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Keeping Kids Safe Online Is A Family Affair

Posted: 8/5/2010

There's no reason to deny children the benefits of the Web if you teach them important lessons about Internet safety.

(NAPSI) - The Web offers many wonderful experiences for young people, so teaching them about Internet safety and providing them with the right "training wheels" is important.

A recent survey by Yahoo! found that parents are taking action to keep their children safe on the Internet, but more frequent action is necessary. The survey found that:

• 70 percent of parents talk to their children about online safety at least two to three times a year.

• 45 percent of parents talk to their children about online safety at least once a month.

• 74 percent of parents are connected to their children's profiles on social networking sites.

• 71 percent of parents have taken at least one action to manage their children's use of the Internet or cell phones.

Technology is evolving at lightning speed, and kids are among the first to adopt the latest and greatest gadgets and Internet services. It is important for parents to coach their children about online safety and provide them with "training wheels" so they can develop the skills and behaviors needed to stay safer online.

Survey data shows that cyberbullying continues to be a concern for parents. While parents are acutely aware of the potential issues, they are not sure what to do.

• 81 percent of parents know what cyberbullying is.

• 37 percent of parents feel that they know what to do about cyberbullying.

• Almost three-quarters (73 percent) of people want their child's school to play an active role in teaching online safety and citizenship.

Yahoo! Safely offers these tips to help prevent cyberbullying:

• Own your digital reputation. The Internet is a public space, so before sharing photos or personal details, make sure it's info that you'd share with teachers, colleges or job prospects.

• Keep your private information under your control. Keeping Internet conversations (and your user names/profiles) free of personal information such as your password, full name or even the name of your school is important.

• Be nice (and pass it on)! Be respectful online and treat people the way you'd want to be treated. If someone is being disrespectful or bullying you, try to ignore that person and use privacy tools to block that person from viewing your full profile and contacting you.

• Know your rights. You have the right to not respond to e-mail or other messages that are inappropriate or make you feel uncomfortable. If you get a message that doesn't feel right, show it to a trusted adult and report it to your Internet service provider.

• Have a family chat. Talking with your parents or guardians doesn't mean giving up your privacy. Everyone benefits when you're on the same page about online activities.

For more information, visit http://safely.yahoo.com.

photo credit: iStockphoto.com

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