Category Archives: Use Internet Safely

Dark Side of the Internet: Internet Safety for Your Kids

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To Help Your Kids Understand the Dark Side of the Internet is essential. The Internet has changed the way we access the world, which gives us more freedom to communicate with millions of people globally, get more information with less space and time limitation. Kids enjoy internet so much, because they are so curious for everything like eager little sponges. The Internet can be a great resource for kids. They can use it to research school reports, communicate with teachers and other kids, and play interactive learning games. But that access can also pose hazards. Without any doubt, the dark side of the internet could harm kids.

The internet just likes the real world, today’s society, which indispensably has bad sides. The easy access to information from different countries is also at the root of parental and community concerns about children’s exposure to inappropriate materials and experiences. Real-world threats like hate speech, harassment, and stalking exist in cyberspace. Particularly pornography and sexual predators—issues can pose hazards to our children most.

Many parents believe pornography is bad to their kids and think that to access pornography online requires a credit card, and thus children are not likely to get there. This is not true. Although all porn sites need a credit card to get deeper access into that site, many of them have a lot of free “sample” images, which could have very bad impact on children.

The Dark Side of the Internet has the Bad Impact 24/7

The internet never sleeps, and the Dark Side of the Internet is not a passive danger. Pornographers use many tools to draw young teenagers into the pornography world, intending to hook them for life. They send “spam” e-mails containing inviting Web hyperlinks constantly. If your child clicks on one of the links in that e-mail, many browser windows are often spawned simultaneously, each one open to a different porn site. Porn sites also sell advertising space to other porn sites, so one page can lead to another and another.

What makes home Internet access so dangerous compared to the public library is the combination of privacy and opportunity. Most families leave older children home alone at times, and many kids will find the temptation to explore the Internet’s Dark Side irresistible. That’s why it’s important to be aware of what your kids see and hear on the Internet, who they meet, and what they share about themselves online. The Dark Side of The Internet could be a real risk on your kids.

Teach kids Online Security Basics

The Dark Side of The Internet exists, so just like any safety issue, parents should talk with your kids about online Security, take advantage of resources to protect them, and keep a close eye on their online activities. Parents can help your kids use the Internet safely by teaching them on the Dark Side of the Internet and some basic online security rules.

Keep passwords secret

Kids create online user names and passwords for their schools, game websites, social networking, shopping, and more. Teach kids don’t reveal passwords to others. Keep their passwords hidden, even from friends.

Tell your kids that never provide their password over email or in response to an email request. Any email message that requests their password or requests that they to go to a website to verify your password could be a kind of fraud called a phishing scam.

Use social networking safely

Help your kids use social networking safely. Many kids use social networking sites such as Facebook, twitter, YouTube, MySpace, Flickr, and others.

Help your Kids understand that many of these social networking sites can be viewed by anyone with access to the Internet. As a result, some of the information they post can make them vulnerable to phishing scams and Internet predators.

Ensure your kids follow age limits. The recommended age to sign up for social websites is usually 13 and over. If your children are under the recommended age, do not let them use the sites.

Teach your kids never meet anyone in person that they’ve communicated with online only.

Ensure your kids don’t use full names. Teach your child to use only a first name or nickname, but not a nickname that would attract inappropriate attention. Also, do not allow your children to post the full names of their friends.

Beware of online fraud

Teach your kids about becoming smart consumers and avoid online fraud.

Use only secure sites. If your kids shop on the web, they should be sure the URL of any site where they enter financial information begins with https:// and only shop at those trusted websites.

The Dark Side of The Internet could harm kids in a detrimental way. Teach your kids about internet safety as early as possible, which is critical. Parents should help kids understand the Dark Side of the Internet and help them use internet safely.

Technology Tools to Help Kids Surfing Internet Safely

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For the most part, the Web is a fairly safe environment; nevertheless, a part of parenting involves children’s safety in real world applies to the cyber world as well. According to the National Center for missing and exploited children, forty five percent have been asked for personal information by someone they don’t know. Thirty percent have considered meeting and 14 percent have actually met someone that they have only talked to online.

It’s important that parents be aware of kids’ computer activity and educate kids about the online risks. Parents can also take advantage of some technology tools to control kids’ access to adult material and help protect kids from Internet predators, especially when they are not around.

Two technological options are worth considering on fighting for Internet safety; both of them have the pros and cons.

Filters are the most widely used of all the technological tools intended to protect children from exposure to inappropriate materials. They are very effective at keeping out unwanted materials. Filters can be configured to deny access to a substantial amount of adult-oriented sexually explicit material.

However there are drawbacks. A filter that is highly effective at screening out content can “over block” by filtering out acceptable material, such as health related information. Because new material comes out constantly, filters can “under block” content if responsible parties don’t update their systems timely. Content-based filtering systems aren’t subject to this problem. Parents who place a very high priority on preventing exposure to certain materials usually accept the consequences of over blocking.

Monitoring Unlike filtering, which is a prevention strategy, monitoring relies on deterrence and the possibility that a child misbehaving on the Internet will be caught. Monitoring technologies allow parents to surreptitiously or openly track their children’s Internet activities.

With monitoring, children won’t miss out on legitimate Web content, which can be mistakenly screened out by filters, but parents won’t be able to stop specific material from reaching them. There are simple technological ways to monitor children’s Internet use and to review incoming and outgoing e-mail, instant messages, and chat-room dialogues, accessed Web sites, and so on.

Setting Rules for Internet Use

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Parents have the strongest influence on their kids when it comes to internal fundamental values, for instance, how to make good choices online. Most of rules in the real world can apply to cyberspace.

A rule should be tailored to the age, maturity level, and particular circumstances of a child, so that he/she will be more inclined to abide by it. Some suggestion as follows:

  • How long and under what circumstances can the child use the Internet? For example, an hour a day, but only after homework is done.
  • What content is allowed? Examples of appropriate content include educational materials, reference Web sites, news, and so on.
  • What content is inappropriate? Sexually explicit Web sites, sites on violence and so on.
  • What happens if the rules are broken? A rule needs enforcement. Be clear on the consequences, for example, if the child does not follow the rules, he/she must face shorter time given to access Internet, loss of Internet privileges, and so on.