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We would never give our children the keys to the family car without driving instruction, but many parents allow their kids to merge onto the information superhighway without so much as a word of caution.
While today’s high-tech world offers teens and young adults many advantages, it has also created new dangers we cannot ignore. Just as we talk to our children about drugs, alcohol and stranger danger, we must also educate them about Internet safety.
According to the Highlights of the Youth Internet Safety Survey conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice, one in five minors (10 to 17 years old) receives unwanted sexual solicitations online1. Of course, older teens and adults are at risk too. With 68 percent of American adults (that’s about 137 million people) using the Internet, we all need to know how to protect ourselves online2.
Online social networking sites like Facebook.com (geared to college students) and Myspace.com (geared to teens) have become wildly popular in the past few years. They work quite simply. Founders send out messages inviting their friends to join the site. New members repeat the process, which creates a community. Sites then offer additional features like viewable profiles and blogs (web journals), and the ability to form new links through introductory services and other online forums3.
While there are many benefits to these sites (like communicating within peer groups and connecting with a more diverse group of individuals), they are still public forums, and users need to exercise caution. Share the following safety tips with your children -- those living at home and those away at school. These tips were adapted from www.blogsafety.com and www.safeteens.com - web sites operated by CBS technology consultant Larry Magid.
1. Keep Your Identity Private.
Do not give out your full name, mailing address, home or cell phone number, name of school, or any other information that could help someone determine your identity.
2. Do Not Get Together With Someone You Meet Online.
The biggest danger to your safety is physically meeting with someone you’ve met online. Remember, there is no way to know for certain if the person you are chatting with is who they say they are. Sadly, the Internet has become a fertile hunting ground for sex offenders and other dangerous people. Minors should never arrange a meeting with someone they’ve met online.
College students who want to meet other students they meet on social networking sites must exercise extreme caution. If they decide to meet someone they should always bring a friend along and arrange to get together in a busy public place like a coffee shop or mall that is familiar. They should also tell a third friend where they will be and when they expect to be home.
3. Never Respond To Messages That Are Hostile Or Inappropriate.
No one should respond to such a message. Encourage children who live at home to show these emails to you or to another trusted adult.
4. Set Online Ground Rules For Children That Live At Home.
Just as parents set limits for other things, there should be family rules about going online. Children should understand when they can go online, how long they can stay online, and what online activities their parents allow.
5. Check If Your Blogging Service Has A "Friends" List That Allows Control Over Who Can Visit Your Blog.
Only allow people you know and trust to visit your blog.
6. Think Twice Before Putting Personal Photographs On A Blog.
Do not post photos that make it easy for people to recognize you. You should never post photos that are suggestive or sexual in nature. Remember, anything posted on the Internet can be downloaded by others and can linger in cyberspace forever.
7. Avoid Postings That Could Embarrass You, Your Friends Or Family Members.
Whatever you post can be copied and stored and could come back to haunt you.
8. Frequently Check Comments To Your Blog.
Check the comments posted to your blog regularly and remove anything that is mean, threatening or embarrassing to you or others.
9. Do Not Lie About Your Age.
Do not lie about your age when you sign up for a blog. Age limitations are there for a reason.
Blogs, instant-messaging, chat rooms and text messages have become an integral part of the cultural landscape. Help your children navigate their online world with knowledge, confidence and common sense.
References:
1. From National Center for Missing and Exploited Children web site, www.missingkids.com
2. From the Pew Internet & American Life Project
3. From www.internetsafetyzone.com
Suggested links for more information:
Blogsafety.com
i-SAFE America Inc. -- The leader in Internet Safety Education
Net Family News
Internetsafetyzone.com
Safeteens.com | 
