Internet Safety

Due to the recent increase in public awarenes on Internet predators and cyberbullying online, Sts. Peter and Paul wanted to give you the power to lessen the chance of any problems occurring for your child(ren) or family members.

Cyberbullying: it is the repeated usage by a minor of instant messages, emails, websites, diary sites, online profiles, cell phone usage, or other interactive devices that are intended to frighten, embarrass, harass, or target another minor. This has become a growing problem in schools nationwide, no matter how big or small the student enrollment is. It can happen ANYWHERE at ANYTIME.

World Wide Web: The World Wide Web has been nicked-named the "World Wide Worry" for parents and educators because it is a way for predators to gain access to children and information about them and their families. Also, some parents and older adults do not know as much about using the Internet as their children or young adults; and this allows them to possibly do things that they should not be doing because of the lack of safeguards in place. The number of predators monitoring children's websites is staggering.

Websites like MySpace, Facebook and Xanga, all .coms are dangerous because you don't know who is lurking inside of them. Blogging sites and chat rooms can be just as dangerous because kids give too much information without using common sense and predators look for that. Did you know that half of MySpace site users are 35 and older?

HOW CAN YOU HELP YOUR CHILD(REN)?

INTERNET SAFETY STARTS WITH YOU: Get involved! It's the single most important thing you can do to keep your child safe online.

**Learn About the Internet. Take a class in computers and the Internet at your local library or community center.
**Teach Your Child Why Internet Safety Is Important. Explain that not everything online is true; people using the Internet are not always who they say they are; and some people may use the Internet to take advantage of children or for illegal activity.
**Go Online Together. Spend time online with your child to learn about his or her interests. Find information together online and learn how to use email.
**Keep the Computer in a Family Area. This allows you to monitor your child's Internet use. Avoid putting the computer in your child's bedroom or other private area of your home.
**Agree to Time Limits. You may want to decide what times of day your child can go online and how much time your child can spend online.
**Password Protect Your Computer or Individual Accounts.
**Keep a List of Favorite Websites and Friends Email Addresses Near the Computer.
**Decide What Material is Off Limits. Prevent your child's access to sites that contain material inappropriate for his or her age, such as: sexual material, violent or hateful material, or information about alcohol or other drugs.
**Find Out Where Your Child Has Internet Access. Your child may be able to go online at schools, public libraries, community centers, and friends' homes. At each of these locations, find out what safety measures exist to protect your child. Your child may also be able to access the Internet from his or her cell phone, if your child has one.
**Check Your Internet History Log Regularly. This is a list of websites that have been most recently visited. It is usually available on your Internet browser or from you Internet service provider.
**Maintain Trust and Communication. Respect your child's privacy as much as possible. Let your child know you will be monitoring his or her online activity because you want to make sure he or she is safe. Talk with your child about what sites or activities are off-limits and why.

INTERNET SAFETY GUIDELINES: Discuss each of these rules with your child. Post them near your computer.
**NEVER give out personal information such as:
-personal name, school name, or the names of family and friends
-address, the area you live in or school location
-telephone number
-password
-credit card number
**NEVER meet face to face with someone you meet online.
-if you meet someone from online, your parents are to be with you and the meeting should take place in a very public area.
**NEVER respond to email, chat rooms or bulletin board messages that are suggestive, obscene or threatening.
-always tell your parents or another trusted adult immediately if you see something online that makes you scared or uncomfortable.
**NEVER post pictures of yourself or your family on the Internet.
**NEVER let a child use a web cam alone.
**NEVER download pictures from an unknown source.
**NEVER open email from someone you don't know.
-predators can track your computer from downloads and email
-viruses can get into your computer from downloads and email which can distroy valueable, irreplaceable documents, photographs or account information

PARENTAL CONTROL TOOLS:
These are programs or software that help you control what your child views or participates in on the Internet. They permit you to:
-view your child's email or reject email from specific addresses
-block access to material that is not appropriate for children
-monitor what sites your child visits online
-set time limits for being online
-control access to chat rooms
-prevent your child from posting or sending personal information online

WHERE CAN I FIND PARENTAL CONTROL TOOLS?:
Your Internet service provider and web browser may provide them or you can buy parental control software that filters out or blocks access to certain types of material and track your child's Internet use. Although parent control tools are useful, they cannot protect your child completely from all the dangers he or she may encounter online. These tools are not a substitute for supervising your child's Internet use. You are your child's best protection online!!

WARNING SIGNS THAT YOUR CHILD MIGHT BE AT RISK ONLINE:
-your child spends large amounts of time online, especially at night
-you find pornography on your child's computer
-your child receives phones calls from people you don't know or is making calls, sometimes long distance numbers that you do not recognize
-your child receives mail, gifts, or packages from someone you don't know
-your child turns the computer monitor off or quickly changes the screen or the monitor, when you come into the room
-your child becomes withdrawn from the family
-your child is using an online account belonging to someone else
-you notice charges to a credit card(s)

INTERNET SAFETY WEBSITES:
-www.netsmartz.org
-www.getnetwise.org
-www.safekids.com
-www.safeteens.com
-blogsafety.com

COMPUTER SAFETY SOFTWARE:
-eBlaster: automatically records everything someone does online
-Net Nanny: filters inappropriate information from the Internet and stops viruses
-IamBigBrother: sees everything that is happening online

*REMEMBER: With your help, your child can safely enjoy all that the Internet has to offer!

SOURCES: The above Internet safety information was put together from the websites listed above; an article from the Canton Repository dated October 2006; information provided from St. Mary's School; and a booklet sponsored by the Summit County Prosecutor called Staying Safe on the Internet: A Guide for Parents.