collect email addresses. You should also know your childs ID and password to their email so you can check it anytime.

Guard against identity theft

Make sure to tell your child not to click on attachments or open any questionable email.  This can put you at risk for identity theft. 

Instant Messaging

As children move into the teen years, IM'ing (instant messaging) is nearly a social requisite!  Like email, IM'ing is another opening where predators and harmful viruses can get through.  It's important to follow these safety tips to keep your child and your computer safe while IM'ing.

1. Tell your child not to answer unsolicited IM's from people they don't know.

2. IM'ing is not a private conversation.  The monitor should be in clear view for parents to check messages.

3. Go through your childs Buddy List from time to time and ask them to identify each person on their list.

4. It's a good idea to limit your child to one or two personal IDs.

5. Change your childs IDs periodically.

6. Acquaint yourself with popular acronyms used.  A simple search of "popular IM acronyms" should give you plenty of information. 

Blogs

The term "Blog" is short for web log, which is basically an online diary.  It is essentially web publishing with a few short clicks and it is rapidly gaining popularity with teens. It is popular because the publisher can attach their favorite photos and music to the blog and their friends can subscribe to it.  Ask your child if they surf or use sites like these. Popular site are Xanga and Blogger.

If your child has a blog

If your child creates a blog, educate yourself about the various capabilities of the blog system used.  Make sure your child does not post their email address or IM handle, home address or phone number or most importantly photos of themselves on their blog.  It's also important to know who is subscribing to your childs blog.

Using these tips will help you and your child get the most out of their computer usage and their computer desk.

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