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Child
Safety on the Information Highway
Guidelines
for Parents
By
taking responsibility for your children's online computer use,
parents can greatly minimize any potential risks of being
online.
Make
it a family rule to:
- Never
give out identifying information -- home address, school
name, or telephone number -- in a public message such as
chat or bulletin boards, and be sure you're dealing with
someone that both you and your child know and trust before
giving it out via E-mail. Think carefully before revealing
any personal information such as age, marital status, or
financial information. Consider using a pseudonym or
unlisting your child's name if your service allows it.
- Get
to know the services your child uses. If you don't know how
to log on, get your child to show you. Find out what types
of information it offers and whether there are ways for
parents to block out objectionable material.
- Never
allow a child to arrange a face-to-face meeting with another
computer user without parental permission. If a meeting is
arranged, make the first one in a public spot, and be sure
to accompany your child.
- Never
respond to messages or bulletin board items that are
suggestive, obscene, belligerent, threatening, or make you
feel uncomfortable. Encourage your children to tell you if
they encounter such messages. If you or your child receives
a message that is harassing, of a sexual nature, or
threatening, forward a copy of the message to your service
provider and ask for their assistance.
- Should
you become aware of the transmission, use, or viewing of
child pornography while online, immediately report this to
the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children by
calling 1-800-843-5678. You should also notify your online
service.
- Remember
that people online may not be who they seem. Because you
can't see or even hear the person it would be easy for
someone to misrepresent him- or herself. Thus, someone
indicating that "she" is a "12-year-old
girl" could in reality be a 40-year-old man.
- Remember
that everything you read online may not be true. Any offer
that's "too good to be true" probably is. Be very
careful about any offers that involve your coming to a
meeting or having someone visit your house.
- Set
reasonable rules and guidelines for computer use by your
children (see "My Rules for Online Safety" below
as a sample). Discuss these rules and post them near the
computer as a reminder. Remember to monitor their compliance
with these rules, especially when it comes to the amount of
time your children spend on the computer. A child or
teenager's excessive use of online services or bulletin
boards, especially late at night, may be a clue that there
is a potential problem. Remember that personal computers and
online services should not be used as electronic
babysitters.
- Be
sure to make this a family activity. Consider keeping the
computer in a family room rather than the child's bedroom.
Get to know their "online friends" just as you get
to know all of their other friends.
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