Kids and the Internet

Computers have traditionally been trusted by both kids and adults as reliable and accurate sources of information. The rapid growth of online services and Internet access has added a new dimension to modern computing. Through a modem and phone line kids now have access to an almost endless supply of information and opportunity for interaction. However, there can be real risks and dangers for an unsupervised youngster.

Most online services give kids resources such as encyclopedias, current events coverage, and access to libraries and other valuable material. They can also play games and communicate with friends. The ability to "click" from one area to another appeals to a youngster's natural impulsivity and curiosity and needs for immediate gratification or feedback.

Most moms and dads teach their kids not to talk with strangers, not to open the door if they are home alone, and not to give out information on the telephone to unknown callers. Most moms and dads also monitor where their kids go, who they play with, and what TV shows, books, or magazines they are exposed to. However, many moms and dads don't realize that the same level of guidance and supervision must be provided for a youngster's online experience.

Moms and dads cannot assume that their youngster will be protected by the supervision or regulation provided by the online services. Most "chat rooms" or "news groups" are completely unsupervised. Because of the anonymous nature of the "screen name," kids who communicate with others in these areas will not know if they are "talking" with another youngster or a child predator pretending to be a youngster or adolescent. Unlike the mail and visitors that a parent sees a youngster receive at home, e-mail or "chat room" activity is not seen by moms and dads. Unfortunately, there can be serious consequences to kids who have been persuaded to give personal information, (e.g. name, passwords, phone number, email or home address) or have agreed to meet someone in person.

Some of the other risks or problems include:

• kids accessing areas that are inappropriate or overwhelming;
• kids being invited to register for prizes or to join a club when they are providing personal or household information to an unknown source;
• kids being mislead and bombarded with intense advertising
• hours spent online is time lost from developing real social skills and from physical activity and exercise
• online information that promotes hate, violence, and pornography.

In order to make a youngster's online experience more safe and educational, moms and dads should:

• insist that a youngster follow the same guidelines at other computers that they might have access to, such as those at school, libraries, or friends' homes;
• limit the amount of time a youngster spends online and "surfing the web";
• make use of the parental control features offered with your online service, or obtaining commercially available software programs, to restrict access to "chat lines," news groups, and inappropriate websites;
• monitor the content of a youngster's personal webpage (homepage) and screen name profile information;
• never give a youngster credit card numbers or passwords that will enable online purchases or access to inappropriate services or sites;
• provide for an individual e-mail address only if a youngster is mature enough to manage it, and plan to periodically monitor the youngster's e-mail and online activity;
• remind a youngster that not everything they see or read online is true;
• teach a youngster never to give out any personal identifying information to another individual or website online;
• teach a youngster that talking to "screen names" in a "chat room" is the same as talking with strangers;
• teach a youngster to never agree to actually meet someone they have met online;
• teach a youngster to use the same courtesy in communicating with others online as they would if speaking in person -- i.e. no vulgar or profane language, no name calling, etc.

Moms and dads should remember that communicating online does not prepare kids for real interpersonal relationships. Spending time with a youngster initially exploring an online service and periodically participating with a youngster in the online experience gives moms and dads an opportunity to monitor and supervise the activity. It is also an opportunity to learn together.

Online Parent Support