Online Forums and Chat Rooms

Do your kids know that although the forum or chat room is SUPPOSED to be for children there are possibly adults pretending to be kids in order to take advantage of them?


While you don't want to unduly frighten your children, it would be more terrifying if you found out that they had been contacted by a pedophile and they didn't know how to tell you about it.

Give them rules. Here are some you may want to discuss with your children:

1. NEVER give out your name, address, telephone number or picture. NEVER agree to meet someone you met online without your parent’s approval.
2. REMEMBER you are speaking in a public area – other people may read what you write.
3. REFUSE to enter a private chat room. These rooms are closed off to the public and your child may be lured in by an adult trying to seduce them.
4. Encourage them to TELL you what goes on. Just as you would monitor who they spend time with after school or what TV programs they watch – you want them to feel comfortable telling you about their online friends.
5. LIMIT the amount of time they spend online. While talking with friends about sports, fashion or other interests may be fun it is not wholly productive for children to spend hours online chatting. It is also more likely that they will investigate sites or forums that are unsuitable for children. Curiosity may lure them in over their heads.
6. Have the computer in a PUBLIC area of the home. This will protect your children more than any software program. Check on them occasionally just to see what they are doing.
7. INFORM them about Spam and other email that looks suspicious. If they are not sure tell them to ask you before opening it.

8. Tell them never to engage in FLAMING. Flaming is an attack on another person who is posting. It is both emotional and uncontrolled – often due to the power of anonyminity that exists online. Children have been bullied by other children from school or elsewhere (called cyber bullying) and it can be devastating. Remind your child to show manners to others and be careful how they respond.
9. Check the HISTORY of their online surfing if you are concerned. It is good to let your child know that you will occasionally check this out as a protection for them.
10. Use a POP-UP BLOCKER. Sometimes windows open up that advertise pornography or other disturbing images. Make sure you use a pop-up blocking program to protect yourself and your family from this unwelcome exposure.
Even with the previous suggestions you can further secure your child’s online experience by looking for organizations like WiredKids.org – these teams provide safe chat supervision to children and teens at WiredKidz.org and WiredTeens.org.

Not only are the areas supervised (although following the above rules is still necessary), they teach young ones about safe communication and how to use the Internet and other methods of communications responsibly to avoid Identity Theft.

They also provide information on cyber bullying (harassment), cyberstalking by Online Predators, flaming and more. If your child has been a victim you can use their resources to find the information and support you need to fight back.