Newswise — "Would you let your child out of the car in downtown Indianapolis and leave them there -- for a time similar to the amount they spend online?" asks Lois Ann Scheidt, an adjunct instructor in the Indiana University School of Informatics and one of a handful of scholars studying Internet safety issues among adolescents.
The answer, she says, should be "No." The reality, she said, is parents cannot fully regulate their child's online behavior 24/7. Scheidt offers these tips and considerations to give parents a hand:
* The 8-14 Rule. Parents should seriously consider not allowing their children within this age group to participate in Internet social networks. Scheidt said they do not have the "cognitive ability or experience" to evaluate online situations with foreign contacts, or deal with negative or explicit material accordingly.
* Keep your computer in a public area. Surprisingly, many parents continue to store their computers in closed rooms. Locating computers in a public area will allow parents to be in the vicinity of their children and have the opportunity to sit down with them.
* You get what you pay for. The best deal on a computer isn't always the safest deal. Parents should be adamant in looking for the right software online by plugging in "antispyware software reviews" or "firewall" into any Web browser or search engine. Frequent updates on all software are a must.
* Help choose online usernames. Parents should strongly urge their children to refrain from using their initials, names, or personal information in any of their usernames. For online messaging, it's best for the parent to sit down with their children and choose the name for them. For tips on choosing good passwords, visit this link: http://newsinfo.iu.edu/tips/page/normal/5911.html.
* Go surfing. Visit sites like http://www.netnanny.com and http://www.imbee.com. Scheidt said Net Nanny provides sound advice on parental control and updated links to child safety filters. It creates an easy, user-friendly filtering system that lets parents determine which content can be seen online. She said Imbee.com is a nice alternative for children interested in joining a safe, social network.
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