Nowadays, it is a common sight to see that every household has a computer. It is also common to be hooked up to the internet and everyone in the house can surf the World Wide Web. Hence, children accessing the computer are exposed to the dangers of the internet. I gleaned the information below from a locally published newspaper which I found very useful.
Children’s Internet Safety Tips
- Do not give out personal information like your name, home address, school name, school address or parent’s name.
- Do not create online profiles that normally request for personal information.
- Do not visit or join chat rooms without parental consent.
- Do not meet online friends in a private online situation. Get parental guidance when doing so.
- Do not visit new Websites without parental consent.
- Do not send, post or receive pictures through the internet.
- Do not reply to any instant messages or to unknown emails or postings.
Parent’s Internet Safety Tips
- Do not place a computer in your child’s room. Place it in high-traffic areas.
- Educate your child on the safety tips above.
- Install screening software in all the computers.
- Do not allow your child to spend a long time on the computer and it is necessary to monitor them often.
- Instruct your child to refer to you if he ever encounters ‘obscene, suggestive, strange, or threatening emails or messages.’
- Be alert when your child tells you something unusual that he learned through the internet.
- Go through unfamiliar emails or messages or postings that your child receives.
- Children tend to forget easily, therefore post the above safety rules beside the computer.