Children and Youth and the Internet

The potential dangers for children and young people are of two types. On the one hand the Internet provides access to a whole range of material which is simply not suitable for children. Parents may find it useful to install a software package that restricts their child's access to some of that material. While such programs are not foolproof they are an immense help to parents who want to act responsibly. Some regular search engine sites also offer either a children's version or filtering guards for children (e.g. Yahoo has a children's site called Yahooligans.com. and Lycos.com offers parental controls.) However, no matter what controls are put in place there is no substitute for parents maintaining an active watch and participation in what their children access on the Internet.

The second hazard is even greater. The Internet not only allows the viewing of material as in a library, but it allows the user to communicate with others. This communication may be in the form of e-mail or through various "chat" sites. Such sites allow adults and children to communicate directly with each other in print or, depending on how your computer is equipped and configured, possibly in voice and video also.

Even if you do not introduce your child to these e-mail and "chat" capacities of the computer they will sooner or later (and probably sooner) discover how to access them. Part of the fascination of the world of technology is the potential it provides for communication. Responsible parenting involves not simply restricting children but teaching them how to live safely. It is a sad reality that predatory adults often pose as children on the Internet in order to entice trusting, innocent children into situations of risk. From the outset children must be taught certain safety rules about Internet communications that they understand that they are never to break - under any circumstances - without the knowledge and consent of their parents. Parents must teach their children to adhere to the following rules in all Internet communications;

• Never give your full name to anyone you meet on the Internet.
• Never give anyone you meet on the Internet your address or phone number.
• Never send your photograph to anyone you meet on the Internet.
• Never tell anyone you meet on the Internet anything that identifies you personally (even such things as the name of the school you attend or the names of the sports teams you play on).
• Never agree to meet anyone that you have met on the Internet.

It may be difficult for children to understand the necessity of such rules or to understand all the ways that they may inadvertently identify themselves. However, responsible parents must work hard at making sure that their children understand these things. Parents must also create that atmosphere of communication with their children so that if their child encounters anything that feels "wrong" about things that people say or suggest to them on the Internet that they will be comfortable to discuss it with their parents immediately.

The following sites offer some further information and advice for parents who desire to help their children use the Internet safely and effectively.

For more information about how software blocking programs work check out the following sites:
Cyber Patrol
Cyber Sitter
Net Nanny