Safety Tips For Parents And Teens

Parents: Talk To Your Kids

(CBS)  Every day, millions of kids and teens go online to chat or check out their favorite sites. Although it can be a valuable source of information and interactivity, the Internet can also be a dangerous place, where predators and scammers look for victims. Below are some basic rules for teens and parents, courtesy of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, on how to keep safe online.

Online Safety for Teens

The most important thing to remember is that when you are online in any kind of a public forum, you are out in public and anyone can read whatever you post. Never post anything on the Internet that you wouldn't want known to the public at large. Remember that people you meet in cyberspace may not be who they seem to be.

KEEP YOUR IDENTITY PRIVATE
In any type of public forum, avoid giving out your full name, your mailing address, your telephone number, the name of your school, or any other information that could help someone determine your identity. The same applies to your family and friends. Never reveal anything about other people that could get them into trouble.

NEVER GET TOGETHER WITH SOMEONE YOU MEET ONLINE
The biggest danger to your safety is getting together with someone you meet online. You never know if people you meet online are who they say they are. If you feel it’s appropriate to meet with someone, discuss it with your parents and never go to the meeting by yourself. Meet in a public place that you are familiar and comfortable with, and never go alone. The safest procedure is to have your parents talk with the parents of the other person and for both of you to bring your parents along on the first meeting.

NEVER RESPOND TO MESSAGES THAT ARE HOSTILE, INAPPROPRIATE, OR MAKE YOU FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE
It isn't your fault if you get a message that is mean or in any way makes you feel uncomfortable. If you get such a message, don't respond. Instead, show it to your parents or a trusted adult to see if there is anything you can do to make it stop. Sending a response just encourages the person.

TALK WITH YOUR PARENTS ABOUT THEIR EXPECTATIONS FOR GOING ONLINE
You and your parents should be on the same page about your online activities. This includes when you go online, how long you stay online, and what activities you do online. Communicating with your parents doesn't mean that you have to give up your privacy. It just means that you come to an agreement based on mutual trust and understanding. Perhaps you can help your parents better understand the Internet, what it can be used for, and how it is helpful for teens.

Guidelines for Parents

TALK WITH YOUR TEENS ABOUT WHAT THEY CAN AND CANNOT DO ONLINE
Be reasonable and set reasonable expectations. Try to understand their needs, interests, and curiosity. Remember what it was like when you were their age.

BE OPEN WITH YOUR TEENS AND ENCOURAGE THM TO COME TO YOU IF THEY ENCOUNTER A PROBLEM ONLINE
If they tell you about someone or something they encountered, your first response should not be to blame them or take away their Internet privileges. Work with them to help them avoid problems in the future, and 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.

LEARN EVERYTHING YOU CAN ABOUT THE INTERNET
Ask your teen to show you what's cool. Have them show you great places for teens and fill you in on areas that you might benefit from as well. Make the Web a family experience. Use it to plan a vacation, pick out a movie, or check out other family activities. This may be one area where you get to be the student and your kid gets to be the teacher.

CHECK OUT BLOCKING, FILTERING, AND RATINGS
There are services that rate web sites for content as well as filtering programs and browsers that let parents block sites they consider inappropriate. Some programs block sites known to contain objectionable material. Some prevent users from entering certain types of information such as their name and address. Other programs keep your kids away from chat rooms or restrict their ability to send or read email. Generally these programs can be configured by the parent to block only the sites that the parent considers to be objectionable.

If you do use such a program, you'll probably need to explain to your teen why you feel it is necessary. Be sure to configure it so that it doesn't block sites that you want your teen to be able to visit.

Filtering programs cannot protect your child from all dangers in cyberspace. No program can block out every inappropriate site. In some cases, the programs block sites that are appropriate. Filtering programs are not a substitute for good judgment or critical thinking.

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