Over their shoulders
Lets face it: if youre over 30, your kids are probably more technically savvy than you.
And if you think your kids are too young to bother with the internet, think again. According to experts, we should be educating our children from as young as four or five on the dangers they can encounter on the net.
So, what are these dangers, and what can be done to minimise the risk?
According to the Internet Safety Groups website at www.netsafe.org.nz, young people might encounter chain letters that threaten harm if not forwarded, scary, rude and violent images, racist, age-restricted and inappropriate material.
They might be sent these against their will, or might search for them — through lack of awareness or curiosity. And with social networking sites encouraging children as young as six to join up, there is a real risk of stranger danger.
While software that blocks children from accessing inappropriate sites is useful, Lee Chisholm, operations manager for Netsafe, says its also important that children are educated so they dont go looking for inappropriate material, and know what to do if they come across it.
Many children are able to get around filters. The Australian Government recently spent $A84 million developing a free filter, and it took a 16-year-old 30 minutes to crack it.
Its important to be a part of your childs cyberworld and to show an interest. Not allowing children to use the internet isnt the best option — theyll just go elsewhere to friends, internet cafes or libraries, Chisholm says.
Netsafe runs courses for schools and parents, and receives about 150 calls a month from children concerned about what they are receiving on their cellphones and email.
A lot of the calls are about harassment and bullying.
Martin Rogers (not his real name), knows all about the dangers of online bullying and the effects it can have on a child and their family.
Until recently his 14-year-old son used the internet for predominantly research and general surfing. Rogers and his wife set strict guidelines on appropriate sites and installed filters on the home computer, which is kept in the family room, but were blissfully unaware of the existence of social networking sites.
A couple of months ago, our son became very anxious and worried, and finally fronted up to the fact that he had registered with a website that introduced him to new friends.
Hed been very naive and had given too much information about himself and where he lived etc, and had attracted some undesirable responses. It panicked him and we were shocked when he showed us the sorts of things hed been sent.
The problem was that we just werent educated as to what the internet offered in terms of introductions. Hes now taken himself off the site and only interacts with people we know.
Initially we were going to ban him from the internet, but after talking to other adults who had faced similar situations we realised that that wasnt the solution.
Angela White, head of the middle school at St Margarets College, agrees.
They organised an evening for students, their parents, grandparents and others on internet safety, letting the children educate the parents.
It was a very powerful way of educating parents as it demonstrated that their children are online whether (parents) like it or not — if not at home then at school, or at friends or cafes. They are digital natives and we adults are digital migrants, she says.
Rob Clarke, associate principal at Fendalton Open Air School has led the school in developing an internet safety programme.
Its a complex area and Fendaltons perspective is about keeping up with new technologies and ensuring the children are equipped with the skills, attitudes and habits to make sure they are safe.
If schools are grappling with it, then its certainly an issue for the wider community, so we offer our parents education opportunities as well, explains Clarke.
In the home, its a good idea to treat the internet as you would a book: show an interest in what your children are looking at. Its about developing a trusting relationship with your kids.
SAFETY TIPS
Take your childs internet life seriously.
For most children, the internet is more of a social interaction tool than it is a research tool. Try not to assign blame when children come across inappropriate material. Blame may stop them from coming to you next time.
Keep computers in communal areas of the house, not bedrooms.Start educating children from a young age as to the potential dangers of online social networking and surfing.Use filters, but not as the only safety tool. Visit the sites that your children visit.
ON THE WEB
Hectors World is software that provides kids with a dolphin cartoon to cover bad material. See: http://www.netsafe.org.nz
Google Fendalton Open Schools website for the schools advice for parents and its internet safety programme.
Get the kids to check out http://www.cyberkidz.co.nz
http://www.netguide.co.nz has tips for kids and adults.
