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Safety Tips

Understanding the "new" and "improved" Internet safety for kids requires that we address safe, private and responsible Internet and interactive technology use. They all need to be addressed, or the kids aren't safe.

(For all ages:) The Filter Between Their Ears:

• Teach kids to think before they click - whom are they communicating with, what are they saying and how are they saying it?
• Teach them to Take 5!, put down the mouse and walk away from the computer before responding to something that upsets them online
• Teach them to review what they are saying from the perspective of the recipient.will the fact that they are kidding be clear? Does it need emoticons or "JK"?
• Teach them to follow the golden rule in cyberspace, don't do anything online that you wouldn't do in real life!
• Teach them not to spread rumors, assist in cyberbullying or share private communications online.

We call this finding the superhero within you internetsuperheroes.org.

Now here goes:

Under 8 years of age:

• Use filtering or parental control technologies. Block everything that isn't pre-approved, rather than just filtering out the "bad" sites.
• Think about whether they really need e-mail or IM, and if you determine they do, block all communications from anyone other than pre-approve senders.
• Make sure that the buddy list is no longer than the age of the child, and that you know (in real life) everyone on it.
• Bookmark their favorite websites so they won't mistype them and end up at a "bad" site.
• Use kid sized search engines : Yahooligans and Ask Jeeves for Kids.
• Limit their online time to no more than ½ a day, unless they have a special project for school.
• Check with their teachers often for suggested websites and for recommendations for good resources online.
• Don't let them use interactive games, such as X-Box Live or Sony Playstation network yet. You should use Toontown.com instead.
• Sit down with them as often as possible and find out where they go online, what they like and ask or answer any questions.
• No websites or profiles or blogs or other interactive communications without pre-approval of whatever is posted.
• Look for safe site lists you can trust. Check out WiredKids.org approved safe sites list.

Age 8 to 10:

• Raise the bar on filtering or parental control technologies if you find they are complaining or are locked out of school-recommended sites. Or make sure that you use a product that will send you an e-mail at work to let you unblock a particular site. (MSN has this feature.)
• If you add IM, make sure only pre-approved senders can send your child an IM.
• Use a pop-up blocker or toolbar (like Google's), an antivirus program and a spyware remover (this begins the age of dangerous downloads).
• Keep using the Yahooligans and Ask Jeeves for Kids search engines.
• Make sure that they understand what info can and can't be shared online with anyone.
• Practice chatting online with them so they know how to handle strangers they encounter online.
• Make sure that they know not to cyberbully someone or say or do anything online that they wouldn't do offline.
• Make sure they know how to use the "notify" or "warning" buttons, or use a monitoring software to be able to review what they are saying and doing.
• Watch for hacking, password and identity theft at this age.
• Also watch for their corrupting your files on your computer with spyware, etc. Back everything up!
• Limit online time (aside from special school projects) to under an hour a day (including all IM and text-messaging time).

10 to 12:

• Raise the bar on parental controls and filtering programs.
• Start using full-sized search engines with filters applied (check their advanced settings) or use a toolbar (Google's comes preset with a medium filter).
• Cyberbullying is a serious problem at this age, watch for the signs.
• Teach them about personal information and predators. Without going into details, they are concerned about people showing up at their house. Make sure they remember this when online or on text-messaging devices.
• Watch for "away messages" for their IM programs. Kids often post their cell phone numbers there.
• Websites they build should be reviewed carefully, as should screen names.
• Make sure that you control the family account password and have their passwords too.
• Give them privacy as long as it is with people you trust.
• Block all but pre-approved senders.
• Make sure they can't share pictures online, or set up profiles or blogs or webcams without your okay.
• Interactive games should still be limited to Toontown.com and other kid-approved sites.
• Watch early media piracy, teach them not to steal online or offline.
• Google their name, screen names, address, and telephone numbers at least once a week. Many kids post nasty things about others at this age.
• Change their passwords often and make sure that they aren't using a provocative screen name.
• Search regularly on your computer for images (porn or of your kids), and any music, movie or media files you don't know about.
• Spyware is a serious problem at this age, since they often don't use game sites safety.
• Lock your private files with a password they don't know.
• Get them started in online safety education, check out wiredkids.org or internetsuperheroes.org. Check out starting a tweenangel chapter at your local school. (For more information visit teenangels.org).
• Watch cell phone gaming, porn and spending capabilities, and think about limiting their cell phone usage in a way that shuts it down when they exceed it, instead of just charging you extra.

13 to 15:

• Respect their privacy more and talk with them about their online experiences.
• Filter sites that are inappropriate for young teens, instead of blocking all but approved sites. Some bad ones will get through, though. So talk about it beforehand.
• Give them more leeway on people they can accept IMs or e-mails from. But check and account for everyone, in real life, on their buddy list. No friends of friends.
• Make sure you filter or block image searches (a way around many filters).
• Block peer-to-peer technologies and get your kids an account with iTunes or another legal music download site.
• Teach them to guard their passwords. Password theft is a serious problem at this age.
• Teach them not to pirate software or motion pictures.
• Have them Google themselves often, screen names, telephone and cell numbers, addresses, full names, nicknames, etc. (all in quotation marks to search the whole phrase).
• Try and limit their use of chatrooms to monitored chatrooms or themed chatrooms on safe topics.
• Limit their online use (including text-messaging) to under 1-1/2 hours a day (aside from a special school project).
• Keep them out of social network or online dating sites (like xanga.com, friendster.com or match.com).
• Talk to them about not meeting strangers offline, and agree to go with them or teach them large group safe meeting tips (see wiredteens.org)
• Get girls a copy of "A Gril's Life Online" (formerly known as "Katie.com" to read.
• Computer still in a central location, if it has Internet access, and watch new interactive devices, like cell phones, text messaging devices and interactive gaming devices, like X-Box Live. Use parental controls if they come with them. (X-Box Live got an award from us for their safety devices and parental controls.)
• Consider setting up a teenangels.org chapter, or starting an online safety club at their school. (Visit Internetsuperheroes.org for available free materials.)

16 and over:

• All bets are off. If they have earned your trust, give it to them. If not, unplug the computer and take away their cell phones and interactive gaming devices.
• If you haven't taught them what they need to know by now, we're all in trouble.
• Focus on teaching them to be responsible cybercitizens and to use the filter between their ears.
• Emphasize the risks of sharing personal information and meeting strangers offline.
• Make sure they Google themselves often and report what they find.
• Teach them to use anti-viruses, not believe everything they read online and to respect others. Check for adware or spyware often, use a firewall and teach them to come to you if anything goes wrong online.
• And get their help in keeping their younger brothers and sisters safe online.
• Remind them that you're still around if they need your help.

For all ages:

Spyware and adware blocking software, a firewall, an automatic update anti-virus and a SPAM blocker.