The World Wide Web is full of exciting and interactive news, views, games and videos for children. These tools can help children develop their reading, writing and creative skills, and also help them get their homework done. However, the Internet is not regulated and there are some things, and some people, you won’t want your children to encounter. Help is at hand. With the proper tools, supervision and common sense, you can make the Internet a safe place for your children to surf.

Risks to children include:
1 Exposure to inappropriate material. This can be sexual, hateful or violent in nature or can encourage activities that are dangerous or illegal

2 Physical molestation. While online a child might provide information or arrange an encounter that could risk his or her safety or the safety of other family members. In a few cases, pedophiles have used Email, bulletin boards and chat rooms to gain a child’s confidence and then arrange a face-to-face meeting

3 Harassment. A child might encounter Email or chat room/bulletin board messages that are harassing, demeaning or belligerent

4 Legal and financial. There is also the risk that a child could do something that has negative legal or financial consequences such as giving out a parent’s credit card number or doing something that violates another person’s rights

PARENTS’ RULES FOR ONLINE SAFETY
One of the best ways to protect your children is to filter the information they can see. Browsers such as Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer have built-in blocking features. These provide an automatic rating system for language, nudity, violence and sexual content. Sites rate themselves from zero to four in each category (zero is harmless and four contains “extreme hate speech”, “crude language” or “explicit sexual references”), so you can choose the level that’s right for your children. Invest in blocking and filtering software which will prevent your children from looking at banned sites. You can also screen Email and chat room messages. Also, be sure to talk to your children about not giving out family information like your address and credit card details (see www.surfcontrol.com). Other tips and rules to stick to include:

1 Remember that people online may not be who they seem. Because you can’t see or even hear the person it would be easy for someone to misrepresent him- or herself. Thus, someone indicating that “she” is a “12-year-old girl” could in reality be a 40-year-old man

2 Remember that everything you read online may not be true. Any offer that is too good to be true, probably is. Be very careful about any offers that involve your coming to a meeting or having someone visit your home

3 Set reasonable rules and guidelines for computer use by your children. Discuss these rules and post them near the computer as a reminder. Remember to monitor their compliance with these rules, especially when it comes to the amount of time your children spend on the computer. A child or teenager’s excessive use of online services or bulletin boards, especially late at night, may be a clue that there is a potential problem. Remember that personal computers and online services should not be used as electronic babysitters

4 Be sure to make this a family activity. Consider keeping the computer in a family room rather than the child’s bedroom. Get to know their “online friends” just as you get to know all of their other friends

5 Never give out identifying inform-ation–home address, school name, or telephone number–in a public message such as a chat or bulletin board, and be sure you’re dealing with someone that both you and your child know and trust before giving it out via Email. Think carefully before revealing any personal information such as age, marital status or financial information. Consider using a pseudonym or unlisting your child’s name if your service allows it

6 Get to know the services your child uses. If you don’t know how to log on, get your child to show you. Find out what types of information it offers and whether there are ways for parents to block out objectionable material

7 Never allow a child to arrange a face-to-face meeting with another computer user without parental permission. If a meeting is arranged, make the first one in a public spot, and be sure to accompany your child

8 Never respond to messages or bulletin board items that are suggestive, obscene, belligerent, threatening, or make you feel uncomfortable. Encourage your children to tell you if they encounter such messages. If you or your child receives a message that is harassing, of a sexual nature, or threatening, forward a copy of the message to your service provider and ask for their assistance

9 Should you become aware of the transmission, use or viewing of child pornography while online, immediately report this to the Bermuda Police Service. You should also notify your service provider