Keeping Kids Safe on MySpace
Posted on October 20, 2008
There are a lot of teens who are using MySpace. Individuals over the age of 14 are eligible to use MySpace so as a result there are many teenagers who are members of the online MySpace community. These young members may appreciate the opportunity to express their creativity, express their feelings, meet new friends or stay in touch with their old friends but they should also be aware that there is the potential for danger on any Internet community. Making kids aware of this is helpful but there is also a certain degree of parental involvement which is necessary to keep kids safe when they are online.
Enforcing Household Internet Rules
Kids who use MySpace, or the Internet in general, should be restricted to a few household rules regarding Internet usage. Putting these rules in place can be very helpful in reducing the potential for danger. Some of the general Internet rules parents might consider are:
* Do not post full name and address online or even school location. This will help to prevent stalking which could become a problem if online predators know where your child lives or go to school.
* Restrict Internet usage to specific hours during the day. This can prevent overuse of the Internet.
* Do not agree to meet online friends in person without consent. Ideally the parents should also accompany their children on these meetings and should ensure the meetings take place in a well lit, public location such as a coffee shop as opposed to a secluded spot such as an individuals home.
* Do not respond to threats or harassment. Kids should be taught to ignore this type of behavior and report these instances to parents or the Internet service provider instead of responding to the threats. Responding to threats or harassing messages can exacerbate a potentially harmful situation.
* Internet usage should be restricted to high traffic locations in the house. For example kids should only be allowed to use the Internet in computers which are in locations such as the family room or kitchen as opposed to allowing kids Internet access in their bedrooms.
Monitoring Online Interactions
Parents whose children have a MySpace account should monitor their childs online interactions on a regular basis to ensure these interactions are not potentially harmful. Parents should be particularly concerned when children are interacting with older individuals who engage in activities which are not appropriate for the childs age or when the children are interacting with those who might be a negative influence on the child.
Parents should also be aware that those their child is interacting with may not be honest about their identity. For example a parent may think it is harmless for their 15 year old daughter to engage in flirtatious banter with a 16 year old boy but there is the possibility that her online friend is really a much older individual. Parents should monitor these activities for suspicious behavior or suggestions of meeting in person.
Reviewing the Terms of Service
Finally, parents who want to keep their kid safe on MySpace should familiarize themselves with the online community as well as the terms of service and privacy policy. This will give the parents a better idea of the type of activities their children are engaging in and being exposed to as well as the safety precautions which are in place to help you protect your child.
Scott Fish is the owner of 401k Account Management | \r Retirement Community
Keeping Your Kids Safe on the Internet
Your kids are online. And more than likely, you probably aren't aware of what they are doing online. You're not up to speed on MySpace (frankly, som...
Myspace And Parental Responsibility
Myspace is a success story on the Internet. At the same time it is being seen with fear by many parents. They feel that their children may get involve...
Safe Computer Kids Release the Nation’s Most Comprehensive Cyber Safety Toolkit to the Marketplace
Parents can finally breathe easier, as this month, Mr. Ian McLellan, CEO of Safe Computer Kids, brought to the worlds attention a revolutionary new cy...
Kids Halloween Parties: No Tricks, Just Treats And Lots Of Fun Halloween Enjoyment
Door to door trick or treating may be a thing of the past, but Kids Halloween parties, done with imagination and creativity, can be an alternative not...
Top 10 Ways to Be Safe On The Web
1. Never have an internet connection w/o the presence of an ACTIVE Firewall and Anti-Virus.* Viruses have evolved to where they don't have to be direc...
Start A MySpace Blog Or Blog For Profit - Your Template For Success
Whether you want to start a MySpace blog, or just plain blog for profit, your template for success will depend on a couple of factors. The truth is, ...
Youthful Idealism is Not Dead!
I scroll the images of my [MySpace] 'friends' to the centre of my screen and what I see, quite frankly, is an image of the Kingdom of God!Youthful ide...
Computer Security Free - Is That Possible?
Everyone who surfs the Net needs to be concerned about computer security. There are viruses, trojans, spyware, malicious adware... the list of what's ...
Does The Anonymous Proxify Site Stop Big Brother From Snooping On You?
Most people are not very aware of the many ways that total strangers can snoop into their lives. The reason why proxify is receiving so much press th...
The State of Kids Internet Safety
The internet has everything! But does your child need to see it. Online parental control is becoming more important as our kids become more tech savvy...
Birthday Party Games
Oh the good old days were the best weren't they. Remember the days before kids' birthday parties became big-budget galas? Why not throw an old-fashion...
Novel And Interesting Party Presents To Brighten Up Your Parties
Life is a celebration....And what can be a better way to celebrate than to arrange for a grand party involving your friends/near and dear ones?Well, t...
Being A Great Party Host
Hosting a party is always fun. However, it takes a lot of preparation to make sure that you and your party both are ready for your guests to enjoy.A...
To Blog or To Blog? Is it Even a Question?
Blog. Its not a very nice word. It kind of sounds like something sticky that comes out of somewhere unpleasant. However, in the age of instant data tr...
Free AVG Virus Protector - A Thorough Review Of The AVG Virus Protector
Is a free avg virus protector effective at keeping your computer safe from harmful viruses. Of course, nowadays as the risk for getting a computer vir...
» Filed Under
Network Security Information