Accessibility

Skip to main content

wiredsafety.org is the world's largest online safety and help group

Ask Parry!

Report cybercrime Cyber 911 Tiplines Report cybercrime
Report cybercrime here


Photograph of Parry Aftab, Executive Director of WiredSafetyParry Aftab
Parry Aftab, an Internet privacy and security lawyer, is WiredSafety's Executive Director. Parry is The Privacy Lawyer columnist for Information Week magazine.More...
Ask Parry! FAQ

What are the risks our children face online?

How can I teach my children about risks online if I have never used the Internet?

How can I tell if something is dangerous to my child or merely offensive?

I hear that the Internet is loaded with criminals. Is that true?

I think that the only way to keep your children safe is to keep them offline. Is that true?

O.K.ay, you convinced me. But I'm not a techie, and I can't even program my VCR. How can I supervise my children online?

I hear there are no laws in cyberspace. Is that true?

I'm afraid that my children will be kidnapped or molested by someone they meet online. How serious a risk is that?

How do I know when my child is ready to use the Internet?

How do I encourage my child to come to me with questions and when things go wrong online?

I taught my children about "Stranger Danger." But how does this work when you're supposed to talk with strangers online?

My children and teens want to chat online, but I hear it's dangerous. What should I do?

My kids don't chat online, but they use Instant Messaging all the time. Is that a problem?

I trust my child not to get into trouble. Is that a mistake?

Who's at risk? Is there a profile of a typical child victim of Internet-related sexual molestation?

How can you find out what information is posted online about your child?

Is there a profile of a typical predator?

My children know not to talk to strangers. I have been teaching them about stranger-danger for many years. I don't believe they would be lured into talking to a predator online. How does this happen?

What is the likelihood of my child meeting an online predator offline? Should I be worried?

My children attend a school that has a Web site They have posted the names and photos of the students at the site. Is that a problem?

What can I do to help my child avoid being a victim of an Internet sexual molester?

What about filtering and blocking software and parental controls? Do they keep your child safe?

What about technology…are there products to help you snoop on your child?

Should I snoop on my children?

Maybe I should just keep them from using the Internet entirely.

But what can I do if I don't understand computers or technology? My children know more than I do about the Internet.

So, what can I do to make my children more Internet-safety-savvy?

What do I do if I suspect my child is involved with an Internet sexual predator?

Whom do I contact to report an Internet sexual predator?

My child told me about their encounters online with someone I suspect is a sexual molester. I understand you want me to report it to law enforcement. But what do I do if I don't want to get law enforcement involved?

What do I do if my child is missing and I suspect that an Internet sexual molester is involved?

Which law enforcement agencies in the United States handle cybercrimes?

What kinds of things are teens really doing online?

I suspect that teens act out online. Is that true?

What's your favorite and most important safety tip?

Ask Parry!

Special reports

Ask Parry! Ask Parry! is a service where Parry Aftab, noted online safety and privacy expert, and Executive Director of WiredSafety.org can answer your questions about online safety, privacy and security, and help you with problems you encounter online. Anything from help finding a safe chat room for your teens, to knowing what to do if the item you bought at auction doesn't arrive as promised.

My children and teens want to chat online, but I hear it's dangerous. What should I do?

To chat or not to chat…that is the question.

When you are dealing with preteens and young teens, you should insist that your children chat only in rooms and channels monitored by live and trained monitors, not bots (software applications designed to keep the peace and enforce the terms of serve in chat rooms). I also recommend that children and preteens be limited to child and preteen chat rooms (note that special laws in the U.S. may require your written consent for your preteen to chat online)and kept off IRC, which is still considered the Wild West of the Internet, until you're sure they can handle themselves. Even then, make sure they stay in the clean channels. (WiredKids has its own monitored chat rooms for member children and teens. You can learn more about this at WiredKids.org.)

You should also check to see whether the monitored chat rooms are monitored twenty-four hours a day or just during certain hours. Many parents have complained to me about choosing a chat room or chat service because of the fact that it monitors chat, only to find that the monitoring is available only during certain hours. Most of the responsible children's chat room areas post the hours when they are open and when monitors are in attendance. Smart kids' sites have their chat operators close the chat room whenever monitors aren't in attendance.

The secret to keeping your children safe in chat is teaching them not to give out personal information online. But some children still share too much information to be safe. If you've tried everything, and your kids still share too much personal information online, there are software tools that can be programmed to block certain outgoing information, like their names, addresses, and telephone numbers. Other products can capture all communications and let you see exactly, word for word, what your kids are saying online. (But many people feel this is overkill. If you resort to products like these, make sure you warn your children that you're using software to monitor their communications - otherwise, it's like reading their diary.)

© Wired Kids, Inc. :: About Us :: Site Map :: Privacy Policy :: Terms :: Bug Report ::
Parts of this Web site were taken from Parry Aftab's book The Parent's Guide to Protecting Your Children in Cyberspace. Marvel and all character names and the distinctive likenesses thereof are trademarks of Marvel Characters, Inc., and are used with permission. TM & © 2004 Marvel Characters, Inc. All rights reserved. www.marvel.com. Super Heroes is a Co-owned registered Trademark.
Back to the top