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A recent report by Reuters from Ohio, USA spoke about a 15-year-old girl who hid a soldier in her closet for three weeks in an Internet-born romance - a fact that was not known to her mother, with whom she lived. Authorities in Mount Vernon, Ohio, said Army Pvt. Jeffrey Martin, 26, was apprehended on December 9, 2000, after the mother finally discovered the live-in arrangement. A search of the closet revealed a neatly kept bed, a cache of canned food and a Bible. The soldier had the run of the apartment after the mother left for work early each day.
Does this real life incident not ring alarm bells in you parents, whose young ones are computer geeks? To many of you the Internet may seem to be a place where kids are perfectly comfortable. The potential
However, the world-wide-web also presents unsafe situations. You would not allow your child to wander alone into unknown territory. Similarly you also would not want him or her to interact with anyone on the Internet without parental guidance and supervision. 'Interactive' - the difference and the possible danger
Furthermore, your child probably knows more about computers and the Internet than you do. So as a parent you need to learn about the Internet. Spend time online with your child, whether at home, or at a cyber cafe. Your involvement in your child's life, including his or her online life, is the best insurance you can have for your child's safety. If you see material or practices you do or do not like, contact your Internet Service Provider (the company that provides you with a connection to the Internet) or the company that created the material. Take advantage of this unique opportunity to make sure that this growing medium develops in positive ways for kids. At times strangers, pretending to be someone else, can communicate with your child through the electronic mail (e-mail). Your children can receive unsolicited email, usually about sites with sexually explicit material, products for sale, or moneymaking schemes.
To protect your child from these online hazards you can share your child's e-mail account and password. You can talk to him/her about the people he or she is meeting online. Set a rule that your child never fixes up an in-person meeting without your knowledge and without you being present. World Wide Web makes it easy to find sites with sexually explicit images and text, sites promoting hatred, bigotry, violence, drugs, cults, and other things not appropriate for children. At times inaccurate, misleading, and untrue information also becomes accessible to the young minds. There is no restriction on online advertising of products like alcohol or tobacco. Easy access to games with excessive violence and gender stereotypes is yet another hazard online. You can keep the computer in family area, to better monitor your child's activity. Regularly spend time online with your child, to learn about his or her interests and activities. Encourage your child to end any experience online when he or she feels uncomfortable or scared by pressing the back key, logging off, and telling a trusted adult as soon as possible. Participate. Don't monitor
Teach your child never to give out personal information such as his or her name or address, school name or address, or anything else that is personally identifying. Explain that people are not always who they say they are. Set a rule that your child never arranges an in-person meeting without you present. Limit your child to specific chat-rooms or consider blocking out chat entirely. Internet is a wonderful mode of communication; information and entertainment, provided it is used with due care and tact and especially when children are around.
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The online world offers children ample educational experiences that are rewarding and wonderful. In addition, effective use of Internet can increase a child's school performance and future job potential. But mind you, too much time online also limits a child's all-round development by taking the place of friends, schoolwork, sports and other activities.
The Internet poses new challenges for parents because, unlike television and radio, it is capable of being interactive and gives an opportunity to the child to interact with all and sundry. The Net allows any user, anywhere, to post any information, including materials that are inaccurate, misleading and inappropriate for children and it is not always anonymous.
Share their joys and passwords!
Establish an atmosphere of trust and understanding with your child by not blaming him or her for uncomfortable online experiences. Discuss the difference between advertising and educational or entertaining content and show your child examples of each.
