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Keeping Kids Safe
Table of Contents:
Introduction
The Benefits of the Information Highway
Putting the Issue in Perspective
What Are the Risks
How Parents Can Reduce the Risks
Guidelines for Parents
About this Document
Child Safety on the Information Highway
By Lawrence J. Magid
(c) 1998 National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
"'Cyberspace,'
the 'Web,' the 'Net,' the 'Information Highway'" —
Whatever it’s
called, millions of people are now going online to exchange
electronic mail, surf the World Wide Web, post and read messages
in newsgroups (sometimes called bulletin boards), and participate
in chat groups and many other online activities.
There are a number of ways to get online.
In addition to major commercial online services, there are
thousands of Internet Service Providers (ISPs) that provide
Internet access. Telephone companies, cable TV companies,
and even some local newspapers offer Internet access, usually
for a monthly fee. Although most people use personal computers
to get online, it’s now possible to purchase a special
adapter that allows you to access the Internet from a TV set.
ISPs and online services generally do everything
they can to provide their subscribers with an enjoyable, safe,
and rewarding online experience, but it’s not possible
for these companies to police everyone who uses their service
anymore than a local government can control the behavior of
its citizens. Besides, once you’re connected to the Internet,
you’re able to exchange information with people who are
signed on with other ISPs and online services. The Internet
is a vast global network of networks that’s not governed
by any company or government.
Anyone in the world — companies, governments,
organizations, and individuals — can publish material
on the Internet. An ISP links you to these sites, but it can’t
control what is on them. It’s up to individuals to make
sure that they behave in a way that’s safe and appropriate.
The Benefits
of the Information Highway
The vast array of services that you currently
find online is constantly growing. Reference information
such as news, weather, sports, stock quotes, movie reviews,
encyclopedias, and airline fares are readily available online.
Users can conduct transactions such as trading stocks,
making travel reservations, banking, and shopping online.
You can find information about your local schools and government,
read an out-of-town newspaper, or obtain vital health information.
Millions of people communicate through electronic mail
(E-mail) with family and friends around the world. Others
use the public message board chat areas to make new friends
who share common interests. You can even use the Internet
to watch video and listen to audio programs produced by major
media companies, businesses, organizations, and even individuals.
As an educational and entertainment tool users can
learn about virtually any topic, visit a museum, take a college
course, or play an endless number of computer games with other
users or against the computer itself.
"As
an educational...tool users can learn about virtually
any topic..."
Most people who go online have mainly positive
experiences. But, like any endeavor — traveling, cooking,
or attending school — there are some risks. The online
world, like the rest of society, is made up of a wide array
of people. Most are decent and respectful, but some may be
rude, obnoxious, insulting, or even mean and exploitative.
Children get a lot of benefit from being online, but they
can also be targets of crime and exploitation in this as in
any other environment. Trusting, curious, and anxious to explore
this new world and the relationships it brings, children need
parental supervision and common-sense advice on how to be
sure that their experiences in "cyberspace" are
happy, healthy, and productive.
Although there have been some highly publicized
cases of abuse involving the Internet and online services,
reported cases are relatively infrequent. Of course, like
most crimes against children, many cases go unreported, especially
if the child is engaged in an activity that he or she does
not want to discuss with a parent.
The fact that crimes are being committed online,
however, is not a reason to avoid using these services.
To tell children to stop using these services would be like
telling them to forgo attending school because students are
sometimes victimized there.
A better strategy would be to instruct children
about both the benefits and dangers of cyberspace and for
them to learn how to be "street smart" in order
to better safeguard themselves in any potentially dangerous
situation.
What Are
the Risks?
There are a few risks for children who use
the Internet or online services. Teenagers are particularly
at risk because they often use the computer unsupervised and
because they are more likely than younger children to participate
in online discussions regarding companionship, relationships,
or sexual activity. If you have a teen in your family or you
are a teenager, check out Teen Safety on the Information
Highway at www.missingkids.com
or order a free copy by calling 1-800-843-5678.
"Teenagers
are particularly at risk because... they are more likely...
to participate in online discussions regarding companionship..."
