Media Safety: Guidelines for Internet Use

Surfing the Internet can expose children to inappropriate sexual material and other dangers. It is very important for parents to be aware of the risks, educate children about them, and monitor children's use.

The Internet is a wonderful tool. It makes information easily accessible from home and facilitates fast communication via email. In addition, it can be educational and fun. But the Internet can also be dangerous. It hosts many forms of pornography, chat rooms where sex offenders pose as children, and countless commercial Web sites that use explicit sexual content to sell products.

Children—especially teens—are at risk of coming across these inappropriate Web sites when they're online. Teens are naturally interested and curious about sexuality and may be tempted to explore sites with sexual content. Since teens seek more independence, they may participate in chat rooms as a way of getting to know people outside of their families, schools, and communities. Here are some tips to help safeguard your children when they use the Internet.

Follow These Guidelines for Internet Use

• Spend time online with your children. Learn how they use the Internet and talk to them about their use.
• Keep the computer where everyone can see it, for example, in the living room or family room. This helps you monitor children's use.
• Monitor your children's involvement in chat rooms.
• Find out what online safety policies are in place at school. Lobby to have safeguards put in place if they don't exist.
• Survey the Internet sites your children have visited by clicking on your Internet server's "history button."
• Consider getting a software or online filtering program that blocks sites that aren't suitable for children.

It can also be helpful to maintain access to your children's accounts so that if you become concerned about their online behavior, you can check their email now and again. Since this entails a privacy issue, let your children know that you will do this to monitor their safety. Discuss the circumstances under which you would feel the need to check.

• Make Explicit Agreements with Your Children About Internet Use
• Agree on which Web sites they are allowed to visit.
• Agree on the length of time they can be online.
• Agree on a set of rules.
• Agree ahead of time to consequences for not following agreements and rules.

Include the following basic rules in your agreement with your children.

• Never give out personal information (name, age, address, phone) or use a credit card online without your permission.
• Never share their passwords with anyone, including friends.
• Never arrange to meet in person someone they met online unless you agree and go with them.
• Never reply to uncomfortable messages they receive. Always tell you when they receive any.
• Never download games without your permission.
• Never download pictures from an unknown source.

It can be helpful to write down the agreement in the form of a contract and have each child sign it. It is also important to watch for the warning signs below.