Internet Safety for Kids

Parents know the value of family time. Spending quality time with your family can bring you all closer together, give you some time to get to know what is going on in your kids’ lives. Finding time to spend with your family is getting more and more difficult in today’s culture of multiple income families. Both mom and dad work, so the kids let themselves into the house after school, and when the parents come home, meals are often microwaved and eaten in front of the television or in the bedroom while doing homework. We have enough distractions from family time to worry about these days. The Internet doesn’t need to be one of them.

Recent research shows that teenagers and older children spend as much as four or five hours logged onto the Internet. About ten years ago, watchdog groups were worried about kids spending that much time in front of the television, only now, they’ve either replaced television with Internet or they’ve simply added the computer to their already full days.

This has become a dangerous trend in youth behavior. With so many things making demands on teenagers’ time, spending time with the family is even more important than it ever has been. Unfortunately, teens are spending less time engaging in meaningful interaction with the family as a unit than they need. In fact, many teens are replacing real human contact with Internet friendships and relationships at a staggering rate.

Family time takes many forms, including nightly dinner, movie night, or a trip to the ballpark. When relationships are fostered within a family structure, the bond between child and parent is strengthened, effectively giving the parent more control over the behavior of the kids. It’s not hard to see the advantage of a strong relationship with your kids. So many parents are exasperated by their kids’ judgment (or lack of the same).

It’s never too late to introduce dedicated family time into your routine. Even if it’s just once a month, it can do worlds to bring your family closer together. Of course, starting family time is much easier the earlier you do it, but it is possible to start family night later in your kids’ lives. Teenagers are usually pretty strong willed, so don’t force them into anything, but you can find something they will join in.

If your teen resists your efforts, find out what he or she is interested in. Perhaps they have a hobby you don’t know about. If they like food, teach them to cook. Maybe going to see a local sports team play will get their attention. Anything you can think of that will engage their attention and allow them to spend time with you in an enjoyable manner is a good idea. The key here is that the time is enjoyable and free from judgment or conflict. If you bring up a subject and they seem a bit defensive, don’t push it too much or you will risk alienating them further.

The Internet is a place for teens and kids of all ages to get together with countless like minded people, so it’s a great escape when family time seems so ‘uncool’. Show your kids that family time is good time; you won’t regret it.

Have a great day!

Lawrence

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Nearly 20 million kids between the ages of 12 and 17 are using the Internet on a daily basis. That’s roughly 85%-90% of that age group nationwide. Internet use among teenagers is a very large market, and everybody knows it. Because of the size of this demographic, we need to be extra vigilant about what kids are doing on the Internet.

This is not to say that there are 20 million kids on all at the same time. That would be absurd. There are, however, a little more than half that amount on at any given moment. That’s substantial. That is a staggering statistic, especially when you consider the fact that the 20 million figure represents a nearly 300% increase in the last ten years as opposed to a 10% increase in adult Internet use over the same time period.

With all of these teenagers using the Internet so much so often, we need to ask ourselves what they are actually doing. Millions of kids aren’t just checking email. Research and surveys have shown that kids log on to play games, get news content, purchase goods and services, and obtain information related to health and wellness. This isn’t a comprehensive list of teen activity on the web, of course, but it does represent what a large portion of them are doing.

In fact, many teenagers use the Internet to do research for homework, scores of younger teen girls seem interested in the latest fashion trends and celebrity news, and a good portion of them download music (legally and otherwise).

With the increasing popularity of personal websites and small organization websites, kids are getting their information on local events and sports scores from the Internet. In the last few years it seems that every local club, sports team and social club has their own website, making it easier for anyone to keep up with the group’s activities. Meetings, games, and activities no longer have to be published and mailed, but can just be posted for all to see.

The anonymous nature of the Internet has led scores of young girls to use it to research topics related to health. Dieting, exercise, depression, and other personal subject matters are popular searches for teen girls. This may have something to do with the fact that many teens feel uncomfortable talking about these things with their parents or another adult. In this sense, some teens are using the Internet as a stand in for what used to be the job of a parent, guardian, or teacher.

Other popular uses of the Internet include instant messaging, social bookmarking sites like MySpace and Twitter, and online bulletin boards or forums. Many teens have admitted to maintaining several screen names and email addresses, which they use depending on who they are dealing with. The Internet allows someone to have multiple personalities and identities, and that is very alluring to a teen.

