What Can Parents Do About Online Safety by Larry Magid Nov. 13, 2006 It should come as no surprise that parental involvement is the key to keeping kids safe online. You can lecture your kids, you can install filters to block objectionable websites, you can spy on your kids and you even can try to keep your kid off the Internet, but none of those tactics are as effective as engaging them in conversation about what they're doing online. This is especially true in the "Web 2.0" era of the interactive Internet when kids are not only "downloading" inappropriate information but "uploading" information about themselves in social networking sites like MySpace and even video sites like YouTube. Today, parents have to worry not just what their kids "see" on the net but what they "say" as well. So what does it mean to be an involved parent? It doesn't necessarily mean standing over your kid's shoulder every time he or she goes online, but it does mean talking with your kids – especially your teens – on a regular basis about their internet activities. READ MORE & then come back to discuss this in the forum -- Edited by Larry at 11/13/2006 9:36 AM
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NetFamilyNews
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368
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6/5/06
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(13 of 13)
Re: What Can Parents Do About Online Safety
Feb 13, 2007 1:18 PM
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Thanks, realdealgoth, for pointing out how unproductive accusations about people's parenting skills are. I think deancicca has a point, tho', about whether anyone can reasonably expect the social-networking services to end or fix arguments between users. Not entirely, but it's a little like having an argument start in a phone conversation and calling the phone company to end the dicussion. People can simply start new, harassing phone conversations or put up new profiles.
On the accusations front: For one thing, people on this forum can't be sure who is and who isn't a parent unless the poster states it. Second, insults and accusations only reduce that calm, rational content in conversations so that they accomplish nothing. We're trying to advance the online-safety discussion here as well as keep parents and teens in it. But enough about the forum - let's get back to the conversation!
Anne
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TheRealDealGoth
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14
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2/12/07
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(12 of 13)
Re: What Can Parents Do About Online Safety
Feb 13, 2007 1:03 PM
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Dean this is definately another hate message.
(information is being directed at the poster of the main message and DEAN)
Could you please try to just leave information, and not comment on the persons parenting? I doubt you are a great parent yourself, and with the suggestions you've been making I assume that your kids despise you for being so strict. You cannot entirely cut a "Teen" off from certain internet material because it gives them no room to explor and expand their mind. Just keep to simple things, like blocking porn.. If they have a MySpace encourage them to keep it clean, although, these are they're thoughts..
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Edited by TheRealDealGoth at 02/13/2007 1:04 PM
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deancicca
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5
From:
Kissimmee, Fl
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2/13/07
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(11 of 13)
Re: What Can Parents Do About Online Safety
Feb 13, 2007 5:06 AM
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The reason you have to login from the originating computer is stop anyone from "claiming" something and having profiles taken offline. Can you imagine the headache there. Myspace doesn't know who you are, you could be anyone claiming to know this person. So I don't see where they did anything wrong. Myspace is not the parent you are! If you were so deeply concerned you would drive the 45 miles (which isn't far) and get on the orginating computer has myspace said to do, instead of complaining about it from your house. Exactly where is this myspaces' responsibilty to get control of your kid? How about being a parent instead of trying to push the responsibilty onto someone/something else.
Your son having a myspace page at 12 and refusing to take it down says more to me about his parents than myspace.
You don't like the way your exwife raises your son, then document it and take her to court for custody. If you are not willing to fully participate in your childs rearing then you have no right to complain when an internet site doesn't want to do it for you either.
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Edited by deancicca at 02/13/2007 5:07 AM
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James567
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6
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(10 of 13)
Re: What Can Parents Do About Online Safety
Jan 25, 2007 12:22 PM
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I'n not advertising this but this is a great program to monitor what your child is doing online, it's completely undetectable and has a very simple user interface and options. This is the link and it's DEFINITELY worth the money to download. http://siterefr01.cybersam.hop.clickbank.net/ |
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Anne
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507
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6/26/06
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(9 of 13)
Re: What Can Parents Do About Online Safety
Jan 25, 2007 7:46 AM
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Kids Come First, send the child's profile URL to admin@blogsafety.com, and we'll pass it along. I'm not sure how you contacted MySpace, but profiles of kids under 14 get deleted without notice because they violate the site's Terms of Service. It doesn't matter if the notifying parent is custodial or non-custodial. I will say, though, that nothing will stop your child from creating a new account at MySpace or any of the other hundreds of social sites on the Web, all of which offer free accounts. It might be better - since you know the page's URL - to allow it to stay up and keep an eye on the activity on it. If you have it deleted and he starts a new one, you're starting over. All best,
Anne
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Anne Collier
BlogSafety co-director
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Kids Come First
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Re: What Can Parents Do About Online Safety
Jan 25, 2007 6:00 AM
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I feel your pain as well.
All the reply's say this has been covered over and over again. Here's one I have not seen covered. If it has, show me where.
I have been divorced for over 10 years. I recently discovered my son has a page on myspace.com. According to their own rules of perticipating in posting a personal web page on their site, you must be 14 years of age or older. Also, their own rules allow for you to notify them of any abuses and or falsely posted web pages or web pages by underage minors.
My son is 12 1/2. He lives with his mother. I have no communication with her due to recent court battles and her not helping our son make the right decisions in life.
His original web page claimed he was 17, it has now been changed to 15.
