Internet safety encompasses a variety issues including on-line predators, cyberbullying and morally offensive content. There are several things parents can do to help keep their kids safe on-line:
1. Keep the computer in a public place in the house such as a kitchen or family room. Avoid placing computers in private rooms in the house such as a child's bedroom.
2. Know where your children are going on-line - what websites they are visiting, who they are emailing and instant messaging, are they visiting chat rooms.
3. Know who you children are conversing with on-line. Predators are most likely to find their victims when a friend introduces a friend who introduces another friend who then introduces another friend to a chat room or Instant Message "friends" list.
4. If your child has created a profile on a networking site such as myspace.com or facebook.com, ask them to see their profile, read their blogs and have them introduce you to some of their friends included on their friends list.
5. Monitor their email and instant messaging - ask them if they've received anything that makes them feel uncomfortable - people are more likely to email and instant message thoughts that they would never consider saying to someone if they were having a face to face conversation.
6. Talk to your children about not providing any type of personal information on-line - address, telephone number, pictures of themselves.
The internet is a remarkable resource but not all of it is good. It is important to stay involved with what children are doing on-line in order to keep them safe.