The State of Kids Internet Safety

The internet has everything! But does your child need to see it. Online parental control is becoming more important as our kids become more tech savvy. In most cases, children are more computer literate than their parents. This makes monitoring their surfing activity extremely difficult. Kids internet safety is becoming one the most important tech topics in the industry. This is direct response to the increase in child exploitation on the internet. According to recent studies, 76% child exploitation victims met their offenders via social networking primarily chat rooms. In addition, cases of online bullying by classmates have risen exponentially over the years.

There are around 77 million kids using the internet. However, most parents are not taking the steps to teach effective online safety for kids. Both the FBI and FEMA have provided parents with an online set of online safety rules to educate their children. However, most kids and adults ignored these safety rules. Schools have also begun teaching online safety for kids. Is this really enough to protect your children? Like all parental decision the answer can't be a simple yes or no.

The illicit and illegal has always attracted our children. The internet gives that perfect medium to act out that desire. No matter how much education provided, the temptation remains for kids to break online safety rules. Having the uninhibited access to the World Wide Web at their finger tips is a desire that most kids can't bear.

source:http://ezinearticles.com/?The-State-of-Kids-Internet-Safety&id=533328

Using Parental Controls

Parental controls allow you, as a parent or guardian to be able to control the computer in which your child or younger adult is using. You know the importance of doing so. Online predators are out there and they are readily stalking even the youngest of children that venture onto the internet. Using parental controls allows you to keep control of your situation so that you can make decisions for your child that will ultimately help them manage what happens online.


What Can Be Done?

Each internet service provider have their own different set of parental controls that you can use. First thing that you will need to do is to find out what types of software are being offered to you through your provider. If you do find that these parental controls are not enough to really protect your child, you can find others available to you to buy. Before you make that investment, keep in mind that some internet service providers do provide this, or at least some parental controls, with their service to you.

There are various options that you can use. Here are some of the services that are available.

- Monitor who can send your child email.

- Monitor who your child can send emails to, as well.

- Determine who can send messages to your child or who your child can chat with in chat rooms. Limit them by name or age, or just allow certain ones.

- Monitor the time that they are online. Set a timer for each visit as to how much time they could be online every time they are available onto the web.

- Determine which websites your child can go to as well as what type of website it is. Some limit the child to only those websites that are approved by you.

There are more services that you can use when it comes to parental controls. There is no doubt that you'll manage to find the right type of control for your needs either with your current internet service provider or with additional software that you purchase. The goal here is to find the product that provides you the overall best solution and protection for your child. This isn't the type of thing that you need to put aside and do later.

source:http://www.articlesbase.com

Internet Safety Month promotes danger awareness

A June awareness campaign—known as National Internet Safety Month—was created to educate parents and children on the importance of using caution when going online and help the reported one in three teens who have experienced online harassment."I don't think a lot of kids realize that in going on there... how easy it could be to pick you out," said Holly Quist, a public health educator for the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department.

She said what is most worrying is that many people believe that private information is just a phone number or address, but posting the time and place of a sports practice after school can be just as dangerous to put on the web.

"Some parents are afraid to talk about the dangers out there because they don't want to scare their kids, but at the same time if you do talk to them they are less likely to fall victim to what's out there," Quist said.

It is much easier than many people believe to find information about others online, and in addition to online predators, cyber bullying and sexting are also very big dangers for kids and teenagers today, Quist said.

"Kids think because it's not face to face it doesn't hurt and isn't the same," she said.

Because there are so many ways that kids can get into trouble online, Quist said that it is important for parents to monitor their children's web usage, especially social networking sites such as Myspace and Facebook.

"I think (for kids) under 18, as a parent you can do as much as you want. More than likely, they are the one paying for the bill," she said.

source:http://www.nooga.com

Parents Should Be Involved In Kids Online Activities

Online tools such as web filtering software and web monitoring software can't replace the actual presence of parents when it comes to ensuring the kids total safety while using the internet. Thus, the active role you can provide to your kids will ensure that they use the internet properly and stay on good sites.

Here are the things you can do to keep your presence with your kids:

1.Sit with your kids while they use the internet. Not only will this ensure that the sites they visit are safe, it also helps them to respond properly when they encounter online bullies, online predators, and inappropriate websites.

2.Be computer and internet literate. Know how to navigate the computer properly. Learn the basics and advance techniques on web security. Learn how web browsers and search engines work especially the way to enable the security settings. The point is, you should know more on how to operate the computer and internet than your kids.

3.Learn the chat lingo. Abbreviations such as brb (be right back), lol (laugh out loud), and btw (by the way) are some of the more common terms used in online chatting. There are more. Make sure you learn them so you understand what your kids are typing.

