Child Safety on the Internet
If your children are using the Internet from home or school, you should
see Child
Safety on the Information Highway provided by the National
Center for Missing and Exploited Children. This page is a must read for
every parent. Do a fellow parent a favor and tell them about it.
Parents beware. Left unsupervised, your children will get into trouble
on the Internet. Nothing will protect your children as well as your
supervision. The Attorney General of the State of New York takes the
same position -- see the "Y" of stay
safe.
Here are some more tips for parents. Also, see our Crime
on the Internet section:
- The computer your children use at home is best placed in the family
room or living room where you can supervise what they are doing.
- The worst place for the computer is in your child's bedroom where
you can't monitor their activities.
- If your children use Internet Relay Chat (IRC), or other "chat rooms",
you should monitor that use closely. This is the place that your children
are most at risk.
- Tell your children that email is serious. Forged email is serious
business and will get them into trouble.
- Many kids get caught up in illegal software. It is called "Pirating
Warez" and is illegal. This software is often "hacked" by you don't
know who -- be careful that it does not get installed on your computer.
- Use software to screen web pages. Make sure you check the software's
configuration occasionally to ensure that it is configured as you
wish. Get the updates that the software vendor provides as soon as
possible.
- If your child covers up the computer screen when you come into the
room, you may have a problem growing.
- Check your browser's cache and history file to see where your children
have been. If either is cleared or only half full, your children may
be trying to hide something from you. It should be full unless you
just cleared it.
- Check the email client -- children easily get into trouble using
email. Look in the trash can, in the address
book, the sent messages, and the inbox.
- Know, and control, the software your children install on the computer.
They can install software that will circumvent your controls!
- Know who (the real name, address, and phone number) your children's
"Internet friends" are, not just their "nickname".
- Understand that if your children are using your account, they are
"you" on the Internet. When they get in trouble, it looks like "you"
are doing it. Insist that it is your account -- they are guests and
they must use it as you direct.
- You should not put the account password in the dialer or email client
unless you wish to let your children use the account without your
supervision. If you type in the password when your children log into
the Internet, you know that they are doing so. Maintain control of
the account as you see necessary. If you have a question about security
and your account, use our contact
form to send them to us.
- If your children know the password to your account, instruct them
to never give the account name and password to anyone, for any reason.
If this happens, anyone can use your Internet account and masquerade
as you or your child.
- Finally, take the same protective measures with your children as
if they are walking on unknown and dangerous streets -- they are safer
when you walk with them.
If you have any question or concern about your children and the Internet,
email them to by using our contact
form. Send your questions or tips and FrontierNet will make
them available to other parents on this page.
The Direct Marketing Association has a very useful 24 page booklet
that is well worth getting. It is titled Get CyberSavvy!
and can be purchased but writing to:
Ethics and Consumer Affairs Department,
The DMA,
1111 19th St. NW, Suite 1100,
Washington DC 20036-3603
Multiple copies of tow or more are available for $2.50 per copy.
FrontierNet offers a FREE web filtering program called FrontierNet
Lookout which filters content before it reaches your computer.
Please remember that while software can help, it is not a substitute
for parental guidance.
Taryn Pream has published a brochure called "Shut the Door". The Internet
version contains Guidelines
for children on the Internet.
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