Do You Know What Your Kids Are Doing Online?
As parents, we spend much of our time warning our kids about the dangers outside our houses. However, many of us may not be aware of the serious dangers lurking within the family computer ubiquitous, very useful and innocent. Recent trends in computer use by children shows that the age of users is decreasing and the time spent online is increasing. 25% of children five years of Internet use and pre-school children are the fastest growing group online. Children aged between 6 and 17 are on the Internet at home for an average of 3 hours each day. When the amount of time spent on the Internet at school or local library is considered, today's children gain access more often and for longer periods of time than ever. Despite greater access to the Internet, studies show that many parents do not seem to be aware of the many real dangers of the Internet. 83% of parents are satisfied with the online activities of their children. Online Security tenth in the overall concerns of parents about their children's heath and safety (after factors such as physical security, mental health, drug and alcohol use and social acceptance). When asked, 79% of children against 95% of parents believe that parents were informed about the online activities of the child. Complicating the issue of supervision, children often access the Internet at places other than home or the library and the school where laws prevent the restriction of objectionable content. So what exactly should parents be concerned about their children surfing online? • The first concern of officials of law enforcement is cyber sexual predators. Before the growth of the Internet, pedophiles (people obsessed with making illegal acts to the children) would tend to find jobs to give them easy access to young people, as a coach or teacher. Now these criminals are increasingly adept at using the Internet to lure unsuspecting children. In one study, 20% of young people aged 10-17 had received an unwanted sexual solicitation online. 14% of children are willing to meet a stranger through the Internet. The methodical thoroughness of those who would lure unsuspecting children in an encounter in real life makes our children very vulnerable. • viewing unwanted websites is another concern as your children's online activities. Web sites with pornography, drugs, hate groups and violent methods are easily accessible by children. A recent study showed that 28% of children visiting pornographic websites intentionally. About 91% of adolescents reported accidentally accessing pornographic sites or hate-based violence. Perform a web search for a term that innocent children are likely to use as "White House," opens pornographic websites. • Harassment and intimidation came out in the schoolyard and in chat rooms, forums and instant messages. Six percent of youth reported they had been victims of online harassment (rumors, threats or other offensive behavior). Children are often devastated by these virtual attacks on their reputation as Instant Messaging and e-mail identifying information can spread very quickly cause damage to many peers. • online marketing initiatives see children as lucrative target because children are seen as the ultimate consumer of goods sold or advertised on the Internet. Why can fail in court and have a higher level of trust in online technology to those of their parents 'generation', advertisers are eager to influence the spending habits of your child. Online advertisers can monitor your child's likes, dislikes and activities online to monitor them for years or sell to other companies. Companies can capture your sponsored child through (and checked!) Online communities such as chat, advergame designed to keep children at play and continue to buy the kids, cookies that control access to websites and contests that require children to present their personal information. Although restricted by law in the United States, the collection of personal data by those 13 years was found in 95% of the sites examined in a recent study. What can parents do to give their children the benefits of the vast resources of the Internet and protecting them from those who could benefit? 1. Monitor your children online. Limit the use of computers to areas not common family, children's rooms. 2. Educate your children. Using some of the resources listed on this page, explain to your children what dangers on the Internet. Them the opportunity to become more Internet savvy. 3. Consider buying an Internet filter or at least use the filter that is probably already available through the Internet service provider (ISP). Today, the filters are quite sophisticated and can also monitor the sites your children visit. 4. Encourage your children to alert you if you are ever uncomfortable with anything they see or experience on the Internet. You can then inform the appropriate authorities if necessary. 5. Be active. Keep up with all legislation concerning freedom of expression, censorship and children's access to digital media. Decide what are the implications for your family and let your legislators know what you think. Encourage your children to take advantage of the vast cyber-universe. Just remember to use caution and common sense to guide their travel websites. Additional Resources: Popular Internet parental control filters to integrate: America Online Guardian-Cyber Patrol Cyber Sitter, Net Nanny, Cyber Snoop, Norton Internet Security, BSAFE online sites to educate parents and children-www-www.GetNetWise.org . SafeKids.com-www.FBI.gov (click on the link Family)-www.MissingKids.com (official website for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children)
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