INTERNET SAFETY
BE SAFE ONLINE
Did you know there are over 76 million of you on the internet? As more and more families are becoming internet users at home, it is important to know that the internet community, has safe and unsafe places, just as any local community. The internet has infinite possibilities and it is easy to get lost. Sometimes when you are lost you discover wonderful new places, but just as easily you can find yourself in a dangerous situation. You must protect yourself from the pitfalls lurking online. Here are some good suggestions to follow so your time spent on the internet is productive and safe.
For Students:
There are some very important things that you need to keep in mind when you're on your computer at home or at school.
* First, remember never to give out personal information such as your name, home address, school name, or telephone number in a chat room or on bulletin boards. Also, never send a picture of yourself to someone you chat with on the computer without your parent's permission.
* Never write to someone who has made you feel uncomfortable or scared.
* Do not meet someone or have them visit you without the permission of your parents.
* Tell your parents right away if you read anything on the Internet that makes you feel uncomfortable.
* Remember that people online may not be who they say they are. Someone who says that "she" is a "12-year-old girl" could really be an older man.
For Parents:
*Communicate, and talk to your child about sexual victimization and potential on-line danger.
* Spend time with your children on-line. Have them teach you about their favorite on-line destinations.
* Keep the computer in a common room in the house, not in your child's bedroom. It is much more difficult for a computer-sex offender to communicate with a child when the computer screen is visible to a parent or another member of the household.
*Utilize parental controls provided by your service provider and/or blocking software. While electronic chat can be a great place for children to make new friends and discuss various topics of interest, it is also prowled by computer-sex offenders. Use of chat rooms, in particular, should be heavily monitored. While parents should utilize these mechanisms, they should not totally rely on them.
*Always maintain access to your child's on-line account and randomly check his/her e-mail. Be aware that your child could be contacted through the U.S. Mail. Be up front with your child about your access and reasons why.
* Teach your child the responsible use of the resources on-line. There is much more to the on-line experience than chat rooms.
* Find out what computer safeguards are utilized by the public library, and at the homes of your child's friends. These are all places, outside your normal supervision, where your child could encounter an on-line predator.
* Understand, even if your child was a willing participant in any form of sexual exploitation, that he/she is not at fault and is the victim. The offender always bears the complete responsibility for his or her actions.
*Instruct your children:
*to never arrange a face-to-face meeting with someone they met on- line;
*to never upload (post) pictures of themselves onto the Internet or on-line service to people they do not personally know;
*to never give out identifying information such as their name, home address, school name, or telephone number;
*to never download pictures from an unknown source, as there is a good chance there could be sexually explicit images;
*to never respond to messages or bulletin board postings that are suggestive, obscene, belligerent, or harassing;
*that whatever they are told on-line may or may not be true. |