Some risks are
Exposure to Inappropriate Material
One risk is that a child may be exposed to
inappropriate material that is sexual, hateful, or violent
in nature, or encourages activities that are dangerous or
illegal.
Physical Molestation
Another risk is that, 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 E-mail, bulletin boards,
and chat areas to gain a child’s confidence and then
arrange s face-to-face meeting.
Harassment
A third risk is that a child might encounter
E-mail or chat/bulletin board messages that are harassing,
demeaning, or belligerent.
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. Legal
issues aside, children should be taught good "netiquette"
which means to avoid being rude, mean, or inconsiderate.
How Parents Can Reduce
the Risks
While children need a certain amount of privacy,
they also need parental involvement and supervision in their
daily lives. The same general parenting skills that apply
to the "real world" also apply while online.
If you have cause for concern about your children’s
online activities, talk to them. Also seek out the advice
and counsel of teachers, librarians, and other Internet and
online service users in your area. Open communication with
your children, utilization of such computer resources, and
getting online yourself will help you obtain the full benefits
of these systems and alert you to any potential problem that
may occur with their use. If your child tells you about an
upsetting person or thing encountered while online, don’t
blame your child but help him or her avoid problems in the
future. Remember — how you respond will determine whether
they confide in you the next time they encounter a problem
and how they learn to deal with problems on their own.
"While
children need a certain amount of privacy, they also need
parental involvement."
Beyond these basics, there are some specific
things that you should know about the Internet. For instance,
did you know that there are web sites and newsgroups that
have material that is hateful, is violent, or contains other
types of material that parents might consider to be inappropriate
for their children? It’s possible for children to stumble
across this type of material when doing a search using one
of the web sites that is specifically designed to help people
find information on the Internet. Most of these sites (called
"search engines") do not, by default, filter out
material that might be inappropriate for children, but some
offer a child-safe option and some are designed specifically
for use by children.
Also the Internet contains web sites, newsgroups,
and other areas designed specifically for adults who wish
to post, view, or read sexually explicit material including
stories, pictures, and videos. Some of this material is posted
on web sites where there is an attempt to verify the user’s
age and/or a requirement for users to enter a credit card
number on the presumption that children do not have access
to credit card numbers. Other areas on the Internet make no
such effort to control access. Nevertheless, consider monitoring
your credit card bills for such charges.
Some online services and ISPs allow parents
to limit their children’s access to certain services
and features such as adult-oriented web sites and "chat"
rooms and bulletin boards. There may be an area set aside
just for kids where you don’t have to worry about them
stumbling onto inappropriate material or getting into an unsupervised
chat.
At the very least, keep track of any files
your children download to the computer, consider sharing an
E-mail account with your children to oversee their mail, and
consider joining your children when they are in private chat
areas.
"The
best way to assure that your children are having positive
online experiences is to stay in touch with what they
are doing."
In addition, there are filtering features
built into the popular Internet browsers (the software you
use to access the World Wide Web) that empower parents to
limit their children’s access only to those sites that
have been rated appropriate for children. Other useful tools
are software programs that block web sites, newsgroups, and
chat areas that are known to be inappropriate for children.
Most of these programs can be configured by the parent to
filter out sites that contain nudity, sexual content, hateful
or violent material, or that advocate the use of drugs, tobacco,
or alcohol. Some can also be configured to prevent children
from revealing information about themselves such as their
name, address, or telephone number. You can find a directory
of these filtering programs at www.safekids.com/filters.htm.
While technological child-protection tools
are worth exploring, they’re not a panacea. Regardless
of whether you choose to use a filtering program or an Internet
rating system, the best way to assure that your children are
having positive online experiences is to stay in touch with
what they are doing. One way to do this is to spend time with
your children while they’re online. Have them show you
what they do, and ask them to teach you how to use the Internet
or online service. You might be surprised at how much you
can learn from your kids.