4.Create a family email account. If your kids are still too young to handle their own email account, create one for your family. This way, you can monitor the mail they receive and scan if the mail is safe or not.

5.Be open. Keep the communication open between you and your kids. Encourage your kids to share with you're their online experiences. This will also help them to easily open up to you if they encounter any problems while you are away.

6.Help your kids bookmark their favorite accounts for easy access in the future.

7.Set rules that you both agree to. Set a corresponding consequence if any of these rules aren't followed.

8.Teach your kids the online safety rules. This includes not giving personal information to strangers, not to accept gifts, not to meet personally people they only met online, not to open sites, the right time to use the computer, and the proper way to treat others online.

9.Always be there for your kids whenever they need your help. Take them seriously and respond immediately if they report something to you.

source:http://www.articlesbase.com

Parental Control Software - Stop Ads Pop Outs and Remove Dangerous Internet Content

If you have children who love to go online and play games or chat with friends, then you have a need for web content parental control software. Most parents are concerned with what their children are viewing online, but they feel they have no control over this. There is so much danger and harmful content on the internet today, that you can't afford to take that attitude! There is something that you can actually do to control what your children are viewing when they get on the internet. Web content parental control software takes the control away from those who are placing negative content on the web and places it in the hands of parents just like you.

So, what is web content parental control software? This may sound like a big long term, but it simply refers to unique computer software which monitors the content being displayed on your computer. It is designed to allow parents to filter out specific types of content which they deem inappropriate for their children. Not only are parents using this software for family computers used by the entire household, but they are also downloading web content parent control software to personal computers and laptops used by older children in the home. No child is ever too old to be protected from the dangerous internet adult natured content.

Now, the big question is where do you find web content parental control software, right? This is the next question most parents ask after finding out that there is some protection for their children available today. You can find the software easily over the internet, with the best software packages being instantly downloadable into your computer.

source:http://ezinearticles.com

Internet Safety Rules : Kidsguard4u

inappropriate content, pornography or violent images is a major concern when this information can be just one click away with a mouse.There are many options available to provide parental control over Internet content that can be made available to your children. We will start with the basics. Depending on the Internet service provider (ISP) you use, most will supply you with a free security suite that comes with your monthly subscription. This will allow you to filter out most inappropriate content online and some offer filtering by age level. Your best bet would be to contact your ISP for availability.

Internet browsers like Microsoft's Internet Explorer and Mozilla's Firefox browser can also be configured to block content for kids. Internet Explorers parental controls can be found under the tools section of the toolbar in the upper right corner of the browser. By selecting the content tab you can choose from a list of content categories that you might not wish your child to see.

In Firefox you can use add on extensions from the tools section of the toolbar to find content blocking applications. You can search for these add ons from the toolbar which will open up Mozilla's extension web page. These must be installed to your Firefox browser and then you have to restart your browser to activate them. Just search for parental controls from the add ons web page. Some good add ons include, Glubble for families, ProCon, LeechBlock and FoxFilter. Leechblock will allow you to set a time limit for your child's web usage.

For a very high level of child safety content filtering, third party software is available for a monthly subscription or one time cost. These programs will not only block most objectionable content but can also alert you to your child's activity online, provide you with weekly reports on surfing habits and can offer services to help you find the best ways to remove objectionable content. Software is also available to work with iPads and iPhones as well as computers. These programs can be used by families, businesses and churches to provide additional protection. For more information on Internet safety for kids and these high quality programs please visit us from our bio links below.

Jon Angel is a parent that actively promotes Internet safety rules to help other parents and kids stay safe online. Providing Internet safety tips for teens on the possible dangers online to help promote a better Internet experience.

source:http://ezinearticles.com

Internet safety program for parents Monday in Randolph

A program for parents on Internet safety will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday in the Randolph High School auditorium, 70 Memorial Parkway.The program is sponsored by the Randolph School Department, the Randolph police and the Metropolitan Law Enforcement Council.

“Our hope is to arm parents and guardians with the necessary knowledge to protect their children,” said Randolph police Detective Gabriel Pantazelos, the school resource officer at Randolph High School.

The presentation will include information on cyberbullying, personal safety and online predators. Materials will include essential tools for parents to reduce the chance of being victimized while using the Internet.

Online communication, social networking and online resources will be among the other topics.

There will be a question-and-answer period.The program is free and open to all adults.

source:http://www.patriotledger.com/news/education/x145758048/Internet-safety-program-for-parents-Monday-in-Randolph

Using Spy Software To Monitor Children : kidsguard4u

The growth of technology is quite tremendous with release of new products everyday into the marketplace. There are different types of programs available and there may be few parents who are interested in such programs.Most of the programs are filled with promising features and would attract everyone. Initially you can start by searching the methods for spy work on your kid's computer in any of the popular search engines.You can search about the different available programs online to know about each program in detail. This will provide different tips that are useful for monitoring the activities of your children without giving any signal to them about the monitoring program.Most of the programs come in a ready to install package that helps you to install the software on your computer thereby allowing you to check the written and accessed content in their computers.

