Safety Online
Keep Safe online in chat and email
With thanks to the Chatdanger site from Childnet International:
- SAFE - Staying safe involves being careful and not giving out your name, address, mobile phone no., school name or password to people online
- MEETING someone you have contacted in cyberspace can be dangerous. Only do so with your parent's/carer's permission, and then when they can be present
- ACCEPTING e-mails or opening files from people you don't really know or trust can get you into trouble - they may contain viruses or nasty messages
- RELIABLE - Someone online maybe lying about who they are, and information you find on the Internet may not be reliable
- TELL your parent or carer if someone or something makes you feel uncomfortable or worried.
What to do if you're worried or uncomfortable
- Contact Chew TV if the situation is happening on the Chew TV website: privacy@chewtv.com
- Learn how to keep/save a copy of the conversation in chat - this may be useful if you want to report something, check Websafecrackerz
- Keep a record of harassing emails. If somebody is bullying or harassing you via email, then keep the email and don't delete it. You don't need to read it, just save it in a folder. It may help you to find out who is sending the messages if you don't already know, and it will definitely make the situation easier to explain to someone when you tell them. Keep the email until you have discussed how to stop it with somebody you trust. And do tell someone about it.
- Tell someone if you receive a message or messages that are bullying, or make you feel uncomfortable or at danger. Tell your parents, or a teacher or counselor at school. Even telling your friends can help. There are organisations where you can receive advice anonymously, such as Childline in the UK which you can reach on 0800 1111. If the message or messages you have received are threatening or harassing then you should tell your local police.
- Have more than one account. Use a personal one for friends and family for example. If you have to give an email address for entering a competition or registering for a service, it is a good idea to use a different address to your personal one, as this may lead to you receiving a lot of unwanted spam mail for example.
For more information go to Chatdanger website run by Childnet international.
Support and Information for Parents and Carers
But my kids know more than I do!
Many adults can feel intimidated in using the Internet and are baffled by some of the terms and technology. While it is true that many children may have better technical skills than you, children still need parental advice and protection in using this new tool. After all, you can teach your children the importance of wearing a seat belt in a car without understanding
how the car engine works! So what are the dangers?
The Internet is like bringing a city into your living room: there are the exciting places for children to go and enjoy but also lots of places where you wouldn't want your children to go unsupervised! The main dangers for children can be grouped into:
- Potential CONTACT - from someone online who may wish to harm them. Children must re-learn the 'stranger=danger' rule in a new context and never give out personal details or meet alone with anyone they've contacted via the Internet
- Inappropriate CONTENT - keep an eye on the material your children are looking at and agree the ground rules about where your children go and how they behave
- Excessive COMMERCIALISM and advertising which invades your child's privacy Encourage your children not to fill out forms that ask for lots of personal details
Can't I just use a filter?
Filtering software can help to block a lot of inappropriate material but they are not 100% effective and are no substitute for good parental involvement. Internet use at school is generally filtered, supervised and safe. But many children use the Net at friend's homes, Internet cafes, libraries and youth clubs where there may be no filters and little supervision. It's therefore important to help educate your children about how to behave online and discuss problems that they may have. It helps to keep the computer in a family room - not tucked away in a bedroom.
Stick to the positive
Encourage your children to stick to the fun and positive sites on the Net that reinforce their interests. Just as you look out for good TV programmes for children take the time to find the best and most useful websites for you and your family.
Communicating your issues
If you start by telling your child never to do something most children will ask 'why not?' and then try to find out! Discussing the potential dangers with your children therefore needs care and sensitivity and involves helping them to see for themselves how they might get into difficulty. Most children will respond more positively if you encourage them to be SMART or 'Cool' on the Internet rather than giving them a list of 'Dos and don'ts'!
For more information go to http://www.childnet-int.org/safety/parents.aspx
For further online safety resources and information visit http://www.chatdanger.com/resources/