While the internet has revolutionized the way we communicate, it has also presented a whole new set of worries for parents. Not only do you have to be concerned about predators outside the home; now they may be lurking in the computer as well.
It is important to take this threat in context; you don’t need to send the family computer to the dump. There are measures that you can take to protect your children as they surf the web to research projects for school, download music, or chat with their friends.
The first, and probably the most important, measure is to have the computer in a family room. You will face all sorts of arguments about this from your kids who would prefer to have the computer in their room. Just remember, it’s not about how much you trust them… you cannot trust anyone else! Internet predators are pros at building relationships with kids and gaining their trust. With the computer in a fmaily room, you can discreetly monitor who your children are chatting with. You can also limit the amount of time they spend online.
Another important factor is a good internet filter. Without recommending any specific brand names, I would urge you to invest in software that filters out pornography and other inappropriate sites. Again, this is not about trusting your child. Of course they wouldn’t intentionally seek out disturbing images. However, internet predators often use misspelled versions of common site names to catch people who make a typo. Your child could be searching for something innocent only to find very graphic or disturbing images popping up in front of them. This software will also filter out inappropriate email messages.
Even with protective measures in place, it is still important to talk with your kids regularly about their activities online.  Internet access really does place a whole new world at their fingertips; children are impressionable and too immature to understand the dangers of this. It is your job as a parent to stay involved and reduce the risks as much as possible.
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[...] The internet has become a common place for children to go to these days. Children go online not only to do their homework and research but also to get connected with their classmates and friends. The World Wide Web is definitely a little world of its own where people meet, converge and have loads of fun. The internet has become one of the most powerful and useful tools needed by everyone. Going online is very simple, in order to get connected in your very own household, all you need to have a working personal computer and a stable internet service provider. These days, with the advancement of technology, pdas, mobile phones, ipods, gaming consoles and other high tech devices can already access the internet wirelessly even in public hotspot zones free of charge. These things make the internet more accessible than ever. Most children spend a lot of time online, if they’re not in school or playing outside the house, they’re busy with facebook, twitter or youtube. They can also play several online games for countless hours. The internet world as amazing as it is also has certain draw backs most especially for children. Child predators, pedophiles, child molesters, kidnappers and other child offenders frequently go online to prey on unsuspecting and vulnerable children. Kids who fall victim to such people face the risk of being harassed, physically assaulted, and sexually abused even death. Children who use the internet without any form of adult supervision are also exposed to things they’re not supposed to see. Websites containing contents such as sex, pornography and violence are among the many things parents should be wary about. They must know and be aware that these things are readily available for children to see with just one click of the mouse button. Here are some tips to help parents protect their children from the web. [...]
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