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.
I think that the only way to keep your children safe is to keep them offline. Is that true?
The only thing you are guaranteeing if you keep your children offline is that they will fall behind in knowing how to use and enjoy the most powerful educational and communication medium in the history of the world. There are many things you can do to protect your children in cyberspace. It's just like protecting them anywhere else. You don't let six year olds wander into a big city all by themselves. You know what dangers exist "out there" and you teach your children how to avoid those dangers. You set rules and enforce them. Protecting your children in cyberspace isn't any different. The only problem is that you don't know what the dangers are. Once you do, you can set the rules and enforce them, just as you do in the real world. It's really that simple. (We'll show you whatever you need to know, don't worry it's much easier than you think.)
