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Internet safety has been a concern as soon as chatting and Internet social networking became available. Chatting began in the middle to late 1990s, while social networking has just widely became popular in the last few years. With social network websites like Facebook and MySpace, Internet safety has become a growing concern.
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The Internet is a wonderful tool for children and adults of all ages. There is a wide variety of websites and topics available for research, entertainment and even online jobs. While the Internet has many positive uses, it can be harmful if it is not used correctly. Some things that Internet users should be aware of is identity theft, online stalking, Internet bullying, children speaking to predators in chat rooms and child pornography.
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Keep the computer in an area where you can monitor your child's Internet usage.Some strategies parents should take to protect their children include bookmarking their favorite websites, monitoring Internet usage and email, blocking out chatrooms and keeping those websites password-protected, and teaching your child some of the ways that the Internet can be harmful. It is also a good idea to keep the home computer in an area where you can keep a close eye on your child, such as in the living room. Do not let a young child keep a computer with Internet access in their bedroom. If you must do so, install Internet safety tools, and block out the websites that you would not like your child to have access to. -
To protect children from online pornography, the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act was put into action. All websites require a privacy policy and requires a parent's permission to gain access to personal information such as a name, address, phone number and social security number.
There are also online programs that help block out possible dangerous websites that you can be installed on personal home computers. Some of the programs are K9 Web Protection and Net Nanny (see Resources below). Both are free for personal use. Individuals should also take caution to not post personal pictures of themselves or post any private information such as addresses, phone numbers, social security information or any other information that they would not feel comfortable sharing with strangers. -
Having Internet protection within your household will benefit both you and your family. By installing the appropriate protection tools and software, you can assured that you don't have to worry about an Internet predator harming your child or personal information being stolen from you. Take full advantage of any free Internet protection tools and any online safety courses that you can take so that you can learn what it takes to keep your household protected from the dangers of the Internet.
