Internet safety rules you can set for your child
Establishing Internet safety rules, no matter how old your child is, can be a good step for your child when they are online.
Whether it’s a school project, emailing friends, or poking around a chat room, kids on the Internet go many places. Internet safety rules for going to those places and doing certain activities can help keep them safer.
What would some of these Internet safety rules be? First, let your child know that he should never give out personal information online. There is absolutely no reason why you should give anyone your address or phone number online. Make sure your child knows that just because the person she’s talking to online claims to be a 16-year-old boy or girl, that doesn’t necessarily mean they are.
Two, it’s also important to prevent your child from posting personal photos or videos of themselves online. However, this is something that many children do. Make sure they are portrait photos, those that show only the head and shoulders. If your child wants to post photos or videos online, be sure to at least review them yourself first.
Three, make sure your child knows that they are not allowed to meet, in person, with anyone they meet online. This is important, as this is how many children and adolescents fall victim to Internet predators and sexual predators. Yes, the person you are talking to on the computer may be who they say they are, but are you willing to take that risk? If an in-person meeting is taking place and you know about it, please attend with your child. Let several people know where you are going and who you are meeting. Be sure to do it in a public place.
Fourth, set rules for your child about the use of Internet chat rooms and social networking websites. For starters, if you don’t want your child to use these things, don’t let them. If you do, sit down with them when they first sign up and negotiate the site yourself. Then set time limits that they can be inside these rooms. For example, make sure you are in the room if your child is using an Internet chat room.
Fifth, and finally, make sure your child knows that any Internet safety rules you set regarding Internet use apply to all computer use, not just the home computer.