Developed with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC).
Did You Know?
The Internet is an incredible resource for you and your children, but with its many advantages also come very real risks that families must be aware of.
- 81% of parents say that teens aren't careful enough when giving out information about themselves online. (1)
- 79% of online teens agree. (1)
- 65% of all parents and 64% of all teens say that teens do things online that they wouldn't want their parents to know about. (1)
- 34% of youth say the had unwanted exposure to sexual material in the past year (compared to 25% in 2000). (2)
- 56% of youth who received sexual solicitation DID NOT tell anyone about the solicitation. (2)
- In 75% of aggresive solicitation incidents, solicitors asked to meet youth in person. 34% called the youth and 18% came to their homes. (2)
- Approximately 1 in 7 youth Internet users received unwanted sexual solicitations or approaches in the last year. (2)
(1) Lenhart, Amanda, Protecting Teens Online. Washington, DC: Pew Internet & American Life Project. March 17, 2005, page ii.
What Can You Do?
- TALK to your kids about safer Internet usage and encourage them to talk to you.
- ESTABLISH a set of online rules for your family.
- MONITOR the amount of time your children spend on the Internet and the sites they visit.
- LOCATE Internet-connected computers in an open area of the home.
- BECOME more Internet savvy and investigate Internet-fi ltering tools that give you more control over what your children see.
- WATCH for changes in your child's behavior (mention of people you don't know, secretiveness, inappropriate sexual knowledge, etc.).
- DOWNLOAD the NetSmartz Internet Safety Pledge you can take as a family, also in the Qwest Connected Family Kit.
- VISIT http://www.NetSmartz.org for more resources and information.
Talking to Your Kids
Encourage your kids to come to you if they encounter anything online that makes them feel scared, uncomfortable, or confused. Some important points to cover with your children are:
- Internet access is a privilege- not a right. And there are important rules to be followed. (Review your family rules that you establish with input from your children.)
- Remember that people on the Internet may not be who they say they are. It's not your child's fault if they see something inappropriate.
- Encourage them to report it to a trusted adult immediately.
Establishing Your Family's Online Rules
Family rules to safe Internet usage:
- Set a schedule of appropriate times and days when your children can (and cannot) use the Internet.
- Develop specific lists of approved and unacceptable Internet activities.
- Establish a game plan for what to do if, despite your best efforts, your children are targeted or contacted by online predators.
- Once the rules are established, post them near the computer.
What To Do If Your Child is Targeted
If all precautions fail, and your kids encounter an online predator:
- Don't blame them. The offender always bears full responsibility.
- Contact your local police.
- Report the incident to the National Center For Missing & Exploited Children's CyberTipline at www.CyberTipline.com.
Tech Terms & Tips
- Chatroom : A real-time communication arena where participants from anywhere in the world can log in and "chat" with other participants.
- Instant messaging: Also known as IM, instant messaging combines the live nature of chatrooms with the direct contact of e-mail.
- Internet filtering tools: Also referred to as parental controls, Internet filtering tools are software programs that allow parents and guardians to filter the type of content their kids see online.
- Spyware: Spyware is any software that covertly gathers user information through the user's Internet connection without his or her knowledge.
- Pop-up blockers: A pop-up blocker (sometimes called a pop-up killer) is a program that prevents ads and other unsolicited material from "popping up" in a user's Web browser.
- Anti-virus software: Anti-virus software identifies viruses on your computer and prevents them from performing their damaging functions.
- Spam: Spam is defined as unsolicited "junk" e-mail sent to large numbers of people to promote products or services.
