| 1. |
Make it a family
rule to never give out identifying information
- home address, school name, or telephone number - in a public message
such as chat or bulletin boards, and be sure you're dealing
with someone that both you and your children know and trust before giving out
via E-mail. |
| 2. |
Consider using a password-restricted
operating system. Windows XP, 2000 and NT provide true password
protection for computer system access and are a great recommendation.
Windows 95/98 & ME do NOT provide true password protection, a user can
log on with or without a password.
|
| 2. |
Consider the option of using
Internet
content filtering
for your children's access
accounts. GCI provides a
dial-up service, and there are many other software-based filtering
services available as well. Be aware, however, that filtering is no
substitute for active supervison.
|
| 3. |
Screen email and web use for children and
check email attachments and web downloads.
You may even want to limit access to
e-mail. If your child has a web page, monitor it and its contents. If you
suspect a problem, monitor your browser's web site cache.
|
| 4. |
Set and regularly review reasonable
rules and guidelines for computer use by your children. Remember
to monitor compliance with these rules and the amount of time your
children spend on the computer. A child or teenager's excessive use of
online services or bulletin boards, expecially late at night, may be a
clue that there is a potential problem.
|
| 5. |
Keep the computer in a public "family"
room, not your child's bedroom.
You'll be letting your child know
you're interested in what they are learning online and you
will also be able to check the screen periodically. |
| 6. |
Get to know the services your child
uses.
If you don't know how to log on, get your child to show you. Find out what types of
information it offers and whether there are ways for parents to block
out objectional material. |
| 7. |
Don't allow your child to visit chat rooms or
join in IRCs
(Internet Relay Chats) or bulletin board discussions unless
they are being monitored by you or another knowledgeable adult.
|
| 8. |
Help your child feel comfortable talking to
you
about their online friends, experiences and activities, and talk
regularly about what they are learning from the Net. Never allow your child
to meet a new online friend alone or in a private setting. Always go along
and meet in a mall, a library, or other public setting.
|
| 9. |
Check with your child’s school
and
ask what their internet use and computer security policies are. Find out whether or not
your school uses Internet content filtering. |
| 10. |
Remember that everything you read online may
not be true. Any offer
that's "too good to be true" probably is. Be very careful about any that
involve your coming to a meeting, having someone vist your house, giving
out personal information, or providing financial information. |
| 11. |
Don't respond to belligerent, obscene, or
harassing messages
in chat, e-mail or posted on bulletin boards. Forward copies of
suggestive or threatening messages received by your child to your Internet
service provider (for GCI, send to abuse@gci.net
) and your local authorities. Insist on your service
provider's help in dealing with the issue. |