That’s not always a bad thing, though. Teens are always trying to figure out the road to adulthood, and the Internet seems to allow them the freedom to experiment with different forays into the adult world with little to no lasting repercussions. The danger comes when a teen can’t separate reality from the online world. As a parent or teacher, your job is to make clear the difference between the real world and the fantasy world that many teens create for themselves on the Internet.

Have a great day!

Lawrence

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It can be difficult for parents to keep track of the newest social networking sites, online chat rooms, blogs, and forums. Monitoring your teenager’s online activities can seem close to impossible some days, with new websites being added to their list of favorites regularly. However, it’s crucial that you know the danger signs to watch for. These signs can be clear tip-offs that your teenager is engaged in risky behaviors on the internet.

* Spending Large Amounts of Time Online: Instant Messaging programs can quickly suck up large blocks of time. Your child is engaged in real time chats, and they may be sucked in. Predators are experts at maintaining this type of conversation for long periods of time. If you notice lengthy chat or IM sessions, be sure to ask your teen who they were chatting with.

* Online Activity at Night: Unless your teen is chatting with someone in Australia, night time chats may mean that they’re trying to hide their activities from you. Night time is quieter and more private, allowing them to keep their conversations a secret from you. Check IM logs regularly - if you notice an excessive amount of night time chatting, it’s time to ask some questions.

*Phone Calls from Strangers: If your teenager is receiving phone calls from people you don’t know, it means that they’ve been giving their phone number out. Take action to stop this behavior immediately!

*Receives Packages from People You Don’t Know: This is even more dangerous - if your teen is receiving mail from strangers, this means that someone has your home address. Discuss this with them immediately, find out if the person is an adult, and consider contacting the authorities.

* Shuts off the Monitor or Changes Screens: If your teenager regularly shuts off the monitor, switches tabs, or minimizes their browser when you enter the room, there’s something they don’t want you to see. You need to find out what they’re up to - before it’s too late!

If you notice any of these behaviors in your teenager, you need to start a conversation about sex offenders and predators as soon as possible. You need to be as honest with them as possible about the dangers involved, and the techniques that these adults use to manipulate teenagers.

You’ll also want to to put some type of monitoring software into place on your computer as soon as possible. Keyloggers, website trackers, and more are available. You’ll need this information to make your case with your teenager, to monitor their future behavior, and to keep records that you can use to report the predator to the authorities.

If you’ve noticed these behaviors, take action today! It’s essential to your teen’s safety.

Have a great day!

Lawrence

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The Internet is a wonderful thing. It allows us to find information on just about any subject matter that we cant imagine. Need to know a little more about how to install a tile floor in the bathroom? Do a search. Need information on when the next big political rally is? Do a search. If you can think of a special interest, there is a website for it.

Believe it or not, people are even finding friends on the Internet. Some even look to find mates and life partners through Internet dating services and social networking sites. The popularity of these social sites has exploded over the last several years, with literally thousands of people signing up every single day. One of the most popular sites, MySpace, allows users to build a small personal website and start creating a network of ‘friends’.

Sounds innocent enough, right? You would be wrong if you thought it was all harmless fun. While sites like this were originally created and conceived of as simply a way for friends to keep in touch, online predators extol their virtues as a plentiful source of willing victims.

Many teens these days are turning to MySpace and sites like it to make connections with other kids their age. They spend more and more time on the Internet sending messages back and forth to their new friends. If your son or daughter is heavily into these social sites, you may want to start paying more attention to what they do and who they are in contact with.

The danger is no so much that they will be talking with friends, but that someone who has no good intentions will lure them into a friendly relationship with false information. On the Internet, you can be whoever you want to be. A middle aged man in Oklahoma can simply fill out his information so that he is now a 14 year old girl in New York. A predator uses this anonymity to entice his victims into a trusting relationship, and most try to arrange a meeting at some point.

Law enforcement departments across the nation have set up special task forces to deal with this ever present threat, and some officers even pose as young people looking for friends on the Internet to try to draw out the predators and catch them. This doesn’t stop bad things from happening every now and then, so you should always be aware of what your kids are doing on the Internet.

