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.
