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A D V I C E A N D I N F O R M A T I O N : P A R E N T I N G A D V I C E
Watchful parents can help youngsters surf the ’Net safely
Just like we don’t remember a time without radio or television, our children don’t remember a time without computers. And when something as powerful as the Internet becomes a ho-hum part of life, it’s easy to overlook its potential down side.
While surfing the ’Net can be educational and fun, it can also pose real dangers to young users, who may be lulled into thinking that because it’s done in the privacy of their own homes, browsing the Internet is safe.
They may not realize that the Internet is largely unregulated in terms of content and allows interactions with innumerable online strangers including scam artists, sexual predators, even school cyber bullies.
At Youth Eastside Services, we work with many young people who talk about being bullied or humiliated with e-mails or Instant Messages. In fact, cyber abuse is more common than many parents realize. Student surveys by the nonprofit i-SAFE have found that:
- One in four students in grades 4 through 8 report being bullied online more than once.
- More than one in 10 high school students report being “cyber-stalked” or targeted by repeated online harassment.
- Nearly three out of every five students in grades 5 through 12 admit to using the Internet unsafely, inappropriately or illegally.
So what can parents do?
Internet safeguards, including blocks and filters, are a good first step, but they are no substitute for good parenting and communication. Set limits and rules for Internet use, become informed, explain the risks and talk about your concerns. Create a climate of trust so that your children feel comfortable coming to you if something happens online that makes them uncomfortable.
Here are more practical tips to help keep your child safe online:
- Regularly spend time online with your children and teach them to be discerning and careful Internet users. Point out the difference between sales pitches and factual content as well as the dangers of chat rooms and giving out personal information.
- Keep the computer in a family area (not your child’s bedroom), and make sure very young children are always supervised when using the computer.
- Ask your kids to show you the places they go online, and be aware of other access your child may have, including text messaging and computers outside the home.
- Make sure your child only exchanges e-mail with people he or she knows and only uses chat rooms you supervise.
- Contact your Internet Service Provider to report objectionable activities or content. You can also report incidents to the CyberTipline at 1-800-843-5678 or at www.cybertipline.com.
- Turn to the Internet for help. Good sites to visit include: www.NetSmartz.org, i-safe.org, Incredibleinternet.com, Theinternetandyourchild.org, Getnetwise.com, Scambusters.org and Netnanny.com.
‘Parenting Lifeline’ is a monthly column in the Bellevue Reporter newspapers by YES Executive Director Patti Skelton-McGougan. For more information call 425-747-4937 or ChristianB@YouthEastsideServices.org
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