So long to Barbies and Hot Wheels--kids are flocking to the Internet to use social networking sites in their spare time. In fact, some 93% of youth are online (Pew Internet & American Life Project Oct. 24).
Child predators often spend weeks and sometimes months getting to know kids online and gaining their trust--a process known as "grooming," so parents need to be vigilant. If you're among the 68% of parents who say they have house rules about which websites are off limits, enforcing consequences if those rules are broken shows you mean business.
The Federal Trade Commission, Washington, D.C., offers advice:
- Keep the computer in a room that your entire family uses so you can keep an eye on your child's use.
- Visit your child's sites yourself to see what's really out there and what they have posted.
- Tell kids what information should be kept private. Explain that they should never give out personal information such as name, age, school, address or credit card information without your permission. Encourage them to pick user names and passwords that aren't too personal.
- Show kids how to use privacy settings on social networking sites. This way they can limit who can view their online profile.
- Tell kids to post only information that they'd be comfortable with you and others seeing. Remind them that once they post information, it's out there, and they can't take it back. Deleting the information from their site does nothing--older versions still may exist on other people's computers and still could be circulated.
- Encourage kids to trust their gut instinct; if they feel threatened by someone or something online, they should tell you.
- Watch for changes in your children's behavior or if they have trouble sleeping.
For more information read, "Keep Kids Safe Online," in Home & Family Finance Resource Center.
courtesy of cuna.org
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