It is not always a bad thing for kids to forge friendships on the Internet, but they don’t always have the good judgment to know when a person they are in touch with is suspect. Teach them the warning signs, and be absolutely insistent that they never meet someone they met on the Internet unless you know about it, and are there. This is not an out of this world over protective request, even though they might think so. Kids these days are convince that they are more mature than kids of the past, but that is simply not true. While it may be true that there is more for kids to deal with now (with the increasing popularity of the Internet, television, and other mass communication), they are still biologically kids, and they don’t’ have the same kind of discernment skill that you as an adult have.

Teach your kids to know the difference, and let them know that you care for their safety. Keeping kids safe on the Internet is hard, but not impossible. You can do it. Don’t give up and don’t give in. Your kids will thank you in the end.

Have a great day!

Lawrence

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Since we’ve discussed the many dangers that kids can encounter online, it’s essential that we talk about the steps you should take to protect your children on the internet. Dangerous individuals and inappropriate content abound, and the only way to keep your child safe is by being vigilant.

It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that we can protect our kids by limiting their internet access. The truth is, however, that this is nearly impossible to do. There are so many ways to access the internet - the library, school, their friend’s houses, cell phones, internet cafes - constantly monitoring our kid’s internet usage is extremely difficult.

Since we can’t always be there to monitor their actions, it’s important that we as parents take the time to teach our children about internet safety. We need to teach them how to protect themselves, while taking steps to monitor their internet usage in the home.

Teenagers don’t see the internet as a dangerous place. Therefore, it’s important to help them see the big picture - that there are dangerous people and websites out there, and that they need to be alert when browsing the web. This internet self defense is an essential life skill that you should be sure to teach your kids.

When our teens are at home, however, we can use our parenting skills to help keep them safe online. One such skill is limiting the time that they spend online. By limiting your child’s internet usage to a specific number of hours per day or week, you automatically decrease the time they have to spend on inappropriate activities. You also teach them about time management and encourage them to spend time on other activities, such as sports, family activities, and homework.

If you decide to put this type of plan into effect, it’s important that you enforce it consistently. Move the computer into a public location, then time his or her usage daily. Exceptions can be made for large homework assignments, research projects, and schoolwork, but should only happen occasionally.

By limiting your teenager’s online access, you’re cutting down on the time they have to aimlessly browse the internet. This type of surfing can quickly put them in hot water, so you’re doing them a favor. Work to teach your teen to manage their time effectively by limiting their internet access. In the proces, you’re limiting their exposure to advertising, inappropriate content, and their risk of being victimized - it’s a win-win situation!

Have a great day!

Lawrence

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One of the most popular Internet developments over the last decade is the rapidly growing market for gambling websites. Sites that have card games, sports betting, or just about anything else that you can think of to place bets on are wildly popular with the young adult population.

Unfortunately, what happens is that teens will lie about their age or pose as their parents to gain access to a gambling site. Before you know it, the parent’s credit card is maxed out, credit ratings are ruined and there’s no way out of the debt but to pay it off. In the process, the teen becomes addicted to gambling, and finds a way to continue their behavior whatever the cost.

How do you avoid this situation? Obviously, you can’t police your kids’ Internet usage 24 hours a day, but you can educate your child about the dangers of Internet gambling and gambling addiction in general. Research has found that gambling can be as addictive as drugs. Lab rats that are trained to push a button to receive a food pellet will only push it when they are hungry. When the food pellet is randomly dispensed, the rat will continue to push the button even after their hunger has been satisfied. In some cases, the rats will exhaust themselves pressing the button.

This research tells us that it is not so much the flashing lights or even the winning that is the addicting factor in gambling. Rather the chance that they will win becomes addictive, and no matter how often a person loses, an addict will play one more time because that is the time they will win. Casinos and other gambling institutions are keenly aware of this phenomenon and take measures to carefully use it to their advantage. They also take great pains to make sure that nobody under the legal age comes into the establishment, let along touches the machines.

Internet gambling sites rarely take such exhaustive measures. In fact, all it usually takes to gain access to the games themselves is a click on a button that says you’re of legal age. Many gambling sites operate overseas, so the laws of the United States don’t really apply. As long as a credit card is good, the site’s processing software doesn’t know who is entering the information. This allows a teen to steal their parent’s credit card (or anyone else’s in certain extreme cases), enter the information and start betting.

