Internet Safety for Teens: Message Boards

Posted by Joyce on September 23, 2008 under Internet Safety for Teens | Comments are off for this article

Does your teenager want to use the Internet to meet and communicate with new cyber-friends? Are they looking for others who share similar interests? To do this, they may want to go into online chat rooms.

Internet chat rooms are fun and a way to meet new friends. Its also easy to use and interact with others. There are some pretty safe places for teens to go online however, not all online chat rooms are safe. That is one reason why many parents often allow their kids to use message boards instead of chat rooms. You may wonder, though, if its really a safer option.

Even if you aren’t an avid internet user yourself, you likely know that online message boards and online chat rooms are different. Online chat rooms have live communication appearing on the screen. Conversations are held at that very moment. Message boards involve communications that may carry on for days or even weeks. There are also more detailed and themed discussed that occur on message boards, as opposed to chat rooms. Common message board topics for teens include homework, parents, pets, music and sports.

Message Boards do not have conversations that are live. Multiple posters may be online at the same time, but it is common for someone to post a topic and not get a response for a few hours or even a day or two. In fact, if your child makes a post about their new pet, someone may ask about their pet or congratulate them when they aren’t even online themselves. This gives many parents comfort and peace of mind in suing Message Boards instead of chat rooms.

Another reason why some parents prefer letting their children use online message boards is that they usually are monitored by a trusted adult. This person is sometimes paid for their work. This means that all offensive posts should be removed in a relatively short period of time. Many times, the moderator will also ban that user from returning.

As a parent, you set the rules for your teenager online. If you are going to allow them to use message boards, remember that not all message boards are moderated. Most message boards for adults also have someone who reviews the content. With that said, there is no harm in checking. In fact, the same should be done with internet chat rooms.

If a chat room for children or teenagers is only open for a few hours a day, as opposed to 24 hours a day, there is a good chance that a monitor is present. This may give you some comfort and peace of mind. Also, be sure to examine internet chat rooms and message boards for kids that do not allow other users to privately communicate with each other through the use of private messages, also commonly known as a PM.

Whether you let your child use an online chat room or an online message board, you should first check it out for yourself. Visit a chat room. Do not talk to anyone, but see for about five minutes what type of content is being talked about. The same should be done with online message boards for kids. Do you think that the content is safe or do any chatters or posters seem too mature for the room or message board?

As for how you can go about finding online message boards and chat rooms that are safe for your child to visit or to checkout for yourself first, you may want to perform a standard internet search. Search with a phrase like “safe online messages boards for children.” There are also television networks, like Nick and The N, which are designed for both teens and tweens, that have online message boards. They can allow your child to chat with others who like the same shows.

Internet Safety Rules

Posted by Joyce on September 14, 2008 under Internet Safety Rules | Comments are off for this article

Internet Safety Rules to Establish with Your Children

Setting up internet safety rules, no matter how old your child is, can be a good step for your child when online.

Whether it’s a school project, emailing friends or poking around a chat room, children on the Internet go many places. Internet safety rules for going 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 they should never give out their personal information online. There is absolutely no reason why they should give anyone their address or phone number online. Make sure that your child knows that just because the person they are talking to online claims to be a 16 year old boy or girl, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they are.

Two, it is also important to prevent your child from posting personal pictures or videos of themselves online. However, this is something that many children do. Make sure they are portrait type photos, those that show head and shoulders only. If your child wants to post pictures 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 who they meet online. This is important, as this is how many children and teenagers fall victim to internet predators and sexual predators. Yes, the person who they are talking to on the computer may be who they say they are, but are you willing to take that chance? If an in person meeting does take place and you know about it, attend with your child. Let multiple people know where you are going and who you are meeting with. Be sure to do so in a public place.

Four, set rules for your child on their 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 with them when they first sign up and negotiate the site yourself. Then set time limits they can be inside these rooms. For example, make sure you are in the room if your child is using an internet chat room.

Five and finally, make sure that your child knows that all of the internet safety rules you set concerning internet use apply to all computer use, not just on the computer at home.

Today’s Internet Software Filters

Posted by Joyce on September 11, 2008 under Internet Software Filters | Comments are off for this article

Internet Software Filters
I love it when the tips and tools I send you to keep your child safer online are backed up in the media!

I found a great article for you today!

My colleagues and other echild safety experts, are telling parents we still need to monitor children’s internet usage even when using filtering software. Filtering technology is not capable of blocking all objectionable material. The technology is not ready to keep up with the problems online yet.

Many illicit websites actually try to deceive the filters. “User-generated” content, such as messages sent via websites, is particularly difficult to monitor.

Bottom Line? Parents, you, still need to be vigilant about what your child is up to on the net.

There is no quick fix, today, for the dangers online.

… read more here