Whether it's a school project, emailing friends or poking around a chat room, children on the Internet go many places. Internet safety rules for going those places and doing certain activities can help keep them safer.
What would some of these internet safety rules be? First, let your child know that they should never give out their personal information online. There is absolutely no reason why they should give anyone their address or phone number online. Make sure that your child knows that just because the person they are talking to online claims to be a 16 year old boy or girl, it doesn't necessarily mean that they are.
Two, it is also important to prevent your child from posting personal pictures or videos of themselves online. However, this is something that many children do. Make sure they are portrait type photos, those that show head and shoulders only. If your child wants to post pictures or videos online, be sure to at least review them yourself first.
Three, make sure your child knows that they are not allowed to meet, in person, with anyone who they meet online. This is important, as this is how many children and teenagers fall victim to internet predators and sexual predators. Yes, the person who they are talking to on the computer may be who they say they are, but are you willing to take that chance? If an in person meeting does take place and you know about it, attend with your child. Let multiple people know where you are going and who you are meeting with. Be sure to do so in a public place.
Four, set rules for your child on their use of internet chat rooms and social networking websites. For starters, if you don't want your child to use these things, don't let them. If you do, sit with them when they first sign up and negotiate the site yourself. Then set time limits they can be inside these rooms. For example, make sure you are in the room if your child is using an internet chat room.
Five and finally, make sure that your child knows that all of the internet safety rules you set concerning internet use apply to all computer use, not just on the computer at home.
Kids at this age start to exercise full freedom and independence. Sometimes, they try new things in order to test their capacity. But still, they lack the experience to judge things the right way and must be guided in areas where they are likely to commit mistakes, including the use of the internet.
Internet threats to Kids Age 14-17 Years Old
Kids at this age play online games, download music, and shop online. Most boys of this age engage in online gambling, look at explicit adult sites, gore, violence, and adult humor. Both boys and girls enter chat rooms and engage in private chats or use instant messaging like Yahoo! Messenger or MSN Messenger.
They are more welcome to accommodate online acquaintances and build relationships online that would possibly end up in a real-life meeting. They are more prone to receive pornographic spam and will likely end up clicking links that contain explicit material. They can easily be persuaded to join online contests and fill out forms that ask for personal information.
These may not seem to be a danger for them since they "are just trying out new things." But these are the things that you should watch out for.
Safety tips:
?Keep the internet-connected computer outside their bedrooms
?Create a rule on how to properly use the internet. Set a time where they can access the internet. Make sure they follow it.
?If they are using the instant messaging, ask them on discuss their friends on the list. Tell them not to talk to strangers. Tell them to enter friendly and moderated chat rooms only.
?Encourage them to talk to you about the people they meet online.
?Tell them not to trust anyone online.
?Set firewall or filtering software so that they can't access websites that contain explicit materials such as violence and pornography.
?Remind your kids on the risks that online gambling may bring.
?Tell them not to give up any personal information such as names, addresses, and bank account numbers.
?Teach your kids to check with you first whenever they make online financial transactions including selling and buying online.
?Tell your kids to exercise ethical behavior online and not to engage in fights and bullying.
?Tell your kids not to open junk mails or download attachments from unknown senders.
They may show some resistance but it is important to explain to them the dangers that can happen when they insist on not following these safety tips.
Both Joyce Jackson & Jonathan Sin are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Joyce Jackson has sinced written about articles on various topics from Banking, Children and SEO Search Engine Optimization. Joyce Jackson is a #1 International bestselling author and child safety expert. For her online safety tips and free Internet Safety Tool Kit see . Joyce Jackson's top article generates over 14800 views. to your Favourites.
Jonathan Sin has sinced written about articles on various topics from Network Marketing, Entertainment Guide and Family. Want to find out about and. Jonathan Sin's top article generates over 8100 views. to your Favourites.