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Child Safety
on the Information Highway |
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"Cyberspace,"
the "Web," the "Net," the "Information Highway" - whatever it’s
called, millions of people are now going online to exchange electronic
mail, surf the World Wide Web, post and read messages in newsgroups (sometimes
called bulletin boards), and participate in chat groups and many other
online activities.
There
are a number of ways to get online. In addition to major commercial online
services, there are thousands of Internet Service Providers (ISPs) that
provide Internet access. Telephone companies, cable TV companies, and even
some local newspapers offer Internet access, usually for a monthly fee.
Although most people use personal computers to get online, it’s now possible
to purchase a special adapter that allows you to access the Internet from
a TV set.
ISPs
and online services generally do everything they can to provide their subscribers
with an enjoyable, safe, and rewarding online experience, but it’s not
possible for these companies to police everyone who uses their service
anymore than a local government can control the behavior of its citizens.
Besides, once you’re connected to the Internet, you’re able to exchange
information with people who are signed on with other ISPs and online services.
The Internet is a vast global network of networks that’s not governed by
any company or government.
Anyone
in the world — companies, governments, organizations, and individuals —
can publish material on the Internet. An ISP links you to these sites,
but it can’t control what is
on
them. It’s up to individuals to make sure that they behave in a way that’s
safe and appropriate.
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| The
Benefits of the Information Highway |
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The
vast array of services that you currently find online is constantly growing.
Reference
information such as news, weather, sports, stock quotes, movie reviews,
encyclopedias, and airline fares are readily available online.
Users
can conduct transactions such as trading stocks, making travel reservations,
banking, and shopping online. You can find information about your local
schools and government, read an out-of-town newspaper, or obtain vital
health information.
Millions
of people communicate through electronic mail (E-mail) with family
and friends around the world. Others use the public message board chat
areas to make new friends who share common interests. You can even use
the Internet to watch video and listen to audio programs produced by major
media companies, businesses, organizations, and even individuals.
As
an educational and entertainment tool users can learn about virtually
any topic, visit a museum, take a college course, or play an endless number
of computer games with other users or against the computer itself.
Most
people who go online have mainly positive experiences. But, like any endeavor
— traveling, cooking, or attending school — there are some risks. The online
world, like the rest of society, is made up of a wide array of people.
Most are decent and respectful, but some may be rude, obnoxious, insulting,
or even mean and exploitative.
Children
get a lot of benefit from being online, but they can also be targets of
crime and exploitation in this as in any other environment. Trusting, curious,
and anxious to explore this new world and the relationships it brings,
children need parental supervision and common-sense advice on how to be
sure that their experiences in "cyberspace" are happy, healthy, and productive.
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| Putting
the Issue in Perspective |
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Although
there have been some highly publicized cases of abuse involving the Internet
and online services, reported cases are relatively infrequent. Of course,
like most crimes that are committed against children, many cases go unreported,
especially if the child is engaged in an activity that he or she does not
want to discuss with a parent.
The
fact that crimes are being committed online, however, is not a reason to
avoid using these services. To tell children to stop using these services
would be like telling them to forgo attending school because students are
sometimes victimized there. A better strategy would be to instruct children
about both the benefits and dangers of cyberspace and for them to learn
how to be "street smart" in order to better safeguard themselves in any
potentially dangerous situation. |
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| What
Are the Risks |
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There
are a few risks for children who use the Internet or online services. Teenagers
are particularly at risk because they often use the computer unsupervised
and are more likely than younger children to participate in online discussions
regarding companionship, relationships, or sexual activity.
If
you have a teen in your family or you are a teenager, check out Teen Safety
on the Information Highway at www.missingkids.com or order a free copy
by calling 1-800-843-5678.
Some
risks are
Exposure
to Inappropriate Material
One
risk is that a child may be exposed to inappropriate material that is sexual,
hateful, or violent in nature, or encourages activities that are dangerous
or illegal.
