Peep This*…
Internet Safety
Protecting Our
Children In Today’s
Technological World
*Translation: Listen to this, I’ve got some interesting news
.
Internet Safety
Protecting Our
Children In Today’s
Technological World
*Translation: Listen to this, I’ve got some interesting news
.
The Internet is Here To Stay!
All of us know that the internet is a fact of
modern life.
We use it for communicating with friends,
business, online shopping, research,
homework, gaming, just “surfing”.
Children and teens use the web the same
way we do and are probably more adept
than we are. They may use cell-phones,
forums, chat rooms, blogs, social
networking places like My SpaceTM and
FaceBooktm, , internet cafes. The fact is,
children and teens spend many hours a day
on the web: at the library, at school, at the
homes of friends and at home.
As important and good as the internet is
there are very real dangers especially for
children and teens. They can become
victims of internet predators, individuals
who lurk on the web waiting to take
advantage of young “surfers”.
Today, internet access exists on cell phones,
MP3 players of all kinds and in game
systems. What’s a parent to do? How can
we keep our children safe?
All of us know that the internet is a fact of
modern life.
We use it for communicating with friends,
business, online shopping, research,
homework, gaming, just “surfing”.
Children and teens use the web the same
way we do and are probably more adept
than we are. They may use cell-phones,
forums, chat rooms, blogs, social
networking places like My SpaceTM and
FaceBooktm, , internet cafes. The fact is,
children and teens spend many hours a day
on the web: at the library, at school, at the
homes of friends and at home.
As important and good as the internet is
there are very real dangers especially for
children and teens. They can become
victims of internet predators, individuals
who lurk on the web waiting to take
advantage of young “surfers”.
Today, internet access exists on cell phones,
MP3 players of all kinds and in game
systems. What’s a parent to do? How can
we keep our children safe?
Some Sobering Facts
About 18% of children over 10 years of
age have been sexually approached or
solicited online.
75% of these children did not tell their
parents they had been solicited.
80% of those solicitations happened in
the child’s home.
What Can You Do?
Consider installing filters on your
family computers.
Decide how web cameras will be used
on your computers.
Locate your family computers in
public areas at home. Never in
bedrooms.
POS (parents over shoulder)
learn text code (check
www.loveourkidsusa.org).
Talk to your kids about web safety.
Whatever you say to your children
about internet safety probably won’t be
news to them. They have been
learning about web safety at school
and in many other places. It’s even on
the news! But they need to know that
you know and care about web safety.
About 18% of children over 10 years of
age have been sexually approached or
solicited online.
75% of these children did not tell their
parents they had been solicited.
80% of those solicitations happened in
the child’s home.
What Can You Do?
Consider installing filters on your
family computers.
Decide how web cameras will be used
on your computers.
Locate your family computers in
public areas at home. Never in
bedrooms.
POS (parents over shoulder)
learn text code (check
www.loveourkidsusa.org).
Talk to your kids about web safety.
Whatever you say to your children
about internet safety probably won’t be
news to them. They have been
learning about web safety at school
and in many other places. It’s even on
the news! But they need to know that
you know and care about web safety.
Establish Some Rules About
Computer Use With Your Kids
Tell your children they must let you know
right away if they have had a web
experience that makes them unhappy or
uncomfortable.
Tell your children not to share their
address, telephone number, cell phone
number, or the name and location of their
school without your permission.
Talk about how much time they need to
spend on the Web. Set some guidelines for
amount of time spent, and monitor your
kids.
Emphasize these basic rules:
Never agree to “meet’ someone online
without checking with you.
Never agree to get together with someone
they have met online.
Surf the web with your children and find
out what web sites they frequent.
Protect passwords, PIN numbers and other
confidential information.
Remember that you are disciples of Christ
in the virtual world as much as in the real
world. Don’t bully, gossip, share rumors or
exaggerate embarrassing information about
another.
Computer Use With Your Kids
Tell your children they must let you know
right away if they have had a web
experience that makes them unhappy or
uncomfortable.
Tell your children not to share their
address, telephone number, cell phone
number, or the name and location of their
school without your permission.
Talk about how much time they need to
spend on the Web. Set some guidelines for
amount of time spent, and monitor your
kids.
Emphasize these basic rules:
Never agree to “meet’ someone online
without checking with you.
Never agree to get together with someone
they have met online.
Surf the web with your children and find
out what web sites they frequent.
Protect passwords, PIN numbers and other
confidential information.
Remember that you are disciples of Christ
in the virtual world as much as in the real
world. Don’t bully, gossip, share rumors or
exaggerate embarrassing information about
another.
Some signs Your Child is
Being Abused Online
Becomes secretive about their time
online.
Uses computers other than their
own.
Uses encryption software.
Downloads files so you cannot see
information.
Displays changes in behavior or
acts out sexually.
Unusually high phone bills, or
unfamiliar phone numbers on
phone bill.
Unwilling to talk on cell phone in
front of parent/guardian.
Something to remember: Teens may
hesitate to give out their home numbers but
they often give out their cell numbers.
Predators will communicate directly with a
child/teen by calling or texting
teens/children.
What can you do if you think
your child is being victimized
on the internet?
Establish an open and honest environment
for the conversation. Be supportive of your
child, not judgmental or accusatory. Invite
your child’s confidence, listen attentively,
and reassure your child that you will love
and protect him/her. Call the local police
to tell them what is going on. They have
systems for tracing and arresting internet
predators.
Being Abused Online
Becomes secretive about their time
online.
Uses computers other than their
own.
Uses encryption software.
Downloads files so you cannot see
information.
Displays changes in behavior or
acts out sexually.
Unusually high phone bills, or
unfamiliar phone numbers on
phone bill.
Unwilling to talk on cell phone in
front of parent/guardian.
Something to remember: Teens may
hesitate to give out their home numbers but
they often give out their cell numbers.
Predators will communicate directly with a
child/teen by calling or texting
teens/children.
What can you do if you think
your child is being victimized
on the internet?
Establish an open and honest environment
for the conversation. Be supportive of your
child, not judgmental or accusatory. Invite
your child’s confidence, listen attentively,
and reassure your child that you will love
and protect him/her. Call the local police
to tell them what is going on. They have
systems for tracing and arresting internet
predators.
Important Resources
www.wiredkids.org
www.loveourkidsusa.org
www.netsmartz.org
www.safekids.com
www.isafe.org
www.fbi.gov/publications/psguid
e/pguide.htim
www.ou.edu/oupd/kidsafe/start
www.missingkids.com
www.cybertipline.com
www.wiredkids.org
www.loveourkidsusa.org
www.netsmartz.org
www.safekids.com
www.isafe.org
www.fbi.gov/publications/psguid
e/pguide.htim
www.ou.edu/oupd/kidsafe/start
www.missingkids.com
www.cybertipline.com
| This information has been provided to us by the Diocese of Rochester. For more information about Internet Safety, visit one of these sites, or visit www.dor.org |