The Internet can open up new worlds to children by putting information at their fingertips, showing them faraway places they’ve never seen, and giving them access to research materials in the comfort of their own homes. But, warn experts, the Internet can also open up a world of danger to children.

Children can be a target for online predators
According to the Department of Justice, one in five children between the ages of 10 and 17 who use the Internet has been propositioned online. To help steer your child clear of potential predators, set clear rules about Internet use in the house –- and outside of the house.

Keeping your child safe online
Set limits on Internet use through the computer, cell phone, and any handheld device, and be clear about rules and expectations. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the following:
-  Remind your child that the people she “meets” on the Internet are strangers. Just as she should not give out her address, her telephone number, her name, the location of her school, or any other information to a stranger, she should not give out personal information to people she meets on the Internet. Make sure she understands that sometimes the people she meets there might not be who they say they are.
-  Set a no in-person contact policy. Establish a firm rule that your child may not go to meet someone she met on the Internet in person unless a parent or other responsible adult goes with her.
-  A picture’s worth a thousand words. Explain to your child that it is not safe to e-mail pictures of himself to anyone.
-  Keep the lines of communication open.  Make sure that your child talks to you directly about anyone he has met on the Internet who wants to meet him in person. Encourage him to talk to you right away about anything on the Internet that makes him feel uncomfortable.
-  Have frequent conversations. Talk to your child about alerting you to any inappropriate messages she may receive. Reassure her that she is not to blame if she gets a message of that kind, and that you are there to keep her safe.

Know your child's online activities and get involved
To help monitor your child’s Internet use:
-  Set up the computer in a common area in the house. Make sure you know his passwords, screen names and other account information. Don’t be afraid to check on sites he has visited.
-  Install monitoring software on your computer so you can check where your child goes online and whether strangers are sending her e-mail.
-  When your child visits a friend, ask the parents if they are allowed on the computer. Ask the parent if she is monitoring the children’s Internet activity.
-  Be aware of soliciting. Make sure your child knows that if someone asks him for personal details or wants to meet him, he must report it to you immediately. If you suspect an online predator has contacted your child, call the police immediately.


Source: Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Newsletter.
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