Keeping children safe on Internet
The Internet has changed the world in many great ways: web browsing, e-mail, on-line dictionaries and encyclopedias, and news coverage, to name a few. Unfortunately, there’s a dark side: child predators, easy access to pornography, cyber-bullying, and much more. These things can be happening to your child right now. In 2006, an iSAFE.org survey showed that 4 out of 10 students have been bullied online. One out of four students said they have been bullied more than once. If this is happening to your children, they might be afraid to tell you – so you need to investigate. If they do tell you something bad is happening to them, just stay calm, take the lead, and work together to solve the problem.
Children and teens are out of school for summer and (especially teens) will probably be unsupervised at your home and friends’ houses a lot more. As a father, you must take the lead and be ready to protect your children and teens from the dangers of the Internet. Here are eight great ways to keep your children safe:
1. Know what’s happening on the Internet. Be aware of new dangers as they arise. Watch the news and go to Web sites such as www.iSAFE.org, www.NetSmartz.org, and www.WebWiseKids.org to learn how to protect your children.
2. Spend time on the computer with your children or teens. Let them teach you what they know about computers and the Internet. Ask questions! What do they do online? What Web sites do they visit?
3. Become your children’s “friend” or “follower” on Facebook, Myspace, Twitter or any other sites they use. If they refuse to approve your friend request, then take away all Internet privileges until they change their minds.
4. Tell your children clearly what is OK and not OK to do on the computer. Talk with them about child predators posing as Internet “friends.” For small children, say something like: “There are people on the Internet who could hurt you if they know where we live.” Either your children will hear these warnings from you, or no one at all.
5. Speak directly with the parents of your children’s friends. Ask where they keep their computer(s) and if they let their own children have computer time alone. You may need to decide not to let your children go to homes where they are not well supervised.
6. Keep your own computer in the living or family room of the house. Make it public enough that you can see the screen and hear the speakers. Your children will test any rules you make, so be consistent in disciplining them when they break the rules.
7. Keep your children from using the computer when you’re not around. Put a login password on it. Take the power cable and modem wires with you when you leave the house (if it’s that bad). Unplug these wires from the wall outlets first and then remove them from the back of the computer tower. Are the wires hard to reach? Move the computer tower to the desktop surface!
8. Install parental control software. It prevents your children from seeing most harmful sites and keeps a log of the sites they view and everything they type on the keyboard. This software can even e-mail you when someone’s looking at a bad site on your computer.
We recommend you do as many of these ideas as you can, but above all spend time with your children while they are on the Internet and learn from them directly. The more “computer savvy” you are, the safer your children will be. And it’s up to you to protect them. Go for it.
Seth W. Caton is the father of two young boys. Caton is the outreach and recruitment specialist for Dads Matter of Fayette County, a responsible fatherhood education program. Dads Matter is a department of the Private Industry Council of Westmoreland/Fayette, Inc. The opinions expressed and suggestions offered are based upon the professional preparation and life experiences of the author. If you should need additional support you may wish to see a licensed counselor or family psychologist.
Dads Matter services are available to all eligible persons, regardless of race, gender, age, disability, or religion. Participation is FREE and strictly voluntary. Funding is provided by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Grant: 90FR0075/04. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families.
Questions/Comments can be addressed to “Dads Matter” in care of the Herald Standard.