How Can You Keep Your Kids From Getting Tangled in the World Wide Web?

The Internet is a valuable tool, and one the whole family can enjoy. However, it can also be a serious threat and danger to unsuspecting and inexperienced children. Here are a few simple guidelines that all households should follow to keep kids safe when surfing the web.

•Place computers in a common room in full view of everyone - not in kids' bedrooms.

•Learn about filtering software and parental controls. (www.http://www.parentalcontrolbar.org/)

•Use search engines such as Yahoo!Kids (www.yahookids.com) and Ask for Kids (www.askforkids.com).

•Teach kids never to give out their telephone number or address online.

•Keep the Internet account in your name to control passwords and filtering.

•Check your childrens' Internet browsing history.

•Allow them to email and instant-message only people they know.

•Randomly check their email and buddy lists.

•If your children participate in chats, help them pick screen names that don't reveal personal information.

•Make sure your kids' online photos don't reveal identifying information, such as their school's name.

•Teach kids to use caution when posting about their friends and plans.

•If someone posts threatening or dangerous comments about your child, report it to the police and your service provider.

•No downloading without your permission.

Be aware of what sites your child is using and what messages are being given in the form of online games. Talk to your children about what they encounter online and how to know which sites could be harmful to them.


•Social networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook set minimum ages for participation. Generally, if your children are 13 or younger, you can have their pages removed. Read a site's Terms of Use carefully for full details.

•Ask to see your kids' pages on social networking sites. Read their blogs if they have them.

•Have your kids use the privacy settings on social networking sites, but be aware that some information such as their picture, nickname, age and location may still be available for all users to see.

•Go through your kids' "friends" lists to make sure they know and trust those people in real life. Consider making your own profile and "friending" your kids' to stay informed about what they're posting.

Questions about kids and computers? Visit www.netsmartz411.org for expert advice from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.