The internet has brought the world into our living rooms providing access to vast resources of information and the opportunity to meet and communicate with people from around the world via social networking sites, online chat rooms, instant messaging etc. But the internet has its share of dangers and risks. The internet and advances in technology have been embraced by sex offenders who have proven exceptionally skilled at exploiting new modes of communication to gain access to children. Here are some suggestions to help protect your child online.
• Having direct and open communication with your child, taking the time to sit down with them and discussing their use of the internet is the most important step to protecting them online. Having open lines of communication allows your child to talk to you freely and approach you when something is wrong.
• Be aware of the programs and files on your computer. If you don’t feel you have the knowledge or technical ability to do this, ask a friend, colleague or qualified technician.
• Spend time exploring the internet with your children, and let them teach you about their favourite web sites, including the social networking and instant messaging sites they use.
• Take the time to view your child’s online profile and check for information that may be unsafe, including email addresses, information about their membership of any other networking sites, unacceptable photos or any other information of concern.
• Keep the computer in a room the whole family accesses, not in your child’s bedroom. Opportunities for exploitation by a sexual predator are limited if the computer monitor is visible to all members of the family.
• Taskforce Argos has developed the “Family Internet Safety Agreement”, a contract you agree upon with your child. The document sets out agreed rules of internet use with your child and is available on the Queensland Police Service website (www.police.qld.gov. au). If this does not meet your needs, sit down with your family and develop your own set of guidelines to help protect your child on the internet.
• Consider installing filtering and/or computer blocking software provided by your internet service provider. Netalert.gov.au (a Government run organisation) provides information on a number of commercially available products.
• Ensure you are able to access your child’s email and randomly check its contents. Remember they may also be a member of free email accounts other than the one provided by your internet service provider.
• Consider approaching your telephone service provider to discuss options they may be able to provide to ensure your privacy and security.
• It is important to remember your child may be accessing the internet from other locations. Enquire with your child’s school, public library etc if you feel worried about his/her activities online.
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• Having direct and open communication with your child, taking the time to sit down with them and discussing their use of the internet is the most important step to protecting them online. Having open lines of communication allows your child to talk to you freely and approach you when something is wrong.
• Be aware of the programs and files on your computer. If you don’t feel you have the knowledge or technical ability to do this, ask a friend, colleague or qualified technician.
• Spend time exploring the internet with your children, and let them teach you about their favourite web sites, including the social networking and instant messaging sites they use.
• Take the time to view your child’s online profile and check for information that may be unsafe, including email addresses, information about their membership of any other networking sites, unacceptable photos or any other information of concern.
• Keep the computer in a room the whole family accesses, not in your child’s bedroom. Opportunities for exploitation by a sexual predator are limited if the computer monitor is visible to all members of the family.
• Taskforce Argos has developed the “Family Internet Safety Agreement”, a contract you agree upon with your child. The document sets out agreed rules of internet use with your child and is available on the Queensland Police Service website (www.police.qld.gov. au). If this does not meet your needs, sit down with your family and develop your own set of guidelines to help protect your child on the internet.
• Consider installing filtering and/or computer blocking software provided by your internet service provider. Netalert.gov.au (a Government run organisation) provides information on a number of commercially available products.
• Ensure you are able to access your child’s email and randomly check its contents. Remember they may also be a member of free email accounts other than the one provided by your internet service provider.
• Consider approaching your telephone service provider to discuss options they may be able to provide to ensure your privacy and security.
• It is important to remember your child may be accessing the internet from other locations. Enquire with your child’s school, public library etc if you feel worried about his/her activities online.
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