Safe+Searches

**How Can We Allow our Future Generations to engage and interact on the Internet, knowing that they are safe from inappropriate information and online predators?**


The Information highway enables information to be shared in a very accessible manner to people all over the world. With today's society, and the increase in the usage of technology, the internet has become apart of daily life.The internet offers a vast amount of information and resources; both good and bad. It is up to each individual to protect themselves from online predators and inappropriate information.

Social Networking is becoming a major part of everyday life in order to to keep in touch with those who we do not see often. Such sites, like Myspace, Facebook, Xanga, and Youtube are popular places for people to post personal web pages or blogs about things they find interest in. Some of the information posted or displayed is not appropriate for certain age groups. Unfortunately, with the increase in the use of technology, the majority of those people accessing those sites are young adult viewers.

Innapropriate Contact
- Teach kids how to recognize and protect themselves from online predatories and cyber bullies.

Innapropriate Content
- Make your kids realize that the internet is "forever". Whatever they may post up now ( either pictures or videos), could possibly show up for future job interviews or college entrance interviews.

Innapropriate Conduct
- Help your kids realize to be a GOOD person online and offline, and that there is no such thing as anonymity.

Rules Children(Pre-teens) can follow to protect themselves online
(2008 SafeKids.com) [|safekids.com/kids-rules-for-online-safety/]
 * 1. || 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.* ||
 * 2. || I will tell my parents right away if I come across any information that makes me feel uncomfortable. ||
 * 3. || 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. ||
 * 4. || I will never send a person my picture or anything else without first checking with my parents.* ||
 * 5. || 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 service provider. ||
 * 6. || 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. ||
 * 7. || I will not give out my Internet password to anyone (even my best friends) other than my parents. ||
 * 8. || I will check with my parents before downloading or installing software or doing anything that could possibly hurt our computer or jeopardize my family’s privacy* ||
 * 9. || I will be a good online citizen and not do anything that hurts other people or is against the law. ||
 * 10. || I will help my parents understand how to have fun and learn things online and teach them things about the Internet, computers and other technology. ||

It is important as the parent not to be afriad of your child or of the technology. The truth is your children may be more knowledgeable about computers and the internet than you, however you must not let that stop you from keeping them safe. You are still the parent and it is still your job to help protect your children. It is important for you and your child to sit down and set rules and limits for the computer, that you and your child(ren) understand. Let them know that you are looking out for their safety. Many teens could feel as though as a parent you are trying to keep them from another thing they enjoy and trying to control their lives. **Try to get your kids to share their profiles and blogs with you** , but be aware that they can have multiple accounts on multiple services. Use search engines and the search tools on social-networking sites to search for your kids' full names, phone numbers and other identifying information. You're not invading their privacy if they're putting personal info in public "places" online. If their pages are private, that's a good thing, but it's even better if they share it with you. (2008 ConnectSafely.org) http://www.connectsafely.org/safety-tips/safety-tips/social-web-safety-tips-for-parents.html
 * Be reasonable and try to set reasonable expectations **. Pulling the plug on your child’s favorite social site is like pulling the plug on his or her social //life //. Instead of being protective, it can shut down communication and send kids "underground" where they're more at risk. It's too easy for them to set up free blogs and profiles from anywhere, including friends' houses or even a cell phone.

There are many ways you can monitor what your children are doing when they are online. You can block specific sites and check the history of the computer. Depending on the childs age you can limit online time, what they are aloud to do such as having instant messaging, myspaces, and things like that. Those are harder to keep track of becuase they can be accessed from other computers, however setting ground rules are important. As a parent you can not protect your child 100% of the time, but you can inform them and keep an eye on them. Try to build a trust with your child and not just give them rules and guidelines you want them to follow. Try to be interested in what they know about the internet and computers. **Consider requiring Internet use in a high-traffic place in your home**  - not in kids' rooms - to help you stay aware of their online time. This way, you can encourage a balance between online time and their offline academic, sports, and social times. Know that there are also many ways kids can access the Internet away from home, including on many mobile phones and game players. (2008 ConnectSafely.org) http://www.connectsafely.org/safety-tips/safety-tips/social-web-safety-tips-for-parents.html

To find out more about Safe Searches on the internet, click on the link provided to view the video for both parents and children.

**Guidelines for parents of pre-teens**
.. 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: > There are software tools available that can limit what your child can see or say online. Some block objectionable websites and others will attempt to prevent your child from revealing personal information. Still others will monitor what your child does online and report back to you. Some controls are inlcuded with Microsoft Windows Vista and Macintosh OS X. These tools can be useful, especially for younger children but before you rely on such tools, know their limitations. They only protect your child on the computer(s) where they’re installed — not on other computers or cell phones. And older kids can often get around these filters. (2008 Safekids.com) http://safekids.com/guidelines-for-parents/
 * **If your child is young — say under 7 — consider being with your child when he or she is on the Internet**. Children at this age can become confused or upset if they come across content that they don’t understand or that might be inappropriate for their age.
 * **Warn your child not to give out identifying information**– Kids should never give out home address or telephone number or when they are home alone in a public message such as chat or social networking sites, and be sure you’re dealing with someone that both you and your child know and trust before giving it out via E-mail. Teenagers often give out school information on social web sites but kids under 13 should avoid doing so.
 * **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.
 * **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.
 * **Remind your children to Never respond to messages that are suggestive, obscene, belligerent, threatening, or make them feel uncomfortable**. Encourage your children to tell you if they encounters 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.
 * **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 your coming to a meeting or having someone visit your house.
 * S**et reasonable rules and guidelines for computer use by your children** (see “[|Kids Rules for Online Safety]“). 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.
 * **Consider using parental controls but know their limitations**
 * **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.

As a parent and a family you can try a contract. This will most likely work better with younger children but could work for any age. Create an internet contract, if the child is older try to create the contract with the child, by getting their input and suggestions will show you care about what they think and how they feel about using the interenet. Once it is all finalized and you and your child agree both of you sign it. There can be consiquences stated in the contract if the contract is not followed, the child will already know what their actions have cost them.

Searching and finding things online is not the only thing parents should try to monitor. Behavior is also very important. If you child acts differently after they use the computer this should send you a red flag. **Support critical thinking and civil behavior**  because no laws or parental-control software can protect better than a child's developing good sense about safety and relationships. Research shows that kids who are aggressive and mean online toward peers or strangers are at greater risk of becoming victims themselves. So teach them to be good citizens and friends online as much as offline.  (2008) ConnectSafely.org)http://www.connectsafely.org/safety-tips/safety-tips/social-web-safety-tips-for-parents.html

Help Keep Your Kids Safe....Talk To Them!