Guidelines
for Parents
By taking responsibility for your children’s
online computer use, parents can greatly minimize any potential
risks of being online. Make it a family rule to
- Never give out identifying information —
home address, school name, or telephone number — in a
public message such as chat or bulletin boards (newsgroup),
and be sure you’re dealing with someone that both you
and your child know and trust before giving out this information
via E-mail. Think carefully before revealing any personal
information such as age, marital status, or financial information.
Do not post photographs of your children on web sites or newsgroups
that are available to the public. Consider using a pseudonym,
avoid listing your child’s name and E-mail address in
any public directories and profiles, and find out about your
ISP’s privacy policies and exercise your options for
how your personal information may be used.
- Get to know the Internet and any services
your child uses. If you don’t know how to log on, get
your child to show you. Have your child show you what he or
she does online, and become familiar with all the things that
you can do online.
- 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 place,
and be sure to accompany your child.
"If
a meeting is arranged,make the first one in a public place,
and be sure to accompany your child."
- 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 ISP,
and ask for their assistance. Instruct your child not
to click on any links that are contained in E-mail from persons
they don’t know. Such links could lead to sexually explicit
or otherwise inappropriate web sites.
- If someone sends you or your children messages
or images that are obscene, lewd, filthy, or indecent with
the intent to harass, abuse, annoy, or threaten, or if you
become aware of the transmission, use, or viewing of child
pornography while online, immediately report this to the National
Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s CyberTipline
at 1-800-843-5678 or www.missingkids.com/cybertip.
- 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.
- Remember that everything you read online
may not be true. Any offer that’s "too good to be
true" probably is. Be very careful about any offers that
involve you coming to a meeting, having someone visit your
house, or sending money or credit card information.
- Set reasonable rules and guidelines for computer
use by your children (see "My Rule for Online Safety"
on the backcover). Discuss these rules and post them near
the computer as a reminder. Remember to monitor your children’s
compliance with these rules, especially when it comes to the
amount of time your children spend on the computer. A child’s
excessive use of online services or the Internet, 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.
- Check out blocking, filtering, and ratings.
- 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.
My Rules
for Online Safety
- I will not give out personal information
such as my address, telephone number, parents’ work
address/telephone number, or the name and location of my
school without my parents’ permission.
- I will tell my parents right away if I
come across any information that makes me feel uncomfortable.
- I will never agree to get together with
someone I "meet" online without first checking
with my parents. If my parents agree to the meeting, I will
be sure that it is in a public place and bring my mother
or father along.
- I will never send a person my picture or
anything else without first checking with my parents.
- I will not respond to any messages that
are mean or in any way make me feel uncomfortable. It is
not my fault if I get a message like that. If I do I will
tell my parents right away so that they can contact the
online service.
- I will talk with my parents so that we
can set up rules for going online. We will decide upon the
time of day that I can be online, the length of time I can
be online, and appropriate areas for me to visit. I will
not access other areas or break these rules without their
permission.
About this
Document
This brochure was written by Lawrence J. Magid,
a syndicated columnist for the Los Angeles Times, who
is author of The Little PC Book (Peachpit Press) and
host of www.safekids.com, a web site devoted to keeping kids
safe in cyberspace. He is also the author of Teen Safety
on the Information Highway, a free brochure that is also
published by the National Center for Missing and Exploited
Children. Child Safety on the Information Highway was
jointly produced by the National Center for Missing and Exploited
Children and Internet Alliance (formerly Interactive Services
Association), PO Box 65782, Washington, DC 20035-5782, 202-955-8091,
ia@internetalliance.org. The first edition of this brochure
was created with the generous sponsorship of America Online®,
CompuServe®, Delphi™ Internet, e•World, GEnie®,
Interchange™ Online Network, and Prodigy® Services.
The National Center for Missing
and Exploited Children (NCMEC) is funded under Cooperative Agreement
#98-MC-CX-K002 from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency
Prevention, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice.
Points of view or opinions in this brochure are those of NCMEC
and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies
of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Copyright © 1994 and 1998 by the
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. All rights reserved.
National
Center for Missing and Exploited Children
Suite 550, 2101 Wilson Boulevard
Arlington, Virginia 22201-3077
1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678)
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