Secure Zone Safety - Internet Safety

Internet Safety

There's no question that the Internet has provided an easy, convenient way for us to access information of all kinds as well as communicate. Unfortunately, there are also people out there who use the Internet for harm, particularly when it comes to children and teenagers. Learn how to keep them safe with Internet safety tips here.

Internet Safety Tips

You've probably taught your kids to "just say no" to drugs, and taught them all about "stranger danger." But have you taught them about Internet safety? Have you even thought about it yourself? Most of us use the Internet for information purposes, entertainment or to communicate with family and friends. Your kids do the same thing. But just as you would monitor what your kids watch on t.v., you need to monitor where they go on the Internet. Even more important--monitor who they talk to. Child molesters and sexual predators are using the Internet just like everyone else, but they are using it to try to lure children to them. Signs your child may be at risk include:

Your child is getting phone calls from men you don't know
Your child is getting gifts from a stranger
Your child becomes withdrawn
Your child spends a lot of time online at night
You find porn on your child's computer or on a disk
Your child quickly minimizes or changes screens when you enter the room

When you suspect that your child may be at risk of becoming a victim of a sexual predator, consider these Internet safety tips:

Talk to them about it openly and honestly. Explain the danger.
Tell your child not to reveal anything about themselves online. They should not give out their name, address or phone number to anyone and they should not describe what they look like or send anyone a picture of themselves.
Monitor your child's email and chat sessions. Online chat is a favorite tool of online predators.
If your child is getting suspicious phone calls, check the caller ID for the number. If you don't have caller ID, you might want to get it now.
Don't let a child have a computer in his bedroom. It's much easier to monitor his or her online activity if you're in the same room or you can walk by and check on what he or she is doing at any time.
Your Internet Service Provider probably offers parental controls, much like a V-chip on your television. Put these to use.

Internet safety is just as important as any other safety rules you've explained to your children. Make sure they understand that you are monitoring what they do to keep them safe, not to punish them. If you explain it right, Internet safety will become as natural to you and your child as breathing.