Credit limits can be easily reached- and very quickly. To give you some sort of idea of how fast a credit card can be filled up, we’ll take the example of a card with a credit limit of about $5,000. A risky teenager can lose about $200 on a football game or play blackjack at $5 per hand. In about a week, if they are left unmonitored, anyone can lose literally thousands of dollars. Since your credit card bill comes once a month, it can be as much as thirty days before you realize that you are maxed out or worse, and by that time, your teen can be addicted or you can find yourself too deep in debt to climb out.

There are ways to keep you teen off of Internet gambling sites. The easiest thing to do is to block gambling sites from your computer. Most Internet Service Providers offer some sort of blocking software as part of their package. You can also sit your teen down and educated them about the dangers of gambling addiction. If you suspect that your teen is involved in online gambling, do your best to find out for sure. Gambling can be a dangerous addiction, so don’t miss it.

Have a great day!

Lawrence

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A webcam is a small camera that can be connected to your computer. These cameras let Internet users view other people and places over their computers. Webcam users can broadcast themselves, record videos, or stream video in real time. They are used in the business world for teleconferences and video chats, used by marketers to film product videos, and used by teens to socialize with their friends.

The cameras are quite cheap, and can be purchased at nearly any office supply store for around $30. They are easy to install - often plug and play, and within the budget and capabilities of most teenagers.

Webcams can pose a risk to your teenager, however. It’s easier than you’d think for a predator to convince your teenager to film themselves or transmit video of themselves. Without knowing it, your teenager could be providing fodder for a pedophile or end up on a pornography site.

Internet predators can also use the cameras to transmit videos of themselves. With just a few clicks, they can stream pornographic content directly to your child’s instant messaging program. The cameras are often used to send images of adults and teens engaged in sexual activities, in an attempt to normalize this type of behavior.

Webcams have also been used by teenagers to film illegal activities. YouTube is full of videos of teens drinking, showing off in sexy clothing, and assaulting each other. Most of these videos were filmed with webcams, then uploaded to the site. It’s easier than ever for your teen to be a “star”, and more difficult than ever to remove the video once it’s up. Remember - the internet is forever, and this includes videos.

If you have a webcam in your home, it may be wise to remove it from your computer and only use it when necessary. If your teen’s computer or laptop has a built in webcam, you’ll have to get more creative. Set clear guidelines and rules for internet use, with strict consequences if the rules are broken. It’s even more important to educate your child about how to use a webcam properly, how to respect the privacy of others, and what to do if someone asks them to transmit a video of themselves.

Internet videos are especially appealing to predators, and if they find out your teenager has a webcam, they may approach him or her. It’s important that you educate your teenager about this very real danger, and emphasize how important it is for them to tell you if they are approached online. Doing so is a key part of keeping your teen safe on the internet.

Have a great day!

Lawrence

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Children and teenagers spend time online and in social networking situation to meet new friends. As a parent, it may not be easy to tell them that their new friends could have bad intentions, or might not actually be teenagers at all. Statistics show that more than 20% of children who spend time on the Internet have received an unwanted sexual advance. The fact is, predators use the Internet to take advantage of children. The process that these predators use to manipulate children that they are targeting online is known as “grooming”.

Predators use flattery, appeals for sympathy, offers of gifts, offers of money, or even job offers to attract their victims. Groomingis a prcess that takes place over a long period of time, as the predator attempts to develop a relationship with your child. Pedophiles know how to flatter children and appeal to their need for friendship. The predator may present themselves to your child as a lonely teenager or child of the same age, and attempt to arrange an in-person meeting. They may also present themselves as a misunderstood young adult .Either way, as a parent is important to know who your children are interacting with on the Internet.

Something to keep in mind is that grooming is a highly individualized process. Predators target each child individually, and use different techniques for different children. They tailor their comments and questions to the individual situation, making them especially dangerous. Pedophiles and predators asks children series of questions over a period of time, slowly gathering the information that they need. For example, a pedophile may casually ask a child where the computer is in the House, as if they are curious, when they are actually trying to determine whether or not a parent is present. They may see a photo of your child, and flatter them about their appearance, suggesting that they can get them into modeling as a career. Of course, there is no real modeling job, and they are merely try to get more photographs of your child or arrange an in person meeting.

