Safe Web Surfing for Kids

Safe Web Surfing For Kids

While the internet can be an incredible tool, like anything, there are drawbacks and risks involved. These risks are especially significant to children using the internet. Your parents tell you not to talk to strangers or accept things from strangers in your everyday life and the same rules should be followed while using the internet. If you're a child using the internet, it would be a good idea to follow the following suggestions to keep yourself safe on the world wide web:

• Never give out your last or family name, your home address or your phone number in chat rooms, on bulletin boards, forums, blogs, or to online friends.

• Don't give out your username or password for your e-mail, facebook, myspace and any other website that requires you login.

• Don't sign up for a website without your parent's permission. Always have your parents check the website's privacy policy to see what they'll do with the information you give them. Sometimes websites sell information about their clients or members. If you're under the age of 13 it is required by law that a website receives permission from your parents to allow you to sign up.

• Discuss your internet use with your parents. Always tell them about the sites you visit and any sites you come across that made you uncomfortable.

• If you notice a website has information about you or your family that you, or your parents, don't want them to have your parents can request that the information be erased.

• Websites aren't supposed to request more information than is needed for the activity you wish to participate in. In fact, you should be able to do many things on the internet without supplying any information at all.

• If you are contacted by somebody you don't know the first thing you should do is alert a parent.

• Like with personal information, before sharing, posting, or e-mailing any videos or pictures get your parents permission. Once you post those things to the internet you lose all control over what happens to them.

And always remember, if a website or something you see on the internet makes you uncomfortable leave that area of the internet immediately and alert your parents. The internet can be an amazing resource and provide a lot of fun and entertainment, but only when it's used safely!