There are many fun and educational things our children can do on the World Wide Web. However, there are also many dangers lurking. Therefore, to keep them safe as they use this technology, these four tips are presented.
Nicknames
They should be encouraged to always use nicknames when joining an online program and under no circumstances should they reveal their legal name to a stranger.
However, there are some programs, such as a free email account, that require you to provide your legal name in order to set up an account. However, there is also a box for you to give it a nickname.
However, all programs do not allow this, therefore it is best to read the fine print before joining.
Chatting
Some programs have made it possible for children to chat with each other while visiting your site, so it is a good idea to make sure you are there when they are chatting. That is, you can see what is being said.
Also, they don’t know who is on the other end, and while it may be a kid-friendly site, there may still be an adult on the other end.
Also, this person may ask for your legal name, address, the name of your school, and the like. They may threaten to stop talking to them if they don’t give them the information. They may even speak rudely to your child.
So again, it is best to be there when they are talking and, giving them some time, maybe five to ten minutes depending on their age, it would be better to talk to others.
Unknown links
If they don’t know whose link it is, they better not click on it. Sure, they might be curious about it, but they should leave you alone because you may have a virus or other dangerous information.
You may think that because the email came to you, it was from a friend, but this is not always the case.
Meeting with strangers
Remind them that even if you have been chatting with a person for a while, this person is still a stranger and they should not make arrangements to meet with them without your being 100 percent involved. Yes, you should not only be present at the first meeting, but you should also know what they were talking about.
