Online Safety Practices for the Family

Adults need to be involved in our youth's online world.  Not just the parents, but everyone who plays a role in their lives. So many situations arise in school, youth groups, and clubs in which an adult is around that the adults need to be prepared to do what they can to protect them. 

Parents need to set rules for the family regarding online activity. These rules should include when its okay to be online, what is appropriate activity, what is not, how to report it when something happens, and what the consequences are for violating the rules.  A family
Internet usage agreement and Cell phone usage agreement should be used as a starting point for a family discussion on Internet safety.  You can add or delete clauses as you work through your discussions with your children.  Remember that the communication technology that teens use everyday means they are accessible to anyone at any time.  Electronic communication is part of a teens everyday life.  It comes up in every conversation either directly or indirectly as they take a text message while talking to others.  Adults need to take advantage of these situations and engage the kids in conversation about what is happening and present some What if...scenario's.

Online safety practices should be in force anywhere kids and teens have access to the Internet.  Most schools have an acceptable use policy, and there should be one at home. Check and see what the policy is and what the consequences are for violating the rules. Check with your child's friends families to see if they practice online safety.  

The list below is a general list of Internet safety tips for families and those responsible for kids online activities:

Get the computer out in the open.  Anyone walking by should be able to see what is being done online. If the user is embarrassed by others seeing what they are working on, they probably shouldn't be there

Control Internet access on each computer in the home

Talk about what is acceptable behavior online.  Establish rules for Internet use and what the consequences are for breaking them.  Sit down as a family and create an Internet usage agreement

Never share personal information such as your name, address, and telephone number anywhere on the Internet without your parent/guardian's knowledge and permission

Tell your parents if something or someone makes you feel uncomfortable while online

Never share account login information or passwords with friends

Don't send or post pictures without your parent/guardian's knowledge and permission

Never meet anyone you met online in person without your parent/guardian's permission and an adult goes with you.  The last part applies to adults too!

Discuss the difference between an online friend and an "eyeball" friend (someone you know personally)

Talk about how to prevent unwanted exposure to sexual material by reading before you click, know where a link is taking you before you go

Don't open email from people you don't know or didn't solicit

Set up individual user accounts on utilize the Internet security  aspects already on your computer by setting the Internet options.  Click on the links for assistance in setting them up

Check the Internet history of your computer regularly  (Mac's and Windows PC's)

Use monitoring software to keep track of what is being done on the computer

Educate yourself.  You have taken the first steps by reading this material.  Continue your efforts to learn about what is happening online and have the talks with your kids about their online life

The most important thing is to take problems seriously and to report suspicious online activity involving kids.

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