INTERNET SAFETY FOR KIDS

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INTERNET SAFETY FOR KIDS

• January 10, 2007

2
Overview

• The technology
• Background - interesting statistics
• Some of the dangers
• What parents can do
• NetSmartz.org

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Technology

• Websites
• E-mail
• Instant Messaging
• Chat Rooms
• Blogs
• On-line Games
• Cell Phones
• Digital Cameras Photo Sharing

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Statistics (http//www.netsmartz.org/)

• 30 of parents allow their teenagers to use the
  computer in private areas of the house such as a
  bedroom or a home office
• 42 of parents do not review the content of what
  their teenager(s) read and/or type in chat rooms
  or via instant messaging
• Nearly 3 out of 10 (28) parents dont know or
  are not sure if their teens talk to strangers
  online

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Statistics

• 22 of those surveyed reported their parents or
  guardians have never discussed Internet safety
  with them
• Fewer teens whose families have talked to them a
  lot about online safety have an IM name or
  pictures of themselves on the Internet
• More teens whove talked to parents or guardians
  also ignore messages from unfamiliar people,
  refuse to reply or chat, block unknown senders,
  and report these occurrences to trusted adults

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Statistics

• 58 of parents surveyed say they review the
  content of what their teenager(s) read and/or
  type in chat rooms or via instant messaging 42
  do not
• Over half (51) of parents either do not have or
  do not know if they have software on their
  computer(s) that monitors where their teenager(s)
  go online and with whom they interact

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Statistics

• Approximately 1 in 5 teens received an improper
  solicitation or contact over the Internet in the
  last year
• In the past year, 1 in 4 teens had an unwanted
  exposure to inappropriate pictures (on the
  Internet)
• 1 in 17 teens was threatened or harassed over the
  Internet

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Dangers
http//www.netsmartz.org/resources/reallife.htm

• Predators Tracking Teresa
• Cyberbullying Password Protection
• False Sense of Security You Cant Take it
  Back

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What Parents Can Do

• Learn about the dangers educate yourself
• Communicate with your children
• Monitor their usage
• Establish and enforce rules for computer use
• Use filtering monitoring software

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Educate Yourself

• Do you know what these chat abbreviations mean?
  P911 (parents are coming) PANB (parents are
  nearby) PAW (parents are watching) PA (parents
  alert)PAL (parents are listening) NP (nosy
  parents)
• http//www.netsmartz.org/
• http//www.netsmartz.org/resources/resources.htm

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Talk with your kids!

• Educate them about the dangers
• Let them know you are aware of what they are
  doing
• Teach them what to do when trouble occurs
• Keep communicating with them

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Monitor Usage

• When do they use the computer?
• Where do they use it?
• How often (time) do they use it?
• Are they on-line when you are not home or when
  you are asleep?
• What sites are they visiting?
• Whom are they corresponding with?
• What accounts do they have?

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Sample Rules for Kids

• Never share personal info or respond to
  offensive/dangerous e-mails
• Dont share e-mail addresses with anyone you
  dont know (close friends)
• No PROFILES (IM, Blog, email, etc.)
• Tell an adult if something bad happens on-line

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Other Rules

• Keep computers in common areas visible to
  parents
• Check to see what your kids are doing who they
  are communicating with
• Use only kid-friendly search engines
• Protect passwords
• Never meet in-person, someone they met on-line

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Use Filtering Monitoring Software

• See what your Internet Service Provider offers
• Check on what your current security system does
• Purchase software specifically designed for
  filtering and monitoring
• View History of Internet visits