| Protecting Children: Internet Safety |
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Governor learns about the North Bend Technology Center
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The internet is a great educational and fun tool for children. It’s a place that can provide children with a variety of learning opportunities. Never before have children been able to visit other countries electronically, communicate with friends, get help with homework, watch movie trailers or view Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address with one click of a mouse and a stroke of a keyboard!
However, as Oregon children become more technologically savvy and are better able to navigate the web, there are several things parents must know in order to prevent children from falling prey to online predators. Together with Attorney General Hardy Meyers, Oregon’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and other non-profit groups, I have come up with a “top ten” list for parents to prevent internet online predators from reaching their children:
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| Governor's Top Ten Tips |
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Governor visits with children from Sherwood, Oregon
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One
Before allowing your kids to go online, develop rules for their internet use. Rules should include what websites your child may visit, whom they can talk to online, how long they can be online and where they can use a computer.
Two
Keep the computer in a common area of the home, such as the family room. Don’t keep computers with internet access in your child’s room, and don’t let children use the internet when you are not at home.
Three
Periodically review your child’s email account. Find out what websites your kids go to by checking the "history" folder of your internet browser. Visit these sites and find out what type of information they offer.
Four
Note whether your child changes or minimizes the screen when you walk into the room, or whether your child suddenly spends more time online. Such behavior could be signs that your child is doing something inappropriate on the internet.
Five
Don’t allow social networking on sites such as "myspace.com" or "facebook.com" for children in middle school or younger.
Six
Talk to your kids about their photos and entries before they are posted. Since anything can be downloaded and forwarded on the web, ask your kids if they want the world to see what they post. Remind older kids that future colleges or potential employers could be checking them out, as well as teachers and classmates!
Seven
Set time limits before children go online and stick by those limits!
Eight
Don’t allow kids to have access to voice recorder technology, unless there is a specific reason (such as communicating with a relative.) Voice recorder technology can be a tool for online predators to keep in contact with children.
Nine
Keep up with the internet. Know what new key phrases and terms are. You should know terms such as instant messaging, blogging, social networking and other internet slang words, so you can have an honest and open dialogue with your child about the internet. The more you know, the more you can teach and protect your child.
Ten
Use parental control for your children. There is a lot of great software out there that allows you to protect and control what sites your child can visit online.
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