PARENTS

The Internet is a great resource for kids; it’s not only educational but also used for entertainment, communication and interaction with others. As a parent, you must be concerned with the dark side of the Internet. If you are tired of encountering websites that you want to prevent your family from seeing, or are concerned about the negative effects that the Internet may have on your children, there are programmes that allow you to control what you and your family see on the Internet. "Parental Control Software" [enter the term into the search box below] is becoming common place in homes with both young and teenaged children.

Internet safety
Here are some guidelines for young children surfing the Internet:

Never give out your last or family name, your home address or your phone number in chat rooms, on bulletin boards, or to online pen-pals.

Make sure that any sceen names are not your actual names! Also, make sure that the screen name doesn’t include any other identifying features such as birthday, age, state, etc.

Tell your parents if you see anything online that makes you uncomfortable.

Never agree to meet someone from the Internet without your parents' permission.

Don't respond to messages that are mean or make you feel uncomfortable
(and tell your parents right away so they can call the police or Internet service provider).

Talk with your parents about setting up rules for the times you are allowed to use the Internet and appropriate areas you can visit. Don't break the rules without their permission.

Don't give out your Internet passwords to anybody except your parents (not even to your best friend).

Don't do anything online that hurts somebody or breaks the law.

Don't send your picture to anybody without your parents' permission.

Use the links below for more information :

NetAlert
NetAlert is Australia's Internet safety advisory body. NetAlert is a not-for-profit community organisation established in late 1999 by the Australian government to provide independent advice and education on managing access to online content.

GetNetWise
The challenge for parents is to educate themselves and their children about how to use the Internet safely. GetNetWise provides some very useful information.

Stay Safe
Educational site intended to help consumers understand both the positive aspects of the Internet as well as how to manage a variety of safety and security issues that exist online.

Kidz Privacy
Site provided by the US Federal Trade Commission to educate kids, parents, and businesses about the privacy rights of children online.

Google SafeSearch
With Google SafeSearch, sites and web pages containing pornography and explicit sexual content are blocked from search results.