Keeping your child safe
online today is like a full time job with predators In every niche and corner is
it amazing how scarey the online world can be for our kids. To give you an idea
of how scary the online world can be I was watching Dateline NBC and they
purchased a brand new computer and then typed in some common URL’s addresses
your children might visit they were

PBS kids

Nickelodeon

Nickelodeon Junior

Crayola

After typing in those four
simple addresses they did a spyware and virus scan you may have been surprised
to know that the software picked up over 20,000 porn sites had been attached to
those sites and left thousands of spyware components on the new computer and
then to find the computer had tons of viruses. If you are like me and have
daughters or sons on the internet you may be a nervous wreck at times praying
your children are being safe!

We constantly police our
kids on the internet but I was surprised how many times my girls have been
approached by what they thought were kids and later we found out thanks to my
policing they were not children. My youngest daughter likes to go to Club
Penguin and play games with her childhood friends and there have been two
occasions where she has said mom someone is instant messaging and I don’t know
who they are. Well I will sit down and start chatting with them only to discover
after my questioning there is no way this is a child.

After researching the net
for tips to help keep my kids informed about the dangers of online fun I wanted
to share some tips that I have found with you.

Kids Rules for Online Safety

Chat Room Safety Tips

1. Remember that
what you say in a chat room or instant messaging session is live — you can’t
take it back or delete it later.

2. Don’t say
anything you wouldn’t want the public to know — this includes your full name,
your address, phone number of other personal information.

3. Don’t get
together with someone you meet in a chat room. If you must, meet in a public
place and bring along some friends.

4. Don’t reveal
your actual location or when and where you plan to hang out.

5. Choose a nick
name that’s not sexually suggestive and doesn’t give away your real name.

6. If someone
says or does something creepy — block them and don’t respond.

7. If the topic
turns to sex, just sign out. That can often lead somewhere you don’t want to go.

Social Web Tips for Teens

Think about what you
post. Sharing provocative photos
or intimate details online, even in private emails, can cause you problems later
on. Even people you consider friends can use this info against you, especially
if they become ex-friends.

Read between the
“lines.” It may be fun to check
out new people for friendship or romance, but be aware that, while some people
are nice, others act nice because they’re trying to get something. Flattering or
supportive messages may be more about manipulation than friendship or romance.

Don’t talk about sex
with strangers. Be cautious when
communicating with people you don’t know in person, especially if the
conversation starts to be about sex or physical details. Don’t lead them on -
you don’t want to be the target of a predator’s grooming. If they persist, call
your local police or contact CyberTipline.com.

Avoid in-person
meetings. The only way someone
can physically harm you is if you’re both in the same location, so – to be 100%
safe – don’t meet them in person. If you really have to get together with
someone you “met” online, don’t go alone. Have the meeting in a public place,
tell a parent or some other solid backup, and bring some friends along.

Be smart when using
a cell phone. All the same tips
apply with phones as with computers. Except phones are with you wherever you
are, often away from home and your usual support systems. Be careful who you
give your number to and how you use GPS and other technologies that can pinpoint
your physical location.