Taking into account the reality of the Internet, what can parents do to protect their children and remain calm when their children and adolescents enter the Internet?
Do not let this information take away enthusiasm for the Internet from you and your children. The Internet occupies an important place in the lives of children. You should know that your children need to use the Internet. Protect them by providing information, establishing rules and listening to their good and bad experiences on the Internet.
• Talk to your children and teens about the Internet, what's there, what they can find (disgusting things, unwanted offers, things that scare them). Let them know that they can come to talk with you about it and that together they can filter or block unwanted websites and emails.
• Look for protection programs or options that your Internet service provider can offer, for example, monitoring or filter tools.
• Establish rules for the use of the computer or consider implementing the Internet safety pledge of NetSmartz Workshop. Both adults and children can sign the pledge, which they must review periodically.
• Currently, the Internet occupies a good part of the lives of our teenagers. It is estimated that they spend an average of five hours per week on the Internet. Ask them how they use it, if they enter chat rooms, with whom they speak, what topics they speak about, if they have more than one email, if they have their own website or website. Check all this with your teenagers to control their safety.
• Remind your children that there are people who pretend to be teenagers to meet other teenagers and hurt them.
• Tell them that they should never meet anyone in person that they have known "known" for the first time on the Internet.
• Tell your children that they should never send personal information over the Internet, for example, their name, address, phone number, or information about their physical appearance.
• Websites for children are not authorized to request personal data without the permission of the parents. Explain to your children what personal information is and why they should never give it to anyone through the Internet.
• If your preteen or teen children have a webcam or are posting personal photos on a website, in a chat room, or by sending photos by email, look at those photos and ask them how they want them to be used on the Internet.
• Remind your children that the Internet is public. What your preadolescent or adolescent children put on the Internet is available to the public around the world and, once it is there, they can not get it back.
• Explain to your preadolescent or teen children that they should not respond to emails, chat messages or other offensive or dangerous communications. Report any communication of this type to the competent local authority. Do not erase offensive or dangerous email. Simply turn off the monitor and call the competent local authority. The local authority will need the email to track the aggressor.
• Expand your knowledge of computing, technology and the Internet. Enter the resources section ("resources") of NetSmartz Workshop to find more information about Internet security.
• Ask your preteen and teen children to show you what they do on the Internet. Enter the websites that your children visit. Tell them about the videos that you think are inappropriate.
• Find out if your children are using other computers. Some cell phones now have access to the Internet and email.
• Internet accounts must be in the name of the parents, who must have the main user name, control passwords and use filters and locks.
• Children should not complete a profile for an Internet service provider. In addition, the children's user names should not be identifiable to avoid knowing that the user is a child. Never use the name of a child.
• Talk to other parents, school staff and other adults about the use and abuse of the Internet and how it is affecting your community. Ask them what they are doing about it. The Massachusetts Attorney General's Office provides information on Internet safety to schools and organizations. Enter the online safety section of the Attorney General's website for more information.
• Web logs, or blogs, are virtual journals where users write comments for other people to read. If your children use a blog, tell them they should never write their personal information or post photos or provocative comments. Remind them again that it is likely that the material they post on the Internet will be there permanently. Therefore, you should not take risks.
• Remember: the Internet is a valuable tool for you and your children. Therefore, it is important that they can use it, enjoy it and feel comfortable with it.