The Internet can be a wonderful place. It can also be a dangerous place, especially for kids. Cyber predators are out there, just looking for their prey. It is important to teach kids Internet Safety.
The Basic Internet Safety Rules
Teaching children basic safety rules will help when they are online. They must be sure to never give out any personal information while online. This includes addresses, phone numbers, daily routines, any credit card information, social security numbers, and birthday dates.
All of these things can be used to get more information about members of the family and if it falls into the hands of the wrong person, this information can be dangerous.
Sexually Harassing Girls Online
Kids often don’t think there is any harm in cyberspace because it’s “not real.” But they are wrong! It is very real. There are violent and sexually explicit images as well as hate material online, available for anyone with access to the Internet.
These images can be extremely disturbing to kids, as well as adults, and have been known to cause psychological damage to many kids. In a study done in February 2002 by the Girl Scout Research Institute 30 percent of the teenage girls in the study said they have been sexually harassed in a chat room, and only 7 percent of those reported the incident to their parents.
According to the March 2007 Cox Communications Teen Internet Safety Survey Wave II, “An alarming percentage of girls aged 13 to 17 report posting personal information online: their real age (72%), a fake age (23%), photos or videos of themselves (70%), photos or videos of friends (61%), city they live in (55%), name of school (48%), and cell phone number (7%).
The Internet Offers Anonymity for those who Prey
It is important to remind children that people are not always what they seem to be. This is especially true online, where the person can take on any personality, name, and attributes and no one is the wiser. There is no lie detector connected to the Internet. There is no way of knowing the person online is actually who he says he is. Now more than ever, it is important to practice safe computing skills.
The Internet has been a curse as well as a blessing. It is a great place for education, entertainment, and communication, if used the right way. Kids need to be aware of the dangers and taught how to use the Internet wisely and safely.
An Internet Safety Pledge
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children put together an Internet Safety Pledge.
- I will not give out personal information such as my address, telephone number, parents'/guardians' work address/telephone number, or the name and location of my school without my parents'/guardians' permission.
- I will tell an adult right away if I come across any information that makes me feel uncomfortable.
- I will never agree to get together with someone I "meet" online without first checking with my parents/guardians. If my parents/guardians agree to the meeting, I will be sure that it is in a public place and bring my parent or guardian along.
- I will never send a person my picture or anything else without first checking with my parents/guardians.
- I will not respond to any messages that are mean or in any way make me feel uncomfortable. It is not my fault if I get a message like that. If I do I will tell my parents/guardians right away so that they can contact the online service.
- I will talk with my parents/guardians so that we can set up rules for going online. We will decide upon the time of day that I can be online, the length of time I can be online and appropriate areas for me to visit. I will not access other areas or break these rules without their permission.
This is a good way for parents to start educating their kids about the Internet.
To print out the pledge, go to this Girl Scout Page.
For other safety pledges for all ages, go to this Netsmartz page.
