Safety Internet for Family

How to Keep Your Kids Safe on the Internet

The internet is a powerful tool that has completely revolutionised the way we do business, communication and entertainment. Like any powerful tool, however, it can be used for harm or good, depending on the motivations of the person utilising it. Children in particular are exposed to some very serious threats on the internet. It is important to take precautions that will enhance their healthy use of it, and safeguard them from its harmful influences.

Password protection. Care should be exercised when storing passwords that are written down. Passwords should never be kept in wallets, purses or backpacks. Storing them in folders on computers is also not safe because criminals tend to search there first. Passwords should never be sent via email or in response to a request in an email message. Public computers are best used for anonymous web browsing, and not for any activity that requires the use of a personal password. If the computer is not used by known and trusted individuals exclusively, personal details should be withheld from it.

Keeping Your Kids Safe on the Internet

Your kids are online. And more than likely, you probably aren’t aware of what they are doing online. You’re not up to speed on MySpace (frankly, something that I just don’t get but, I do have a page on MySpace), Instant messaging (which can be a great substitute for high cell phone or long distance bills), file-sharing, or anything else that is “hip” with the kids these days. (Yes, I just used the term “hip”. Be glad it wasn’t “rad” or “awesome”.)

It’s ok for your kids to be online. Don’t think that by preventing them access to the internet that you are going to protect them from the evil that lurks in the dark places frequented by strange, middle-age men that never see the light of day and play online role-playing games for 30 or 40 hours straight. Don’t think that by blocking access to the internet that you kids are going to be just the most wonderful little children and stay away from the evil Internet even when they are not at home.

Child Safe Internet Use

Child safe internet use is wise. The internet is not inherently dangerous. This is not to say that the internet does not carry threats. It can be quite threatening however it is only a safety problem if the internet is not used wisely. It is therefore important for parents to monitor the use of the internet and to educate children on safety and privacy issues.

For child safe internet use there are a number of issues parents need to be concerned about. There are at least six main issues to consider. These include the amount of overall computer use; websites that are not principled and include violence, hate groups and pornography; internet predators; online abuse and bullying; privacy issues and the likelihood of young people divulging confidential stuff; and downloading viruses and other malicious software.

Responsible parents will implement child safe internet policies. This will of course take in to account the age and maturity of your children. This policy could include the use of parental controls and enabling the child to use their wisdom to decide on a reasonable amount of time they could be online for. This later point empowers the child and endorses a parent’s trust in a child. It leads to negotiation and mature discussion.

Safety Internet for Family

Keeping Your Kids Safe on the Internet

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