For Kids
Hey kids, looking for a fun way to learn about online safety? Check out these great sites:
My Rules for Online Safety
I will not give out personal information such as my address, telephone number, parents’ work address/telephone number, or the name and location of my school without my parents’ permission.
I will tell my parents right away if I come across any information that makes me feel uncomfortable.
I will never agree to get together with someone I "meet" online without first checking with my parents. If my parents agree to the meeting, I will be sure that it is in a public place and bring my mother or father along.
I will never send a person my picture or anything else without first checking with my parents.
I will not respond to any messages that are mean or in any way make me feel uncomfortable. It is not my fault if I get a message like that. If I do I will tell my parents right away so that they can contact the online service.
I will talk with my parents so that we can set up rules for going online. We will decide upon the time of day that I can be online, the length of time I can be online, and appropriate areas for me to visit. I will not access other areas or break these rules without their permission.
I will talk with my parents, teachers, or someone in authority if one of my friends is doing something online that worries me.
These rules are taken from the brochure Child Safety on the Information Highway by Lawrence J. Magid. © National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
For Teens
I will not give out personal information such as my address, telephone number, parents’ work address/telephone number, or the name and location of my school without my parents’ permission.
I will tell my parents right away if I come across any information that makes me feel uncomfortable.
I will never agree to get together with someone I "meet" online without first checking with my parents. If my parents agree to the meeting, I will be sure that it is in a public place and bring my mother or father along.
I will never send a person my picture or anything else without first checking with my parents.
I will not respond to any messages that are mean or in any way make me feel uncomfortable. It is not my fault if I get a message like that. If I do I will tell my parents right away so that they can contact the online service.
I will talk with my parents so that we can set up rules for going online. We will decide upon the time of day that I can be online, the length of time I can be online, and appropriate areas for me to visit. I will not access other areas or break these rules without their permission.
I will talk with my parents, teachers, or someone in authority if one of my friends is doing something online that worries me.
For Parents
Place the computer in the most public room in your home.
Establish ground rules for Internet usage.
Share time online by surfing on the Internet with your child.
Instruct your child not to give out personal information without your permission.
Read the privacy policy of any site that asks for personal information before you allow your child to respond.
If your child wants to meet in person someone they've met online, make sure a parent is present.
Instruct your child never to respond to email or chat messages that make them feel uncomfortable. (And ensure that your child reports such messages to you when/if they occur.)
Inform your ISP (Internet Service Provider) of any inappropriate uses of the Internet encountered by you or your child. Report child pornography immediately to your local state police or federal law enforcement authorities. You may also report it to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Encourage your child to share their online experiences with you.
Know exactly what various parental control tools can and cannot do and how they work.
