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The Real Dangers to Kids Online and How to Avoid Them
By Joshua F. Finer,
MBA - President, Software4Parents.com
Did you know...?
ˇ1 out of 5 kids has been sexually solicited online
ˇ1 out of 4 kids has been sent a picture of naked people
or people having sex online
ˇthat May 21, 2002 there was the first death of a child
linked directly to an Internet Predator?
Parents' biggest concern about the Internet used to be
pornography, but there is definitely a greater fear today.
You have probably taught your child not to talk to
strangers, and in many situations, they would remember
this. But the Internet is different.
Due to the Internet's anonymity, strangers are talking to
children all the time. They try to gain the child's trust
by having friendly conversation at first, but over time,
their true objective of sexually soliciting the child
becomes evident. Children and parents alike are unaware
of this, yet this is exactly what is going on via the
Internet.
What can today's parent do? Armed with information,
there's quite a bit a parent can do.
Software4Parents.com's Top 5 Internet Safety Tips
1. Tell your child to NEVER EVER reveal their name,
address, phone number or any other personal information to
ANYONE online. Once you give out this information, it is
impossible to retract.
2. Communicate regularly (not just once) with your child
about WHAT they do online and WHOM they talk to online. If
you have actually met the friends they are talking to in
person, you'll know it is OK for them to chat with them
online.
3. Take computers out of kids' rooms and put them into
public areas such as the family room. Many parents think
they are helping with homework by giving the kids a
computer, but it also opens certain dangers that you may
be unaware of.
4. Choose your child's screen name, email address or
instant message name wisely - don't' reveal ages, sex,
hobbies, and CERTAINLY NOT suggestive or sexy names.
Predators are more likely to pursue a child with the
screen name "sexyteen5" than "happygirl5"
5. Use technology to help you protect your child.
Monitoring software gives you the ability to review your
child's Internet usage. Although some parenting experts
have concern over violating children's trust, others feel
that this is very important. Even if you don't look at each
and every email or instant message they send, you'll have
a good idea if they are making smart choices online.
The Internet can open many doors and provide useful
information for children. An aware and informed parent
can help keep children safe.
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Joshua Finer is a Pennsylvania State University MBA and
nationally known Internet safety expert. As President of
http://www.Software4Parents.com, Joshua has been see on/in The
Montel Williams Show, The Wall Street Journal, The
Christian Science Monitor, and other national media.
Joshua works and lives in Bucks County, PA. |
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Net Nanny 5
 Amazon.com Product Description
Net Nanny provides you with a broad set of Internet safety tools. It
allows you to safeguard your privacy, stop pornography and other
objectionable material from coming into your home, and limit your
children's online activities.
Net Nanny lets you filter and block Web sites by URL or keyword, and
filter content in e-mail, IRC chat, and newsgroups. Limit access to your
PC by time of day and total amount of connect time, or restrict access to
online activities (chat, instant messengers, games, file sharing). Protect
confidential information, block pop-up and pop-under advertisements, and
block Internet cookies. You can also monitor Internet activity for an
individual, a group, or all users.
Net Nanny is a First Amendment-friendly Internet filtering
application--users have complete access to the program's database of Web
sites, keywords, and Internet-enabled applications.
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