Helping Kids Use The Internet Safely

The internet is a teaching and learning experience without parallel.  Users of all ages have global information resources instantly accessible with the click of a mouse.  Parents and educators are striving to find an approach that provides access to this wealth of knowledge, while simultaneously protecting those in their care from inappropriate and offensive Web sites that proliferate daily.

Children Lured To Porn on The Net

According to a recent article in the Orange County Register, Online pornographers have begun luring children with a new "bait & switch" ploy that links sexually explicit sites to cartoon characters and other web addresses that appeal to the youngest computer users.

One site even encouraged repeat visits by offering prizes for viewing more photos, and a child who stumbles on some porn sites can find it impossible to leave.  Technology allows the sites to capture the visitor's browser and then each click of the mouse just brings up another explicit photo.

The sites use young children to click on banner ads which generate revenue for the web site. While innocently in the site and trying to get out, children and be exposed to dozens of sexually explicit photographs.  In other situations, teenagers are using mom and dad's credit cards to "peek" at pornographic photos.  The parents don't find out until they receive a huge bill.

Preventing And Dealing With Exposure To Porn

What should you do if you discover your child has seen sexually explicit material on the Internet?  It can be an uncomfortable topic for any parent and child to discuss.  What you say will vary depending on the age of the child.

Ilene Berson, a faculty member at the Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute in Florida, has surveyed 6,800 kids about online behavior.  She offers the following advice:

• Children ages 9 and under shouldn't be allowed to surf the Web alone.  They need to be closely supervised.

• If your adolescent child sees sexually explicit images, stay calm.  Kids are resilient, even when it comes to fleeting exposure to images that you might find disturbing.  They want information and reassurances.   Don't launch into crisis mode.  If you blow up, they'll get scared and they will never tell you if it happens again.

• Praise your child for showing you or telling you about what they've seen on line.  Say, "I'm really glad you showed me."   Ask them what they think happened and let their questions guide your responses.

• Explain that the porn site is just for adults, not kids.  Remind them that they can always talk to you if they see anything disturbing again.

• Set clear rules about using the Internet alone.   Tell your kids you want to know where they're going and what they'll do once they arrive.

• Ask questions.  If your adolescent son or daughter disappears into the bedroom for three hours, find out what's been going on.   If they don't volunteer the information, you can use your browser's history file to find out where they've been.

• Be proactive.  Adolescent kids are bound to explore their interests - a taboo topic like sex - on the Internet.  Make sure they know they can always come to you with questions.

• Make sure they don't turn to chat rooms for a sympathetic ear.  That leaves the door open for pedophiles who are looking for any opportunity to establish a rapport with their young victims.  Suggest the names of responsible adults they can confide in when they're upset with you.

Information For Parents

The Parents' Guide to the Information Superhighway - Rules and Tools for Families  is published by the Children's Partnership with the National PTA.

Teen Safety on the Information Highway is available from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.  Contact them at www.missingkids.com.