Cyber Safety Tips

Our children are the first Cyber Generation. Everyday they face dangers that we never would have dreamed of as kids. The world of the internet is just as real as our physical world. The only difference between the two is the virtual world never sleeps. No matter what time your child is online, someone else—a stranger—is there with them. No nights, no holidays, no vacations. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, anyone with Internet connection has access to our children whenever and wherever they go online.

Parents

• Keep all computers in an open area, never in your child’s bedroom
• Become part of your child’s online experience. Explore the internet together.
• Discuss your child’s online screen names and profiles. Many provide too much personal information. Ensure all screen names and profiles are non-specific and purposely vague.
• With just three pieces of personal information, specialized Internet search engines can be used to locate someone anywhere.
• Make certain your children personally know everyone on their e-mail “buddy” list.
• Respect your child's privacy but keep the lines of communication open. Let them know they come to you if they find themselves in an uncomfortable situation online.
• Learn about the Internet. The more you know about how the Internet works, the more you can be informed about how online predators work and what you can do to stop them.
• Be aware of sites such as www.myspace.com  and www.facebook.com. Sites such as these encourage children to share information about themselves.
 

Students

• Only give out identifying information (information that can distinguish you from another person and might make it easy to find you in real life) when you trust the site and know that it is secure (look for the lock in the lower right corner). Identifying information includes your name, parent’s names, address, phone number, school, etc.
• With just three pieces of personal information, specialized Internet search engines can be used to locate someone anywhere.
• Internet conversations should never include any personal information.
• Keep user names generic and anonymous
• Never post personal photos. They often provide personal information that can help an Internet predator pretend to know you.
• Exit an inappropriate website by closing the window (click the X in the top corner), using the Ctrl-Alt-Delete keys to exit the site or turn off the computer.
• Don’t agree to meet someone who have met online but don’t know in real life.
• Only open emails from people you know.
• Don’t open an email that contains a weird attachment.

Statistics and information provided by iSAFE America, Inc., the worldwide leader in Internet Safety education, is a non-profit foundation dedicated to protecting the online experiences of youth.