Do you feel safer, today? Just knowing I’ve been declared safer by “experts” while I type out this blog post makes me feel…well, disappointed.
I have to be more than a it cynical here. I’m not fomenting paranoia or fear, that doesn’t help with safety. On the other hand, a new report in January, along with its media hyped headlines, can set back online safety, too.
The report is, ironically enough, by the same self-appointed sheriffs of the internet that rode after and rounded up Myspace last year.
“Enhancing Child Safety & Online Technology”, is a report commissioned by 49 state Attorneys General and completed by the Technical Task Force. This report generated eye-catching headlines such as “Internet No Threat to Children.”
I hoping you see headlines like “Study Blasted for Downplaying Online Threats to Children.”
The Task Force reached 4 major conclusions:
1. The belief that predators run rampant on social networking sites has been largely exaggerated.
2. Cyberbullying presents a more widespread threat to kids than predators.
3. More research is needed to fully assess the threat of both predators and cyberbullies.
4. Technology, such as age-verification, will not solve all the problems.
Most of the studies were completed before social networking really took off. There is no way to know the impact of kids on these sites yet. In thier favor, the Task Force does say more research is needed.
Nobody has to stay up at night worrying about their kids being stalked by online predators all the time. We knew that. Don’t get complacent, either. Parents are #1 in the first line of defense to protect your kids online.
Teaching your child the basics of good online safety is one of the best ways to keep them out of scams and traps as they become adults, too. By then, the attorneys generals could declare other things completely safe, too and happily….I could retire!
Did you teach them how to be safe online when using them, too?
Bad Santa!
Many of these electronic items allow Internet access or have the ability to send and receive messages, pictures and videos.
As a parent, you should realize that many of these allow your child to play with people from all over the world. They can also communicate with them.
So, it’s time to have a chat with your child about using any or all of these items. Here’s my 3 Post-Christmas Internet Safety Gaming Quick Tips:
1. Make sure your game player knows to not give out personal information to fellow game players. This
is information such as their names, ages, address, school or phone numbers.
2. Check the game system instructions for information about privacy controls and parental restrictions that can protect children.
3. Encourage children to report inappropriate contact with strangers, especially sexually suggestive comments, attempts and such.
For Your Tween
Just because these items connect to the Internet does not mean you actually have to do it. Assess what comfort level you have with your child alone online. Assess their ability to understand the most basic online safety skills. If either of these have the slightest uncomfortable feeling to it, do not connect them to the Internet. Neither you nor your child are ready to take on the world of online strangers at this time.
For Your Teen
Teach them to be part of the solution. Teens understand the Internet and its connections to others, especially people they don’t know. Make sure your teen readily accepts the responsibility to online safety practices in exchange for the privilege of being online, no matter if they TEXT, FLIX or PIX. Empowering them with trust and respect for themselves and others will go a long way.
Internet safety for busy parents with not time for more in their lives is a prevalent concern I hear about all the time.
Do you want your child safe whenever they are on the Internet? Of course you do! Tell me, when are you going to carve out time to teach them even the most basic online safety rules? Once you teach them, how much more time are you going to carve out of your day to follow up, monitor and confirm they are, in fact, doing those safety tips?
I’ll do it for you! This is exactly where I’m expert – online safety tips for busy parents.
I’ll transform your child into a pillar of safety online whether they TEXT, PIX IM or FLIX.
Starting Friday, February 6, I’m going to be posting Morning Coffee….eSafety Quick Tips for Busy Parents. In a few short sentences, in plain, simple language, you can pick up an instant safety tip once a week and use it immediately.
These great tips are also going to be presented for parents with tweens, teens and even young kids and for any number of ways they can connect into the Internet.
Read it over morning coffee, or download the podcast to your iPod and listen to it on your way to work!
It can’t get any easier or safer for you, your child or family! Come back every Friday for the best Internet Safety Tips for Kids with Busy Parents.
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