Child Internet Safety

Some recent news articles have pointed out the dangers that children can face when posting personal information about themselves on Internet sites. Internet access inside the school district is filtered for inappropriate content and we block sites that encourage students to post personal information as soon as we are aware of their existence. School staff also monitors how students use the Internet.

Since many of our students now have Internet access at home, parents need to be aware of what their children are doing out on the web. Chat rooms and some sites encourage children and teenagers to reveal personal information about themselves. Sadly, the number of criminal investigations about child molesters who use the Internet to make contact with their victims is on the increase.

What can parents do? Here is a website that provide excellent advice:

www.safekids.com/childsafety.htm

Here are some general guidelines as a starting point to safeguard your child:

• Never allow children to give out identifying information such as home address, school name, or telephone number.



• Never allow your child to arrange a face-to-face meeting with someone via the Internet without your approval.



• Decide whether you want personal information such as age, personal interests, or photographs to be revealed.



• Never respond to messages that are suggestive, obscene, threatening, or make you or your child uncomfortable.



• If you or your children become aware of the transmission of child pornography, report it to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678.



• Remember that people online may not be who they say they are.



• Remember everything you read may not be true.



• Remember that personal computers and online services should not be used as electronic babysitters.