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Child Safety on the Information Highway |
Table of Contents |
INTERNET SAFETY TIPS |
What is 'Cyberspace,' the 'Web,' the 'Net,' the 'Information Highway'" ? |
Benefits of the Information Highway |
Putting the Issue in Perspective |
What Are the Risks? |
How Parents Can Reduce the Risks |
Guidelines for Parents |
Kids Rules for Online Safety |
INTERNET SAFETY TIPS |
Know what your children are doing online and who they are talking
to. Ask them to teach you to use any applications you have never used. Help your children to understand that they should never give out personal details to online friends-personal information includes their messenger id, email address, mobile number and any pictures of themselves, their family or friends-if your child publishes a picture or video online-anyone can change it or share it. If your child receives spam / junk email & texts, remind them never to believe them, reply to them or use them. It's not a good idea for your child to open files that are from people they don't know. They won't know what they contain-it could be a virus, or worse - an inappropriate image or film. Help your child to understand that some people lie online and that therefore it's better to keep online mates online. They should never meet up with any strangers without an adult they trust Always keep communication open for a child to know that it's never too late to tell someone if something makes them feel uncomfortable. Teach young people how to block someone online and report them if they feel uncomfortable. There are people who can help. |
What is 'Cyberspace,' the 'Web,' the 'Net,' the 'Information Highway'" ? |
Whatever it’s called, millions of people are now going online to
e x c h a n g e electronic mail (E-mail) and instant messages; participate
in chat groups; post and read messages in newsgroups, which are sometimes
called bulletin boards; “surf” the world wide web; and many
other online activities. Children are no exception in fact they are more
likely to be online than adults. |
Benefits of the Information Highway |
"As an educational...tool users can learn about virtually any topic..."
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Putting the Issue in Perspective |
There have been some highly publicized cases of exploitation involving the
Internet, but that doesn’t mean that every child will experience major
problems. The vast majority of people who use the Internet do not get into
serious trouble. |
What Are the Risks? |
There are a few risks for children who use the Internet or other online services.
Teenagers are particularly at risk because they often go online unsupervised
and are more likely than younger children to participate in online discussions
regarding companionship, relationships, or sexual activity. If you have
a teen in your family or you are a teenager, check out this website time
to time to know more about keeping your child safe while being on-line.. A child may be exposed to inappropriate material that is sexual, hateful,
or violent in nature, or encourages activities that are dangerous or illegal.
Children could seek out such material but may also come across it on the
web via chat areas, E-mail, or even instant messaging if they’re not
looking for it. |
How Parents Can Reduce the Risks |
While children need a certain amount of privacy, they also need parental involvement
and supervision in their daily lives. The same general parenting skills
that apply to the “real world” also apply while online. If you
have cause for concern about your children’s online activities, talk
to them. Also seek out the advice and counsel of teachers, librarians, and
other Internet and online service users in your area. Having open communication
with your children, using computer resources, and getting online yourself
will help you obtain the full benefits of these systems and alert you to
any potential problem that may occur with their use. If your child tells
you about an upsetting message, person, or web site encountered while online,
don’t blame your child but help him or her avoid problems in the future.
Remember — how you respond will determine whether they confide in
you the next time they encounter a problem and how they learn to deal with
problems on their own. |
Guidelines for Parents |
Set reasonable rules and guidelines for computer use by your children |
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Kids Rules for Online Safety |
LEARN THE INTERNET RULES |
10 Tips for Safe Surfing |
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