Basic Internet Groundrules

Today's teens are very tech savvy, but unfortunately, they fall short in the online social skills area. They are all too quick to publish their personal information, including their name, where they live and what school they go to. And that, my friends, is a potential disaster waiting to happen.
I came across a great article by Parry Aftab, called Parenting Online. In it she offers great advice on some simple rules to start teaching our kids about online safety. And, yes, they need to be taught.
The following is an exerpt from her publication:
• Don't talk to or accept anything from strangers. That's the first one we learn while growing up, and
the first one we teach our children. The problem in cyberspace though is teaching "stranger danger."
Online, it's hard to spot the strangers. The people they chat with enter your home using your computer.
Our kids feel safe with us seated nearby. Their "stranger" alerts aren't functioning in this setting. Unless
they know them in real life, the person is a stranger no matter how long they have chatted online. Period.
You need to remind them that these people are strangers, and that all of the standard stranger rules
apply.
• You also must teach them that anyone can masquerade as anyone else online. The "12-year-old"
girl they have been talking to may prove to be forty-five year old man. It's easy for our children to spot an
adult in a schoolyard, but not as easy to do the same in cyberspace.
• Come straight home after school. Parents over the generations
have always known that children can get into trouble when they
wander around after school. Wandering aimlessly online isn't any
different. Parents need to know their children are safe, and doing
something productive, like homework. Allowing your children to
spend unlimited time online, surfing aimlessly, is asking for
trouble.
• Make sure there's a reason they're online. If they are just
surfing randomly, set a time limit. You want them to come home
after they're done, to human interaction and family activities (and
homework).
• Don't provoke fights. Trying to provoke someone in cyberspace
is called "flaming." It often violates the "terms of service" of your
online service provider and will certainly get a reaction from other
people online. Flaming matches can be heated, long and
extended battles, moving from a chat room or discussion group to e-mail quickly. If your child feels that
someone is flaming them, they should tell you and the sysop (system operator, pronounced sis-op) or
moderator in charge right away and get offline or surf another area. They shouldn't try to defend
themselves or get involved in retaliation. It's a battle they can never win.
• Don’t take candy from strangers. While we don’t take candy from people online, we do often accept
attachments. And just like the offline candy that might be laced with drugs or poisons, a seemingly
innocent attachment can destroy your computer files, pose as you and destroy your friends or spy on you
without you even knowing it. Use a good anti-virus, update it often and try one of the new spyware
blockers. You can get a list of the ones we recommend at WiredSafety.org. Practice safe computing!
• Don't tell people personal things about yourself. You never really know who you're talking to online.
And even if you think you know who you are talking to, there could be strangers lurking and reading your
posts without letting you know that they are there. Don't let your children put personal information on
profiles. It's like writing your personal diary on a billboard. With children especially, sharing personal
information puts them at risk. Make sure your children understand what you consider personal
information, and agree to keep it confidential online and everywhere else. Also teach them not to give
away information at Web sites, in order to register or enter a contest, unless they ask your permission
first. And, before you give your permission, make sure you have read the Web site's privacy policy, and
that they have agreed to treat your personal information, and your child's, responsibly.
• We need to get to know your friends. Get to know their online friends, just as you would get to know
their friends in everyday life. Talk to your children about where they go online, and who they talk to.
• R-E-S-P-E-C-T. We all know the golden rule. We have a special one for cyberspace. Don’t do anything
online you wouldn’t do offline. If you teach your child to respect others online and to follow the rules of
netiquette they are less likely to be cyberbullied, become involved in online harassment or be hacked
online. You can learn more about the ways to combat cyberbullying at our new Web site,
StopCyberbullying.org or at WiredSafety.org’s cyberstalking and harassment section. Remember that it
is just as likely that your child is a cyberbully (sometimes by accident) as a victim of one. Let them know
they can trust you not to make matters worse. You have to be the one they come to when bad things
happen. Be worthy of that trust.

You can read more at wiredsafety.com...