Internet and Mobile Device Safety

When your child is old enough to drive a car would you just hand over the keys and let him go?  No, a car is a powerful piece of machinery and you would first teach him how to drive it and how to navigate various situations that might come up.  You would have boundaries and guidelines in place for when they are driving without your supervision. 

Allowing kids to access the Internet without any safety filters is like putting your child being the wheel of a car without having taught him to drive it.  The Internet is power at your fingertips and your child isn't going to figure out how to handle the internet without some training wheels and guidance. 

The Internet and Social Networking has completely transformed the way perpetrators lure and recruit victims. It provides a free, easy venue for pimps and sex traffickers. We must make teaching our children about Internet safety an important priority.

 Here are some general tips. 

1. Teach them Internet Safety!   
• Never give out personal information such as your phone number, address, school name.  Never share team names or after school activities.
• Follow the NetSmart rules www.netsmartz.org/Parents  

2. Teach your children to identify inappropriate Internet interactions.  Encourage open dialogue with then so they feel comfortable reporting any improper or uncomfortable online activity.  Role play and ask what they would do if…  

3. NEVER plan a face-to-face meeting.  People can pretend to be anyone they want behind the anonymity of the computer.  You could be putting yourself in danger to meet someone you’ve “met” online. 

4. Most mobile devices offer a built in mechanism that allows you to create age brackets for your child’s device that will block unwanted applications from being downloaded and will block inappropriate content on the internet.  These are password protected so your child can not change them without your password. 

5. You have to know what they are doing in order to be able to guide them. 
   • Supervise their computer use or keep access to computers in an open area of your home.
   • Turn in Cell phones and other devices at bedtime.
   • Know what they are doing on line, who they are talking to, who their friends are, what pictures they are posting.
   • Know the texting lingo and current apps – Instagram, Snap Chat, Facebook, etc.
    
6. Make sure the Facebook privacy settings are set up correctly.  Under Account Settings there are a variety of settings that limit who can view your child’s page and access their profile.  Make sure their date of birth is not visible to viewers.  

7.     Don’t accept friend requests on Facebook from someone you don’t know.  If you aren’t friends in real life you shouldn’t be friends on line.

8.       Always know their passwords and randomly check their emails and other accounts 

9.     Install a Safety Filter such as Net Nanny or K9 for the computer or Mobile Guardian for mobile devices.    

10.  Consider Monitoring software.  This is different than a safety filter in that it actually tracks keystrokes and internet activity. 

 

Websites for internet safety:

• http://protectkids.com/
• www.WiredSafety.org 
• http://www.safekids.com/