Online Fourms and Chat Rooms
Does your child understand that listing their real name, address,
telephone number or information like the school they attend can be
potentially dangerous if the wrong person decides to get in contact with
them?
Do they realize that although the forum or chat room is SUPPOSED to be for
children there are possibly adults pretending to be children in order to
take advantage of them?
While you do not want to unduly frighten your children it would be more
terrifying if you found out that they had been in contact with a pedophile
and they did not know how to tell you about it.
Give them rules. Here are some you may want
to discuss with your child(ren):
1) NEVER give out your name, address, telephone number or picture.
NEVER agree to meet someone you met online without your parent's approval.
2) REMEMBER you are speaking in a public area – other people may
read what you write.
3) REFUSE to enter a private chat room. These rooms are closed off
to the public and your child may be lured in by an adult trying to seduce
them.
4) Encourage them to TELL you what goes on. Just as you would
monitor who they spend time with after school or what TV programs they
watch – you want them to feel comfortable telling you about their online
friends.
5) LIMIT the amount of time they spend online. While talking with
friends about sports, fashion or other interests may be fun it is not
wholly productive for children to spend hours online chatting. It is also
more likely that they will investigate sites or forums that are unsuitable
for children. Curiosity may lure them in over their heads.
6) Have the computer in a PUBLIC area of the home. This will
protect your children more than any software program. Check on them
occasionally just to see what they are doing.
7) INFORM them about Spam and other email that looks suspicious. If
they are not sure tell them to ask you before opening it.
8) Tell them never to engage in
FLAMING. Flaming is an attack on another person who is posting. It is both
emotional and uncontrolled – often due to the power of anonyminity that
exists online. Children have been bullied by other children from school or
elsewhere (called cyberbulling) and it can be devastating. Remind your
child to show manners to others and be careful how they respond.
9) Check the HISTORY of their online surfing if you are concerned.
It is good to let your child know that you will occasionally check this
out as a protection for them.
10) Use a POP-UP BLOCKER. Sometimes windows open up that advertise
pornography or other disturbing images. Make sure you use a pop-up
blocking program to protect yourself and your family from this unwelcome
exposure.
Even with the previous suggestions you can further secure your child's
online experience by looking for organizations like WiredKids.org – these
teams provide safe chat supervision to children and teens at WiredKidz.org
and WiredTeens.org.
Not only are these areas supervised (although following the above rules is
still necessary) but they teach young ones about safe communication, how
to use the Internet and other methods of communications responsibly.
They also provide information on cyberbullying, cyberstalking, flaming and
more. If your child has been a victim you can use their resources to find
the information and support you need to fight back.
Continue to Next Subject:
Reminder
