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| Internet - The
Real Dangers to Kids Online and How to Avoid Them |
Internet - SPECIAL ARTICLE: due to huge
requests we are including this article for the benefits of parents,
regarding children online. Please click to read.
-
Joshua Finer
Did you know
·1 out of 5 kids has been sexually solicited online
·1 out of 4 kids has been sent a picture of naked people
or people having sex online
·that May 21, 2002 there was the first death of a child
linked directly to an Internet Predator?
Parents' biggest concern about the Internet used to
be
pornography, but there is definitely a greater fear
today.
You have probably taught your child not to talk to
strangers, and in many situations, they would remember
this. But the Internet is different.
Due to the Internet's anonymity, strangers are talking
to
children all the time. They try to gain the child's
trust
by having friendly conversation at first, but over time,
their true objective of sexually soliciting the child
becomes evident. Children and parents alike are unaware
of this, yet this is exactly what is going on via the
Internet.
What can today's parent do? Armed with information,
there's quite a bit a parent can do.
1. Tell your child to NEVER EVER reveal their
name,
address, phone number or any other personal information
to
ANYONE online. Once you give out this information,
it is
impossible to retract.
2. Communicate regularly (not just once) with
your child
about WHAT they do online and WHO they talk to online. If
you have actually met the friends they are talking to
in
person, you'll know it is OK for them to chat with them
online.
3. Take computers out of kids' rooms and put them
into
public areas such as the family room. Many parents
think
they are helping with homework by giving the kids a
computer, but it also opens certain dangers that you
may
be unaware of.
4. Choose your child's screen name, email address
or
instant message name wisely - don't' reveal ages, sex,
hobbies, and CERTAINLY NOT suggestive or sexy names.
Predators are more likely to pursue a child with the
screen name "foxyteen5" than "happygirl5"
5. Use technology to help you protect your child.
Monitoring software gives you the ability to review
your
child's Internet usage. Even if you don't
look at each
and every email or instant message they send, you'll
have
a good idea if they are making smart choices online.
The Internet can open many doors and provide useful
information for children. An aware and informed
parent
can help keep children safe.
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