Surfing the web has become the #1 activity for teenagers these days. In a day and age where MySpace, Facebook and Digg are the teens top priority keeping them safe from predators has become increasingly difficult. Now predators are not people we can see. They have the ability to speak to our children and in most cases we do not even know. I know many parents who say "I trust my child when they are on the computer". Predators have the uncanny ability to gain the child's trust. Just because your child is trustworthy does NOT mean someone cannot get them to do something they shouldn't do. I would rather be safe then sorry wouldn't you? Below is a list of things you can do as parents to keep your children safe.
1. Your computer should be a in common area. Children should never have their own computer in their room. Put it in the living where you or your spouse can monitor the usage.
2. If your child is acting sneaky or anytime you walk by they are minimizing the screen chances are they are hiding something. Don't hesitate to get on and find out what they are up to.
3. Know who your teens are talking to. Monitor their instant messaging and who is emailing your children.
4. If your child has MySpace (you may not even know they do) be sure to check it. Only allow actual "friends they know" on their page. Encourage them to NOT add people they do not know on their page. Keep their user name and password handy so you can get on to check. Eric knows part of letting him have a MySpace page is that I always have the user name and password. Create a MySpace page yourself so you can monitor your child from that as well.
5. Get a firewall that can prevent them from going on sites that they shouldn't.
6. Find out if your Internet provider has parental locks and use them age appropriately.
7. Take a class if you are not up to date on computer workings to find out how to check the history of the computer. On every computer you can check to see what sites have been visited even if your teen is smart enough to delete them.
8. Do not allow your child to be on the computer when you are gone or sleeping.
9. Talk to you children about what information they can and cannot give out. Children do not understand how little of information a predator needs to find a child. Encourage them to not give out where they live, their school or their last name.
10. Encourage your teen to come to you if something that someone from online says makes them uncomfortable or doesn't seem right..
11. Strongly encourage them to NEVER meet anyone they do not know off the web.
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