Ask Parry!
Special reports
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.
A reasonable question - but an unreasonable option.
We have been reading and hearing lots about dangers online and watched news reports and television specials highlighting the darker side of the Internet. To many parents, there's only one option-a simple one: Keep their children off the Internet entirely.
What a shame that many parents are overreacting! The worse thing we can do is keep our children offline. There are so many ways parents can make sure their children are armed against the darker side of the Internet without having to unplug them completely. Unplugging them is like throwing the baby out with the bath water.
Our children need to become Internet literate in order to hold jobs, succeed in school, or attend college. Denying them access is denying them the tools they need to succeed. The Internet isn't optional anymore - it's essential to our children's futures. That's also one of the reasons we need to make sure that all children, no matter how much money they have or what race or ethnic background they come from or language their parents speak, have access to this technology.
