I adopted my son when he was 10 -- he was already very interested in the Internet and, in some ways, more knowledgeable about it than I was. One of his favorite things to do was to go online, search for images of animals or cars or anything else that he thought was cool and then make a collage of the printed pictures. A newbie mom, I thought he was safe if he only used the computer while I was in the room with him and if I was aware of what he was doing. That theory went out the window when my son searched for "foxes." Let's just say foxes of a decidedly non-furry type appeared.
The Internet is an amazing tool for kids, but safety has to be at the forefront of a parent's mind. Child safety software can prevent certain types of sites from loading for kids, but the software isn't fool proof. What's more, the world of kids bullying kids has moved from the playground to the net. Popular social media sites and chat rooms are just magnets for bullying and mean comments. My son has repeatedly asked for his own Facebook page; after seeing some of his friends' pages and the things they sometimes write about each other, I'm just not willing to allow it yet.
I think Internet safety starts with the absence of technology. Parents need to talk to their kids about the potential dangers on the Internet and how to stay safe. You can also let your kids explore sites that teach about Internet safety such as NetSmartz Kids and NSTeens.
What measures do you take to keep your kids safe on the Internet?
Jake, Age 3
Kalie, Age 5
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