Your Kids, the Internet, and the Law

For example, when the record industry decided to crack down on illegal song downloads, they targeted the person who paid for the downloader’s Internet service. That means some parents, and even grandparents, were named in the lawsuits—even though it was their children or grandchildren who illegally downloaded music.

In another case, two teenage students made false and damaging statements about their assistant principal on a My Space account. The principal sued the students—and their parents—for defamation, libel, negligence, and negligent supervision.

You need to be proactive to keep your kids out of trouble online. Specifically, you need to lay down some rules, lead by example, and help your children understand the potential consequences of illegal online activities.

Start a dialogue — Talk with your kids about how their online actions can cause very real harm to others, and how they could land themselves—and you—in serious legal trouble. Explain what kind of activities are illegal, and let them know you’re available to talk should they wonder whether a contemplated activity is against the law.

Set some ground rules — Place limits on the amount of time your kids spend online. Don’t allow them to shop online without your permission or knowledge. Try to keep your computers in a common area of the house, and consider using parental or administrative controls to restrict access to certain programs and Web sites. Make it clear you won’t tolerate illegal behavior on the Internet, just as you wouldn’t tolerate them stealing or vandalizing your neighborhood.

Stay involved — Once you’ve opened a dialogue and set some ground rules, stay involved in your kids online activities. Ask to see their blogs and My Space profiles. Talk with them about the latest trends and technologies and how they’re using them. Make it fun.

When children and teens cross the line on the Internet, the legal consequences can be severe. In some cases, parents can even be held responsible for their kids’ actions. So, it’s up to you to get involved, set some ground rules, and lead by example.