The Internet can be a dangerous place for children. A 2013 Netmums survey of 825 children ages seven through 16 and 1,127 parents revealed these and other alarming statistics:
What can we do to keep kids safe on the Internet?
The FBI, Netsmartz411, Internet Safety 101 and other groups recommend the following steps.
Click here for more resources about keeping kids safe on the Internet.
- One in 20 children admitted arranging a secret meeting with someone they met online.
- More than half of all kids (57%) accidentally accessed inappropriate content online – although only 9% had looked for it deliberately.
- More than 25 percent of the children obtained an online account such as Facebook by pretending to be older than they were.
- Nearly one-third of the parents surveyed did not put restrictions on or supervise Internet use.
What can we do to keep kids safe on the Internet?
The FBI, Netsmartz411, Internet Safety 101 and other groups recommend the following steps.
- Talk to your children. Talk to them about sexual victimization on the Internet. Tell them never to arrange a face-to-face meeting with someone whom they met online. Establish rules to protect privacy, for example, tell them never to share personal information such as name, age, address, school, etc. with other users and not to post photos without your permission.
- Spend time with your children online and have them show you their favorite sites; know what they are doing and who their online friends are.
- Use parental controls on computers, tablets, and mobile phones. Bar access to chatrooms.
- Set time limits and consider using time-limiting software.
- Always maintain access to your child’s on-line account and randomly check his/her e-mail.
Click here for more resources about keeping kids safe on the Internet.
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