Using the Internet at home or at school can be an excellent educational tool especially when it comes to reading and writing; however, it can also create havoc in the life of a child. Unfortunately, exposure to inappropriate material such as sex and violence, pedophiles, harassment, or fraud happens much too often. Parents and teachers must make it a point to encourage child safety on the Internet. The following information points to Internet guidelines as well as Web Sites that should prove useful to educators and parents in the fight to keep the Internet safe for our children.
First, several dos and don'ts must be followed to avoid potential trouble.
1. Don't give your password out to anyone (and yes, this includes best friends). Only a parent or teacher should be aware of the password.
2. Don't give out personal information such as your address, telephone number, parents' work address and phone number, name and location of school, and social security number.
3. Do tell your parent(s) or teacher immediately if anything makes you uncomfortable. Don't let anyone bully you into believing you cannot tell an adult about something that makes you uncomfortable.
4. Don't agree to get together with anyone you meet online without first checking with a parent. If you do get permission, it is advisable to meet in a public place with your parent present.
5. Do not send your picture to anyone without first asking parental permission.
**Remember, what someone tells you online may not be factual. Because you cannot hear or see the person you are chatting with, you may be unknowingly speaking with a 50-year-old man who is posing as a thirteen-year-old boy or even a thirteen-year-old girl.
***Report anything that makes you uncomfortable to a parent or teacher!
These guidelines are just the beginning. For a more comprehensive look at Internet safety guidelines look at Encarta Lesson Collection: Encarta Schoolhouse-- http://encarta.msn.com/schoolhouse/safet... This site presents 30 ways to make the Internet safe and fun.
Another good site is Child Safety Online http://www.cyberangels.org/safetyandpriv... This article suggests benefits and risks associated with the Internet as well as ways parents can get involved through Web site Blocking or Supervising.
For those of you with young children, Safe Kids http://www.safekids.com provides tips, advice, and suggestions to make your family online experience fun and productive. For teen safety, Safe Teens http://www.safeteens.com provides ways for teens to take care of themselves. Sure they are older and know the ways around the Internet, but it is said that teens 12-15 are victimized at a rate of 84% higher than the general population. Teens need help and advice to stay safe in cyberspace.
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