When use of the internet first became widespread, many people were concerned about online safety.  Although this is still a concern, we sometimes forget to remind the younger generation that the internet can sometimes be even more dangerous than the outside world.

Online predators know how and where to look for young people on the internet and they really don’t have to try very hard to find potential victims.  Myspace and Facebook are both full of profiles that are not set to private, and details of their whereabouts are casually left out there for anyone’s perusal. 

It’s time to get back to basics and remind our children that though the web can be a fun place to get online, chat with friends, and network, they still must think of safety.  In order to do this, you must take charge and know what your kids are doing when they are on the internet.  They may not like it, but they will thank you down the road.

Know What Your Kids are Doing Online

Seemingly harmless internet posting and chatting can quickly go awry.  Know what sites your kids are visiting and monitor their activity on the internet.  Trust is something that must be earned, especially if your kids are going out of the way to conceal their activities online.

Create Parental Control Settings

If you start doing this when your children are young, they will get used to it and it shouldn’t be a problem.  Restricted sites will require you to grant your children permission or access before they are allowed to log on and used any questionable sites.

Discuss the Benefits and Dangers of Using the Web

Kids may not like the feeling of being controlled, but they may feel a little better about things once they understand the rationale behind your actions.  There are many great benefits that come from knowing how to use the internet effectively, but just as in the real world, there are dangers as well.  Not only can physical harm come from these dangers, but emotional and even system damage to your computer can occur as a result of dealing with malicious users.

 
 

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