Physical
Molestation
Another
risk is that, while online, a child might provide information or arrange
an encounter that could risk his or her safety or the safety of other family
members. In a few cases, pedophiles have used E-mail, bulletin boards,
and chat areas to gain a child’s confidence and then arrange a face-to-face
meeting.
Harassment
A
third risk is that a child might encounter E-mail or chat/bulletin board
messages that are harassing, demeaning, or belligerent.
Legal
and Financial
There
is also the risk that a child could do something that has negative legal
or financial consequences such as giving out a parent’s credit-card number
or doing something that violates another person’s rights. Legal issues
aside, children should be taught good "netiquette" which means to avoid
being rude, mean, or inconsiderate.
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| How
Parents Can Reduce the Risks |
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While
children need a certain amount of privacy, they also need parental involvement
and supervision in their daily lives. The same general parenting skills
that apply to the "real world" also apply while online.
If
you have cause for concern about your children’s online activities, talk
to them. Also seek out the advice and counsel of teachers, librarians,
and other Internet and online service users in your area. Open communication
with your children, utilization of such computer resources, and getting
online yourself will help you obtain the full benefits of these systems
and alert you to any potential problem that may occur with their use. If
your child tells you about an upsetting person or thing encountered while
online, don’t blame your child but help him or her avoid problems in the
future. Remember — how you respond will determine whether they confide
in you the next time they encounter a problem and how they learn to deal
with problems on their own.
Beyond
these basics, there are some specific things that you should know about
the Internet. For instance, did you know that there are web sites
and newsgroups that have material that is hateful, is violent, or contains
other types of material that parents might consider to be inappropriate
for their children? It’s possible for children to stumble across this type
of material when doing a search using one of the web sites that is specifically
designed to help people find information on the Internet. Most of these
sites (called "search engines") do not, by default, filter out material
that might be inappropriate for children, but some offer a child-safe option
and some are designed specifically for use by children.
Also
the Internet contains web sites, newsgroups, and other areas designed specifically
for adults who wish to post, view, or read sexually explicit material including
stories, pictures, and videos. Some of this material is posted on web sites
where there is an attempt to verify the user’s age and/or a requirement
for users to enter a credit-card number on the presumption that children
do not have access to credit-card numbers. Other areas on the Internet
make no such effort to control access. Nevertheless, consider monitoring
your credit-card bills for such charges.
Some
online services and ISPs allow parents to limit their children’s access
to certain services and features such as adult-oriented web sites and "chat"
rooms and bulletin boards. There may be an area set aside just for kids
where you don’t have to worry about them stumbling onto inappropriate material
or getting into an unsupervised chat.
At
the very least, keep track of any files your children download to the computer,
consider sharing an E-mail account with your children to oversee their
mail, and consider joining your children when they are in private chat
areas.
In
addition, there are filtering features built into the popular Internet
browsers (the software you use to access the World Wide Web) that empower
parents to limit their children’s access only to those sites that have
been rated appropriate for children. Other useful tools are software programs
that block web sites, newsgroups, and chat areas that are known to be inappropriate
for children. Most of these programs can be configured by the parent to
filter out sites that contain nudity, sexual content, hateful or violent
material, or that advocate the use of drugs, tobacco, or alcohol. Some
can also be configured to prevent children from revealing information about
themselves such as their name, address, or telephone number. You can find
a directory of these filtering programs at www.safekids.com/filters.htm.
While
technological child-protection tools are worth exploring, they’re not a
panacea. Regardless of whether you choose to use a filtering program or
an Internet rating system, the best way to assure that your children are
having positive online experiences is to stay in touch with what they are
doing. One way to do this is to spend time with your children while they’re
online. Have them show you what they do, and ask them to teach you how
to use the Internet or online service. You might be surprised at how much
you can learn from your kids.
