TIPS FOR INTERNET SAFETY FOR YOUR KIDS

Internet sites like MySpace.com make it easy for kids to connect with other kids. They also make it easier for predators to connect with them.  But for tired Beyonders, the Internet provides a time of respite. While the young person is on the computer, he is not making demands or noise (or even breathing loudly.)

It is okay to allow kids computer time, with one watchword :  MONITOR—not the kind attached to the computer, the kind that requires us to check in on them periodically.

Kids post personal information on sites like MySpace. Sometimes they upload their pictures. It is a dangerous place for them to be unsupervised.

1)      EDUCATE THE KIDS ABOUT INTERNET DANGERS

2)      ASK FOR THEIR WEB ADDRESS AND  LOG IN NAMES, ETC. SO YOU HAVE ACCESS TO THEIR SITES AND CAN KEEP AN EYE ON CONTENT

3)      HAVE CLEAR ( AND CONSISTENT) RULES ABOUT INTERNET USE AMD CONSEQUENCES ( ALSO CONSISTENT) FOR VIOLATING THEM

4)      USE PARENTAL CONTROL SOFTWARE.

AND, WHEN YOU DO CHECK OUT THEIR SITES, HERE ARE A FEW EXAMPLES OF  “INTERNET  SPEAK”

BRB:   be right back---used for phone and/or bathroom breaks

BBL8R: be back later

BFO: blinding flash of obvious ---like well duh

CTN: Can’t talk now.—used when you enter the room

5:   Wait . Don’t say anything. There’s someone else ( you) in the room

55: All clear

IMHO: In my humble opinion ( not heard often—teens are not all that humble)

PDA:  Public display of affection.—as in “ she was all over him. PDA”

For more info, go to MySpace.com’s dictionary  at

 http://www.teenchatdecoder.com/dictionary/a.html

WHAT IS A BLOG?

The newest thing to hit the Internet is the personal blog. I have two. They're fun ways to communicate. BLOG is short for "web log" and is a kind of journal--frequently updated and meant for the public.

Kids love blogs. But here are a few tips for kids safety ( taken from Blogsafety.com)

Safe Blogging Tips for Teens

• Be as anonymous as possible. Avoid postings that could enable a stranger to locate you. That includes your last name, the name of your school, sports teams, the town you live in, and where you hang out.

• Protect your info. Check to see if your service has a "friends" list that allows you to control who can visit your profile or blog. If so, allow only people you know and trust. If you don't use privacy features, anyone can see your info, including people with bad intentions.

• Avoid in-person meetings. Don't get together with someone you "meet" in a profile or blog unless you are certain of their actual identity. Although it's still not risk-free, if you do meet the person, arrange the meeting in a public place and bring some friends along.

• Photos: Think before posting. What's uploaded to the Net can be downloaded by anyone and passed around or posted online pretty much forever. Avoid posting photos that allow people to identify you (for example, when they're searching for your high school), especially sexually suggestive images. Before uploading a photo, think about how you'd feel if it were seen by a parent/grandparent, college admissions counselor, or future employer.

• Check comments regularly. If you allow them on your profile or blog, check them often. Don't respond to mean or embarrassing comments. Delete them and, if possible, block offensive people from commenting further.
  
  
• Be honest about your age. Membership rules are there to protect people. If you are too young to sign up, do not attempt to lie about your age. Talk with your parents about alternative sites that may be appropriate for you