She refuses to get involved in keeping his grades up and sports are more important to her then school. She allows my underage son to post his site on myspace.com and when I complained over and over to myspace about this, all I get is an automated canned reply telling me if I want to delete his site, to use the computer he logs in on and ask for the password to be sent back so I can access his account and delete it.
Problem here is, he lives with his mom 45 miles from me. I cannot get access to his computer. And his mother will not take the steps necessary to protect our 12 1/2 year old from exposure to pedophiles or weirdos that frequent myspace.com
I have complained over and over to my space and they just ignore my e-mails now. They claim to take these types of situations very serious, but do nothing to protect kids in these types of accounts set up on their sites. They have many different types of links to family sites, protection and kid safety sites and more, and protray a distinct concern for safety, but do little to facilitate it. I feel my hands are tied and am considering to file a police report and or contact my state attorney genmeral who really is going after this type of web site.
Anyone have suggestions? My son will also not return my calls or e-mails because his mother has told him I am trying to get his site deleted.
Desperate for answers and solutions.........to help my son before it gets to late!!!!!!!!
Kids Come First
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Anne
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507
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(7 of 13)
Re: What Can Parents Do About Online Safety
Jan 23, 2007 5:38 AM
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Milkfly, pls observe the forum rule about no advertising. No more posts like this, pls. Thanks,
Anne
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Anne Collier
BlogSafety co-director |
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milkfly
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3
From:
CT USA
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1/19/07
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(6 of 13)
Re: What Can Parents Do About Online Safety
Jan 22, 2007 11:40 PM
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#?*%$&#? I can't believe how many online diaries, online bloggs, online friends sites for teens are popping up! The links are never-ending!
www.milkfly.com has a few products to look at that may help this transformation/revolution slow down???
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milkfly
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3
From:
CT USA
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1/19/07
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(5 of 13)
Re: What Can Parents Do About Online Safety
Jan 19, 2007 10:33 PM
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It is hard to decide how much privacy to give your child/ children on the internet, but if it will save them from being a statistic there is something to think about. There are not only softwares that a parent can directly "spy" on all their children are doing on the internet, but also a service. This service monitors your childs chat room MySpace/ Xanga, and Im's from unknowns. They report back to the parents. You can read more about these different technologies and services at www.milkfly.com there are also some products that may make you feel more secure letting your teen out driving, or your small child at daycare. Margo http://www.milkfly.com "Keeping Children Safe" |
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Larry
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136
From:
Silicon Valley, California
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6/19/06
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(4 of 13)
Re: What Can Parents Do About Online Safety
Jan 15, 2007 9:53 PM
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Like you, I suspect, I don't think the dialog you create would be the ideal way a parent would communicate with a child. There is room for privacy in a family setting though ultimately the parent does have the right to monitor their kids if it's absolutely necessary.
If I'm a bit too parent-centric, it's not by design but perhaps by perspective. I was a parent more recently than i was a kid. I think kids do have rights but parents have rights as well, especially when it comes to protecting their kids.
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Larry
Co-director
BlogSafety.com
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terion
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4
From:
Singapore
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1/2/07
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(3 of 13)
Re: What Can Parents Do About Online Safety
Jan 15, 2007 7:09 PM
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Well said.. You mention about communication will help.. Question is, does it even help if a parent will to speak to children in such a tone like..
Parent: "What have u been doing on the internet?"
Child: "Oh, nothing just doing my studies?"
Parent: "Don't joke with me, be honest with me, I know every action you did on the internet?"
Child: "What! you spy on me, do you even know of privacy"
Parent: "There's no privacy in this house as you are living in here?"
Child: "Oh really?"
End of conversation.. It can be too dramastic, but still, communication alone won't be enough to solve the problem.. In the below "READ MORE", you explain about how parents can communicate with their child.. I couldn't say it is a totally efficient way of communicate.. It seem to me that, you stand more toward the parent point of view, than the child side.. You even have evidence (survey result) to prove your words.. Good luck to you and hope you can shape a better world..
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Gardenia89102
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2
From:
Long Beach
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1/15/07
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(2 of 13)
Re: What Can Parents Do About Online Safety
Jan 15, 2007 10:12 AM
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I had posted a question about this very problem that is happening with our email. And I wanted to know who would I report this email address to if in the event they should try to get contact again by sending the abusive and vulgar email?
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Larry
Posts:
136
From:
Silicon Valley, California
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6/19/06
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(1 of 13)
What Can Parents Do About Online Safety
Nov 13, 2006 8:19 AM
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What Can Parents Do About Online Safety by Larry Magid Nov. 13, 2006 It should come as no surprise that parental involvement is the key to keeping kids safe online. You can lecture your kids, you can install filters to block objectionable websites, you can spy on your kids and you even can try to keep your kid off the Internet, but none of those tactics are as effective as engaging them in conversation about what they're doing online. This is especially true in the "Web 2.0" era of the interactive Internet when kids are not only "downloading" inappropriate information but "uploading" information about themselves in social networking sites like MySpace and even video sites like YouTube. Today, parents have to worry not just what their kids "see" on the net but what they "say" as well. So what does it mean to be an involved parent? It doesn't necessarily mean standing over your kid's shoulder every time he or she goes online, but it does mean talking with your kids – especially your teens – on a regular basis about their internet activities. READ MORE & then come back to discuss this in the forum -- Edited by Larry at 11/13/2006 9:36 AM
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