Keeping the Kids Safe Online

1. Keep up with technology.

You really have very little ability to protect your children online if you know nothing about the ways they'll be using it.

You need to visit the sites they do and become familiar with them. You need to stay on top of the latest monitoring, blocking, and filtering software that is developed to help parents protect their children.

Enforce the use of password protection and learn how to check your browser's history, cache and cookies.

Also, routinely perform searches using your child's name, nicknames, address, phone numbers, etc. to see if this information pops up where it shouldn't.

2. Establish specific guidelines for them to follow.

Sit your child down and discuss their intended use for being online. Be clear about what is and is not allowed.

You can even go as far as typing up a contract and making them sign it. Include statements that reflect specific safety rules such as not giving out personal information and not downloading anything without permission.

Also, consider general cyber ethics. Don't let your children use their anonymity behind the Internet to say mean things or behave inappropriately.

3. Make sure they remember the rules.

Once you've set the guidelines you need to make sure your children remember them.

Print the list of rules and keep them posted by the computer. Set your screen saver to scroll across with Internet safety reminders.

Send your children reminder e-mails and text messages. Leave them safety messages on their Myspace page (online predators may notice your presence too).

4. Thoroughly explain the dangers.

Don't let your children blow off your cyber rules by thinking you're just being overprotective.

There are plenty of true stories out there demonstrating the very real dangers of children and teens being online and sharing these may be very effective.

Show them the evidence and let them know that these horror stories can happen to anyone, including them.

5. Perform an audit.

You can do this yourself, but it may be more effective if someone else does this who doesn't know a lot about your child.

If you child has a blog, Web site or routinely participates in virtual communities spend some time auditing their profile to see what they inadvertently reveal.

• Are they posting pictures where they are wearing a sports uniform that could reveal their last name and the name of their team?
• Do their pictures include vehicles where the license plate is visible?
• Have they mentioned their excitement over an upcoming music concert they'll be attending?

Chances are your child isn't revealing too much personal information at one time, but collectively, over time they may be giving online predators a lot to work with.

6. Explain how to properly handle a problem.

Sure you've gone over the rules and explained the dangers, but there is another component. You need to specifically teach them how to handle a problem.

Let them know that it's okay to log off if they feel uncomfortable and they don't have to respond to every e-mail or someone's attempt to contact them.

Your child should clearly understand the importance of turning to a trusted adult if they feel something just isn't right.

8. Be careful with what you reveal.

Keeping your kids safe online extends beyond their interactions online.

Parents need to make sure they aren't inadvertently revealing personal information about their children too.

• Do you have a blog or Web site?
• Do you participate in virtual communities or forums?

Perhaps your attempt to share the pictures of your son's baseball game with your online friends on your blog could actually be putting him at risk. Audit your own interactions online and make sure you aren't revealing too much.

9. Remind them that it's out there forever.

The Internet is here to stay; so is everything we put on it.

Keeping children safe online also means considering their future. Teach your children that the information they post online now will most likely still be accessible down the road.

The "cute" little messages they're posting now may not feel as cute when they are older.

Why does this matter? It is becoming more common for potential employers and college admissions departments to perform searches on applicants.

If they aren't careful, what they post today may come back to haunt them later.

10. Watch for warning signs.

Your child's withdrawn attitude and change in behavior may just be normal teenage stuff, or it could be the result of something bigger. They may have gotten themselves into an uncomfortable situation or perhaps they're being the victim of cyber bullying.

As a parent it is your job to find out.

If your child's online habits have changed (such as the amount of time they spend online or the types of sites they visit) this could be another clue that you need to investigate further.