7 Tips To Keep Your Kids Safe on the Internet

While my kids are not yet Internet savvy – though my oldest one has started pointing to my computer saying “no, myyyyy computer” – I came across a few tips on how to keep your kids safe on the internet and I think they are worth sharing. And it’s not just computers, it’s iPads, iPhones, iPods…

1. Teach online safety – Be sure that children know about online stranger danger: what to do if they come across a website or have an online conversation that makes them uncomfortable, and so on. Of course, your children will have to understand what “stranger” means and this is a harder task than one might think, especially when strangers can masquerade so easily on the web.
2. Provide a clear list of “don’ts” – Explain, for example, that children should never give out personal information such as their last name, address, city, phone number, siblings’ names, school name or parents’ workplaces.
3. Block inappropriate websites – You can automatically prevent access to sites that have been “blacklisted” because of objectionable content by using parental control software like InternetSafety.com’s Safe Eyes. Advanced programs let you select which website categories will be filtered (adult, alcohol, dating/personals, drugs, gambling, hate sites, pornography, profanity, sex, violence, weapons, etc.). You should also be able to block specific websites and/or keywords of your choice.
4. Explore the Web together – Spending time online with your children, whether visiting websites or Facebook or playing an online game, can help you steer them in the right direction and enable you to better understand their digital world. And, if your kid has his own Facebook page, be sure to become his friend!
5. Beware of ‘back door’ dangers – Sometimes an objectionable YouTube video will be sent by email or embedded on someone’s social networking page, or a peer-to-peer file sharing program like BitTorrent may have inappropriate photos or other objectionable material. This is another reason to monitor your children’s computer use.
6. Monitor ‘live’ communications such as chat and IM – Online sex offenders usually meet victims in chat rooms; cyberbullying often happens during IM sessions; and both can happen in either place. Some parental control software can block IM programs, save the full text of IM conversations, and alert parents if children post forbidden information. Good if you watch. Better if they know you watch. Best if you know they know you watch.
7. Encourage trouble reports – Children should feel comfortable coming to you if they encounter something or someone online that makes them feel uneasy or threatened. Be sure to applaud their honesty so that they will keep you informed of future problems.

Creating the right boundaries and giving your kids an appropriate level of freedom to explore is never easy. But following these tips will at least ensure you’re aware of what’s going on in your child’s life online.

photo credit: lastquest