Family Internet Safety - Handout

THINK ABOUT THIS…

• 76% of parents don't have rules about what their kids can do on the computer

• 65% of parents believe that kids do things online that they wouldn't want their parents to know

about

• 26% of students believe their parents would be concerned if they knew what they were doing on -

line

• Over half of middle and high school student have given out personal information to people they

met ONLY on-line

• 20% have met face-to-face with someone they first met online

3/22/2011 2

THE STATISTICS SAY…

• 1 in 7 received a sexual solicitation over the Internet

• 1 in 33 received an aggressive sexual solicitation

• asked to meet somewhere

• called them on telephone

• sent mail, money or gifts

• 1 in 4 had unwanted exposure to pornographic pictures

• 1 in 17 was threatened or harassed

• Less than 10% were reported, 25% told a parent

• One third had filtering or blocking software on their computer at the time

Based on interviews with over 1,500 youth ages 10-17 that use the Internet on a regular basis:

• 51% of parents do not have or do not know if they have filtering/blocking software

• 42% of parents do not review the content of what their teenagers read and/or type in chat rooms or via instant messaging

• 28% of parents don’t know or are not sure if their teens talk to strangers online

• 30% of parents allow their teenagers to use the computer in private areas of the house

• 95% of parents couldn’t identify common chat room lingo that teenagers use to warn people that their parents are watching

THE STATISTICS SAY…

WHAT PARENTS CAN DO AT HOME TO

KEEP THE INTERNET SAFE • Talk to your kids

• Have them give you their login name and password for the sites they visit

• Ask them why they made their profile

• Have them explain what it says about them

• Provide your feelings about their site

• Search for their sites using their email address or school

• Inform them of the dangers of TMI (too much Info)

• Have them remove personal information or contact the web host to do it yourself

• Talk about the ways that a predator may reach out to your child through the internet

• Have a Technology Plan

• Move computer use to common area of home

• Hours of use, appropriate Internet use

• Create a contract

• Use technology

• Use software or hardware to block or monitor

• View internet history or use a history viewer

• Visit www.software4parents.com

• Visit www.wiredsafety.org for tips on internet safety and help for resolving problems

Internet Protection Tips, Software and Tools

Change your favorite search engine Safe Search settings: • Bing - http://www.bing.com/settings.aspx

• Google - http://www.google.com/preferences

• Yahoo - http://search.yahoo.com/preferences/preferences

Internet Safety Software:

• OpenDNS – Windows, MAC, Linux

• http://www.opendns.com/solutions/household/

• BeSecure: Windows, MAC, iPhone, iPad protection

• http://www.bsecure.com/

• NetNanny: Windows, MAC and SmartPhone protection

• http://www.netnanny.com/

• Spector Pro: Windows, MAC and SmartPhone

• http://www.spectorsoft.com/

• Windows Live Safety: Windows Only – Vista and Windows 7

• http://explore.live.com/windows-live-family-safety?os=other

Internet Protection Tips, Software and Tools

Cell Phone protection options: • See BeSecure, NetNanny, Spector Pro - Links on previous page

• AT&T Options

• http://www.att.net/smartcontrols-SmartLimitsForWireless

• Verizon Options

• http://parentalcontrolcenter.com/

• T-Mobile

• http://family.t-mobile.com/safety-and-security

• Geo Tagging Concerns –

• http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/12/technology/personaltech/12basics.html?_r=1

• http://www.icanstalku.com/how.php

• http://www.netfamilynews.org/?p=30108

• Additional Sites:

• Software4parents.com

• Parentalsoftware.org

Software to avoid your computer:

P2P – (Peer to Peer) File Sharing software. This software is a gateway to Virus and other

malware attacks.

LimeWire: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LimeWire

Here is good info from UNC website: http://help.unc.edu/6428

Article from USA Today: http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/kimkomando/2006-04-13-file-

sharing-woes_x.htm

If you think you have Malware already causing problems on you PC, here is a great program to

help resolve:

http://www.malwarebytes.org/

The Free version works great for home PC use.

