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Sunday, February 06, 2000 Page: 7A
Traveling on the Internet can be an amazing journey for children, but
parents must help guide them away from the dangers, computer safety experts
say.
The following tips were complied from various experts, publications and Web
sites dedicated to ensuring children’s online safety.
Monitor your child’s online activity. Join your child as they navigate
through the World Wide Web. Talk to them about what you believe are
appropriate and inappropriate Web sites. Know what sites they are visiting,
who their online friends are and who is sending them e-mail.
Use parental control features offered by major Internet service providers
that allow parents to limit a child’s access to chat rooms and offensive Web
sites.
Use filtering software that limits children’s access to Web sites. Three
major filtering programs are Cyber-Patrol, NetNanny and SurfWatch. For a
detailed description of each program, visit the Cyberangels Web site at
www.cyberangels.org.
Do not allow your child to list identifying personal information, such as
age, address or the school they attend, in their personal profile. Profiles
are files in which users of major Internet providers can list hobbies and
other personal information.
Place the computer in a family room rather than the child’s room so that
you can better monitor online activity.
Know your child’s password, but make sure they never reveal it to anyone
else.
Share your child’s e-mail account, or have their e-mail routed through
your account.
Set rules, such as time limits. Have your child sign an Internet safety
contract (visit www.getnetwise.org for a copy of a sample contract).
Make sure your child knows never to set up an in-person meeting with an
online friend unless you are present and it is in a public place.
Various organizations offer publications dedicated to Internet safety. The
following is list of helpful publications and Web sites.
Publications:
The Parents Guide to the Information Superhighway, published by The
Children’s Partnership: Obtain it free online at www.childrenspartnership.org.
To receive a copy by mail, send $5 to The Children’s Partnership, 1351 3rd
Street Promenade, Suite 206, Santa Monica, CA 90401.
Child Safety on the Information Highway, published by the National Center
for Missing and Exploited Children. You can order a free copy from the
center’s Web site at www.missingkids.com or write to the center at 2101 Wilson
Blvd., Suite 550, Arlington, VA 22201.
“The Parents Guide to Protecting Your Children In Cyberspace,” by Parry
Aftab, published by McGraw-Hill. Available at bookstores for $12.95, or order
a copy online through Amazon.com at a special price of $10.36
Web sites:
www.cyberangels.org – A nonprofit Internet group that provides a wide
variety of information and safety tips.
www.missingkids.com – Web site for the National Center for Missing and
Exploited Children. Provides a cyber-tipline for parents and children to
report any inappropriate activity or contact made through the Internet.
www.getnetwise.org – An Internet safety site developed by several Internet
service providers and groups. Provides a wide variety of information and
safety tips.
www.safesurfin.com – Provides safety tips for children of all ages. Also
offers an Internet “drivers test” to assess your child’s knowledge of
Internet safety.
www.safeteens.com and www.safekids.com – Provides a variety of articles
and information on Internet safety.
www.stalkingvictims.com – Provides advice to help prevent children and
adults from becoming stalking victims.