You can even monitor the different websites they surf on the internet using the special programs. You may find out the complete browsing history regarding the websites that were accessed in your absence.These programs are quite useful in understanding the mentality of your children and the issues faced by them. It would help in understanding several problems associated with them and having difficulty to discuss with parents.

By using this spy software, you are easily getting into their world to understand their problems in full depth. You may find it unbelievable to find their thoughts to be broad and unexpected and this method would be a great topic starter to discuss about their issues.If you find any search results about the use of drugs and related habits, you can discuss about it during your free time to make them understand about the negative aspects of such drugs. You have to handle these issues with ample care without leaving any chances of doubt about the monitoring program.

source:http://www.articlesbase.com

5 Steps to Internet Safety For Kids

While the Internet has certainly brought a wealth of information, convenience and has a made the world a much smaller place, the Internet has its liabilities and especially so for children, teens and all minors. The responsibility of protecting children from online dangers lies with parents. There are several steps you can take to provide Internet safety for kids.One solution, which some parents choose, is to completely restrict their children from using the Internet. This solution while keeping your children safe is not always the best option. One, the Internet is here to stay, it is an important part of everyday life, and its use is a skill that is often required by schools and in the work place. Also, if you just tell your kids that they cannot have or use the Internet then you eliminate the opportunity to teach them how to use it safely. So, if they do use it when they are away from you, (which believe me does happen, even with the best of kids) at a friends house or school then they will not have the tools they need to stay safe. Having talks and discussions with children about the risks is very important, and as a parent you should set certain limits and keep the conversation open in regards to Internet safety.

5 Steps to Internet Safety for Kids:

1. Have a conversation with your kids. Explain to them, in as much detail as their age will allow some of the dangers that exist online. For example, that strangers in chat rooms, are just that, strangers. That they should never agree to meet anyone, give out their phone numbers, personal information like address etc. The same conversation that you had with them about not talking to strangers applies even more so when online, so use that and extend it further. Remember that most of these steps will only apply to computers you have at home. When your children are away from you they will have access to other computers and that is when those conversations will be the guidance that ensures their safety.

2. There is software available, which can help to protect your children from any content that is not appropriate for them.

3. All web browsers allow for parental control settings. You can make personalized adjustments from the browser to set limits that you desire and to insure your child's safety.

4. You can increase children's safety by creating Limited User Accounts for your children from your Administrative Account. This restricts children from changing system settings, installing any new software which includes chat programs, games, etc. You can see the help section of your Operating System for detailed instructions on how to create User Accounts. This is a simple process and the instructions are step by step.

5. Be active and be a snoop. Yes a snoop, keep track of the websites that your kids are surfing. You can view all websites that they visited in the History List or Cookies from the web browser. You can even see the email addresses, correspondence and downloaded files. If you see something inappropriate or dangerous take the necessary parental actions. Sometimes we want to be our children's friend but we have to always be parents first.

Always remember that these are concrete steps that will provide Internet safety for kids and protect them while they are online and still allow them to get the benefits of using and learning to use the Internet.

source:http://ezinearticles.com

Internet Safety Tips For Kids

The Internet is a network of networks that consists of millions of private, public, academic, business, and government networks of local to global scope that are linked by a broad array of electronic and optical networking technologies. Now, a lot of parents have a false sense of security regarding Internet use because they view the computer as a safe educational tool. They believe that because their children are at home, and often in their own rooms, they are safe from harm. However, this is not always the case. The Internet may become the means through which some people can harm your children. Here, then, are some Internet safety tips for kids.

Number one: Always tell your parents or guardian if you see something online that you know is wrong or that makes you feel uncomfortable. Similarly, inform your parents if someone on the Internet harasses you or threatens you. Moreover, do not respond to any messages or bulletin boards that are mean, sexually obscene, threatening, or make you feel uncomfortable in any way.

Number two: Never arrange to meet someone you've met online in person unless you discuss it with your parents and an adult goes with you. Number three: Do not open an email from someone you do not know as you may download viruses or it may have contents that can upset you. Also, many chain emails or emails with virus warnings are hoaxes. Before you forward virus warnings to your friends and family, check that it is not a hoax.

Number four: Choose a gender-neutral online name in a chat room to avoid harassment. Number five: Talk with your parents about rules for going online. Decide upon the time of day that you can be online, the length of time you can be online, and appropriate sites for you to visit.

source:http://www.articlesbase.com/internet-articles/internet-safety-tips-for-kids-101-internet-safety-tips-for-kids-2670161.html