Cybernet for kids

Teaching children about Internet safety is necessary these days to prevent abuse and bullying on the Net
theSun, Tues 26 Oct 2010

IT IS said that for every ‘good’ thing, there may be a ‘bad’ side. We need to know how to exploit the pros for our benefit and control the cons to be safe.

So it is with our usage of the Internet. If adults can become victims of Internet addictions, stalkers, scammers and other dangerous elements, young children and teenagers who are innocent and more trusting would face higher risks when they venture into the Internet world.

Even if they don’t join chat rooms and befriend strangers on the Internet, our children’s privacy has been found to be compromised.

In a Sept 17 report in the online version of the Wall Street Journal titled On the Web, Children Face Intensive Tracking, Steve Stecklow reported the Journal’s investigation and findings on "tiny tracking tools used by data-collection companies to follow people as they surf the Internet".

Profiles detailing your online activities, behaviour and personal interests are then built and sold to advertisers. Although the profiles don’t include names, they can include "age, tastes, hobbies, shopping habits, race, likelihood to post comments and general location, such as city".

It is important to remember that when we allow our children to use the Internet, we also need to teach them about Internet safety. We need to supervise or monitor their online activities regularly to ensure that their exposure to risks and dangers are minimised.

For young children, it is best that you be with them when they are searching for information or playing games online. At times, a spelling mistake when typing a keyword into a search engine could lead to sites that are unsuitable. Bookmark the sites that your child frequently visits for easier and direct access.

Place your computer in a common and open area in the house, not in a bedroom, so that the computer screen is visible to you as you go about your chores around the house.

Talk to your children and create awareness of cyber-bullying, sexual victimisation and other possible online risks. Tell them never to divulge any personal information such as their name, home address, school name or phone number. They should not upload or email pictures of themselves to people they don’t know personally, or to arrange any face-to-face meetings with someone they met online.

Teach them that not everything they read or are told online is true, or some people may not be who they say they are. They should not respond to messages from strangers or those that are harassing or obscene.

Be aware of the privacy policies and the type and amount of personal information required by sites that you or your child register with and use. Install filtering and blocking software, or those that can monitor and track online activities.

If your child uses any computer outside your home, such as in school, at the library or a friend’s home, find out if they have such measures in place to protect the users.

Teach them to use the Internet responsibly. Show them the benefits of using it for their studies and homework, and how to play educational games and communicate with their friends safely.

Also keep them occupied with other activities such as music, sports or other projects. These are much healthier and safer activities compared to joining a chat room full of strangers and spending too much time surfing the Web while snacking on junk food.