DANGERS OF SOCIAL NETWORK SITES

• Too much Private information made public

• Exposure to inappropriate language and

behavior

• Online Bullying and Exclusion

• Posting of inappropriate images and

content

SOCIAL NETWORKING CONVERSATIONS VIDEO THESE ARE GOOD VIDEOS TO WATCH WITH YOUR CHILDREN AND

DISCUSS

Everyone Knows your name: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dT1GvPQG904

Bulletin Board Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dT1GvPQG904

Talent Show: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yG-7pldYvvQ

Facebook Privacy Settings: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTpa3AS39uA

SOCIAL NETWORKING SAFETY • Help your kids understand what information should be private.

Join Facebook and become your child's friend.

• Use privacy settings to restrict who can access and post on your child’s website.

• Explain that kids should post only information that you — and they — are comfortable with others

seeing.

• Remind your kids that once they post information online, they can’t take it back.

• Know how your kids are getting online.

• Talk to your kids about bullying.

• Talk to your kids about avoiding sex talk online

• Search your child's digital footprint. Try searching by their name, nickname, school, hobbies,

grade, or area where you live. (can impact jobs, college admissions, scholarships)

• Tell your kids to trust their gut if they have suspicions.

• Read sites’ privacy policies. Understand any privacy controls. The site should spell out your

rights as a parent to review and delete your child’s profile if your child is younger than 13.

12

TIPS FOR PARENTS

• Don’t prohibit your child from using technology. Instead, help them become responsible users .

• Keep the computer in a central, common location.

• Take the time to understand the things your child is doing on the computer.

• Know your child’s usernames and passwords.

• Make sure there is no inappropriate content or personal information (phone number, address, picture) on

your child’s profile or webpage.

• Cell phones with text messaging and picture taking capabilities may not be best

• Discuss when online communication is best, and when it can lead to problems. Encourage face-to-face

and phone conversations when warranted. Remind them that online conversations can be printed.

• Talk frankly with your child about your expectations, involve them in discussions that set restrictions like

amount of time online and where they may visit.

• Let your child know that you will be checking their email and webpages and why you are doing it. Follow

through and check regularly.

• Consider limiting the amount of time allowed on the computer/video games for your child.

OTHER RESOURCES

• Focus on the Family – Focus on the Family is a global Christian ministry that helps build thriving marriages that reflect God’s design, and equips parents to raise their children according to morals and values grounded in biblical principles. http://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/protecting_your_family/articles/family_safety_resources.aspx

• Be Safe Online (http://www.besafeonline.org/)—This site discusses common problems associated with e-mail, instant messaging, and file sharing.

• Be Web Aware (http://www.bewebaware.ca/english/default.aspx)—Safety tips are organized by age group on this site. It also includes a database of kid-friendly web sites.

• Get Net Wise (http://www.getnetwise.org/)—A site created and maintained by the Internet Education Foundation, it is a resource for understanding the Internet and how to protect your family from potential Internet-related problems.

• i-Safe (http://www.isafe.org/)—A well-organized site that provides information for parents, children, and educators. Many suggestions for filtering and monitoring Internet use can be found at this site.

OTHER RESOURCES

• Wired Safety (http://www.wiredsafety.org/)—This site contains many resources to promote responsible and safe computer use.

• Facebookforparents.com

• Great resource for parents with children using MySpace.

http://fox.toolhouse.com/30697_myspace/player/index.html?movie=Parent

Care

• See real life stories of some bad things that have happened through personal communication on the Internet at netsmartz.org.

• www.netsmartz.org

• www.safeteens.com

• www.blogsafety.com

• www.wiredsafety.org/safety/index.html

• www.us-cert.gov/cas/tips/ST06-002.html

CHAT ABBREVIATIONS

B4N

•Bye For Now

F2F

•Face to Face

PAW

•Parents Are Watching

SUP

•What’s Up

WUF

•Where are You From?

CYT

•See You Tomorrow

LMIRL

• Let’s meet in real life

WUF

•Where are You From?

KPC

•Keeping parents clueless

FOCL

• Falling off the chair laughing