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| Guidelines
for Parents |
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By
taking responsibility for your children’s online computer use, parents
can greatly minimize any potential risks of being online. Make it a family
rule to
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Never
give out identifying information — home address, school name, or telephone
number — in a public message such as chat or bulletin boards (newsgroup),
and be sure you’re dealing with someone that both you and your children
know and trust before giving out this information via E-mail. Think carefully
before revealing any personal information such as age, marital status,
or financial information. Do not post photographs of your children on web
sites or newsgroups that are available to the public. Consider using a
pseudonym, avoid listing your child’s name and E-mail address in any public
directories and profiles, and find out about your ISP’s privacy policies
and exercise your options for how your personal information may be used.
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Get
to know the Internet and any services your child uses. If you don’t know
how to log on, get your child to show you. Have your child show you what
he or she does online, and become familiar with all the things that you
can do online.
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Never
allow a child to arrange a face-to-face meeting with another computer user
without parental permission. If a meeting is arranged, make the first one
in a public place, and be sure to accompany your child.
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Never
respond to messages or bulletin-board items that are suggestive, obscene,
belligerent, threatening, or make you feel uncomfortable. Encourage your
children to tell you if they encounter such messages. If you or your child
receives a message that is harassing, of a sexual nature, or threatening,
forward a copy of the message to your ISP, and ask for their assistance.
Instruct your child not to click on any links that are contained in E-mail
from persons they don’t know. Such links could lead to sexually explicit
or otherwise inappropriate web sites. If someone sends you or your children
messages or images that are obscene, lewd, filthy, or indecent with the
intent to harass, abuse, annoy, or threaten, or if you become aware of
the transmission, use, or viewing of child pornography while online, immediately
report this to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s
CyberTipline at 1-800-843-5678 or www.cybertipline.com.
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Remember
that people online may not be who they seem. Because you can’t see or even
hear the person it would be easy for someone to misrepresent him- or herself.
Thus, someone indicating that "she" is a "12-year-old girl" could in reality
be a 40-year-old man.
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Remember
that everything you read online may not be true. Any offer that’s "too
good to be true" probably is. Be very careful about any offers that involve
you coming to a meeting, having someone visit your house, or sending money
or credit-card information.
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Set
reasonable rules and guidelines for computer use by your children (see
"My Rules for Online Safety" on the backcover). Discuss these rules and
post them near the computer as a reminder. Remember to monitor your children’s
compliance with these rules, especially when it comes to the amount of
time your children spend on the computer. A child’s excessive use of online
services or the Internet, especially late at night, may be a clue that
there is a potential problem. Remember that personal computers and online
services should not be used as electronic babysitters.
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Check
out blocking, filtering, and ratings.
Be
sure to make this a family activity. Consider keeping the computer in a
family room rather than the child’s bedroom. Get to know their "online
friends" just as you get to know all of their other friends.
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| My
Rules for Online Safety |
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I
will not give out personal information such as my address, telephone number,
parents' work address/telephone number, or the name and location of my
school without my parents' permission.
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I
will tell my parents right away if I come across any information that makes
me feel uncomfortable.
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I
will never agree to get together with someone I "meet" online without first
checking with my parents. If my parents agree to the meeting, I will be
sure that it is in a public place and bring my mother or father along.
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I
will never send a person my picture or anything else without first checking
with my parents.
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I
will not respond to any messages that are mean or in any way make me feel
uncomfortable. It is not my fault if I get a message like that. If I do
I will tell my parents right away so that they can contact the online service.
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I
will talk with my parents so that we can set up rules for going online.
We will decide upon the time of day that I can be online, the length of
time I can be online, and appropriate areas for me to visit. I will not
access other areas or break these rules without their permission.
For
further information on child safety, please contact the National Center
for Missing &Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678)
or www.missingkids.com.
Child
Safety on the Information Highway by Lawrence J. Magid is reprinted
with permission of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
(NCMEC). Copyright © 1994 and 1998 by the National Center for Missing
& Exploited Children. All rights reserved. |
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