Monitor Your Teen's Use of the Internet on Your Home Computer (updated 4/19/10)

When it comes to using a computer, teens are often times more proficient than most adults. As a result, online safety has become an important issue facing parents. It is up to you to instill guidelines for your children so they can have a positive and valuable experience every time they are online. There are numerous websites that offer many suggestions and opportunities to educate yourself (and your children) about the potential risks and benefits of using the Internet. Please take some time to get more information from the links listed below to help keep your family safe.   

Recently added:
http://beatbullying.org/
http://childnet-int.org/
http://www.commonsensemedia.org/
http://www.connectsafely.org/
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http://fosi.org/cms/
http://www.truste.com/
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http://www.ceop.gov.uk/
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http://www.edutopia.org/digital-generation-children-online-safety
http://www.edutopia.org/digital-generation-parents-video
http://www.edutopia.org/digital-generation-social-networking-technology-project
http://kids.GetNetWise.org/tools
http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_5210000/newsid_5212300/5212328.stm
http://onguardonline.gov/index.html
http://www.fbi.gov/publications/pguide/pguide.htm
http://www.isafe.org
http://www.isafe.org/newsletter/iparent.html - download newsletter
http://www.keepitsafe.org
http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/positive/family/net_safety.html
http://kidzui.comcast.net/
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3078811
http://www.nap.edu/netsafekids/
http://www.NetNany.com
http://www.NetSmartz.org
http://www.nsteens.org/
http://www.protectyourkids.info
http://www.safekids.com
http://www.safeteens.com
http://www.staysafe.org
http://www.teenchatdecoder.com/index.html
http://www.wbez.org/content.aspx?audioID=14154
http://www.wiredsafety.org/parent.html

Here are some "kid-friendly" Internet sites that will help safeguard your kid's Web surfing:

AskforKids.com offers information handpicked by an editorial staff and geared toward kids 7 to 14. Only G-rated pages and those written specifically for children are included on the site.  http://www.askkids.com/

Yahooligans.com is for children 7 to 12 is staffed by educational professionals and ex-teachers who personally review every site in the directory. http://yahooligans.yahoo.com/

KidsClick.org lists more than 6,400 librarian picked sites. This site accepts no advertising. http://www.kidsclick.org/

KidZui is a Web browser, search engine & online community for kids under 13. Free download. http://kidzui.comcast.net/

NetTrekker.com offers 180,000 sites that teachers review. It costs $4.95 per month. Features include multidisciplinary timelines, a famous person search and results that are tailored to specific reading levels. http://nettrekker.com/

eResources is tremendous collection of resources put together by the Anoka-Hennepin's Media Services. http://www.anoka.k12.mn.us/eresources

In addition to investigating these websites...

• obtain a program to help filter the content of the Internet
• view the history of visited websites
• if your child is using file sharing programs, check to see if there could be potential copyright problems
• check the logs of IM conversations
• know all of your child's e-mail addresses, screen names, and passwords (if possible)
• be open, but frank with your child about appropriate Internet use
• set and discuss rules for computer and Internet use
• keep the computer in an open or central location within your house
• be aware that your child has access to the Internet in many places, even some cell phones
• let them teach you what they know Have a plan on what to do...
• when your child is online for long periods of time
• when your child and friends are at your house, online
• if you want to monitor your child's activity on the Internet
• when someone wants to meet your child offline
• when someone wants to know information about your child
• when someone is bullying your child over the Internet
• if your child gets an e-mail from someone he or she does not know
• if your child's personal information is online By taking a constant and proactive role with the supervision of your child's use of your home computer, he/she will have a safer experience using the Internet.

Common Sense on Social Networks
Some facts
• 55% of teens have an online profile on a site like facebook or mySpace.
• Each site has privacy controls.
• Inappropriate contact happens.
• Both sites require kids be older than 14 to have a page - but kids lie about their ages.
• What gets posted is there forever, somewhere. deleting an account is difficult.

Where's their favorite hangout? Online.
It's 8:30 on a school night - do you know where your child is? Sure, he's at his computer, but if he's like most kids, he's on a social networking site. But do you know what he's doing? It's a whole other world and we'll help you understand (instead of worry) where your kids are hanging out.
What are they?
An online social network is like any meeting ground, group, or club. The sites work pretty simply: Anyone who signs up (for free) gets a page to do with whatever they like. Although many exist, MySpace and Facebook are the most popular. Kids post pictures of themselves, artwork, links to songs, and write about what they enjoy. They are great outlets for creativity and voicing opinions.
These sites also form a communication hub with all sorts of options, from Instant Messaging on MySpace to "writing on someone's wall" or "poking" someone on Facebook. Both sites offer the cyber equivalent of "clubs" you can join. On Facebook, there are also thousands of applications that let kids play games with their friends, send hugs and drinks, or download quizzes and profiles.
Why they matter
Unless your child uses privacy controls, everything he says about himself in pictures or words will be available for all the world to see. And people do see these pages - strangers, college admissions officers, even potential employers. Kids are savvy enough to post things, but not always mature enough to understand the consequences of doing it.
Even if your kids think they have figured out their privacy controls, there are different ways to get into people's pages. That's why revealing personal information is worrisome.
Tips for young kids
• Social networks are not for kids under 14 unless they are specifically designed for tween ages. Kids lack the maturity to make smart, responsible decisions all the time.
Tips for middle school kids
• Common Sense does not recommend this for your middle school kids. That said, we know that kids like to "age up" so really it's an individual family decision.
• ask them if they have an account. They may not fess up if they think they will get in trouble. But it's more important for you to know they have one than for them to be appearing to play by your rules.
• review the basics of internet safety with your kids - whether or not they say they have an account. Nothing identifiable, no meeting people.
• make sure they set their privacy settings. They aren't foolproof, but they're important. Show them where the privacy settings are.
• Set ground rules for what is and isn't appropriate for your kids to communicate, play, and post online.
• go online. get an account for yourself. Explore it, then have your kids link to you so you can monitor what they're doing and saying. And do a search for their friends and see if your child shows up on their sites.
Tips for high school kids
• ask them to show you their sites. They may object, but they're still under your roof.
• tell them the rules: no drugs, no alcohol. Remind them that anyone can see what's on their pages - even if they think no one will. Potential employers and college admissions people can find their way around these sites.
• Kindness counts. Lots of these sites have things like "honesty boxes" that allow users to tell their friends what they think of them. Rule of thumb: If they wouldn't want someone saying it to them, they shouldn't say it to anyone else.
• Watch the clock. Kids can get so sucked into their pages that hours and hours can go by. Not the best use of their time.
• if they meet someone, it better be in a public place, preferably with a friend. We would all like to think that kids wouldn't meet strangers - but sometimes they do. Stress to your kids this is not a safe or smart idea.

Common Sense Media is a non-partisan, non-profit resource that helps families and educators teach kids how to be safe and smart in today's 24/7 media world. Go to www.commonsensemedia.org for thousands of reviews and expert advice.
http://www.commonsensemedia.org/