The main goal of an online predator is, after all, to arrange in-person meeting. These meetings can lead to sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, kidnapping, or violence. For this reason, it is especially important that you remind your child about the dangers of meeting anyone online in person. We as adults have a different perspective on the situation. Keep in mind, that pedophiles and groomers spend a lifetime learning how to get children to open up and reveal their secrets. You’re up against multiple self-taught experts whose goal was to harm your child. For this reason, it’s impossible to be too careful. If you suspect that your child is engaged in suspicious behavior online, consider installing parental control software on your computer to monitor their activities. This is the only real way to ensure that your child is safe and to monitor their actions when you can’t be present.

Have a great day!

Lawrence

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As a parent, you’re probably aware that rules are often made to be broken, at least from your teenager’s point of view. In Internet Utopia, you make the rules, and your children happily follow them. Real life, however, is often drastically different. Children and teenagers live to test boundaries, and are often unaware of the danger they are putting themselves into. If you have a child or teenager who regularly uses the Internet, keep an eye out for these signs that your rules may be being broken.

If you or your child suddenly begins receiving large amounts of spam e-mail, unsolicited e-mail, or pop-up ads, when you were not before, this may be a sign that your child has given out e-mail address online. Unfortunately, attractive offers abound on the Internet, and it only takes one to entice your child. Remind your teen that contests and giveaways are often bogus, and if they are not likely to win a free Nintendo DS simply by clicking on a banner ad and entering their e-mail address. Instead, all you’re likely to receive is more spam.

If your child receives mail from someone that you don’t know, this could be a sign that they have been approached by a predator online. If this happens in your family, install parental control software immediately and begin carefully monitoring where your child goes on the Internet. More than likely, he or she has already given up her home address, making for an extremely dangerous situation. Be sure to take action immediately.

If your child is behaving inappropriately online, they may act quickly to cover up their behavior. If you notice a trend towards covering up the screen, changing tabs quickly, or shutting off the monitor when you enter the room, it may be time to step up your Internet monitoring efforts. Again, by installing parental control software you can carefully monitor were your child is going and what they’re doing when they’re one the Internet. They don’t even have to know that the monitoring software has been installed. In fact, it may be better if they don’t know.

Of course, you should also watch for other signs of dangerous Internet usage, including an unusual amount of time spent online, behavior changes, emotional withdrawal, and sudden secrecy. If you notice any strange behavior, especially if it is accompanied by a severe increase or decrease in Internet usage, be especially alert. It may be time to begin browsing the files and history on your computer to see if you can figure out the mystery.

Have a great day!

Lawrence

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If your child’s behavior has changed recently, you may be concerned, especially if you feel that the internet may be adding to their problems. However, it’s important to keep in mind that the internet itself isn’t the problem, but that other children may be one. Your child or teenager may be the victim of cyberbullying, and if so, it could be affecting their day to day life. This article will discuss signs to watch for that may indicate that your child is a victim of cyberbullying. As a parent, you should carefully monitor your child for these behavior changes, as well as any other emotional issues that may develop after internet use.

Depression: Watch your child carefully for depression, changes in mood, and a general air of sadness or anxiety. These could all be signs that your child is being bullied. If you notice these symptoms, be sure to ask your child about what’s going on both online and offline. If they’re being bullied, you need to know so that you can take action. Any type of emotional change could mean that your child is having problems on the internet, so be sure to keep your finger on your family’s emotional pulse.

Behavior Changes: If your child regularly exhibits changes in behavior after internet usage, you should try to figure out why. These behavior changes may be a sign that your child is being propositioned, abused, or bullied over the internet. Ask them questions about what they’re experiencing online, and be prepared to help them report the bullying if necessary. Your local law enforcement office, school, or internet service provider should be able to help you if your child is being harassed.

Sudden Increase in Internet Usage: If you notice a sharp increase in your child’s internet usage, text messaging, or online chatting, be sure to observe carefully. The sudden increase in communication could mean that they are engaged in heated arguments or flame wars with their harassers. If you find that your formerly non-social teen is suddenly sending messages rapid-fire, it may be something to keep your eye on.

Sudden Decrease in Internet Usage: Similarly, if you notice a sharp decrease in your child’s normal internet usage patterns, be alert. They may be staying away from the internet to avoid being harassed. If your child is a regular chatter or text messager and usage stops completely, you should probably ask a few questions to determine what’s going on. If your child refuses to explain or cooperate, you might have to consider installing parental control software to help you solve the mystery. If your child is being bullied, it’s extremely important that you take action as soon as possible to help keep the situation from getting worse.

Have a great day!

Lawrence

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