1. Teach Internet safety basics
• Don't share personal information like name, school, age, or address
• Never send pictures to strangers
• Keep passwords private (except for parents)
• Don't open any mail or content from strangers
• If something mean or creepy happens, get a grown-up immediately
2. Have some rules. Tell kids ahead of time where they can and can't go and what they can and can't do online. Establish time limits, and keep the computer in a central place so you can monitor activity.
3. Visit age-appropriate sites. Find sites that promote learning and creativity and that deepen your kids' interests. Check out Web sites before your kids visit them. Know what features exist - chat functions, game play, virtual worlds. For young kids, use safe search settings or filtering software to limit inappropriate exposure.
4. Talk about privacy. Make sure kids know that anything posted online can be seen by or forwarded to anyone. Show kids where privacy settings are, and make sure they use them.
5. If they wouldn't do it' in real life, they shouldn't do it online. Don't say mean things or post embarrassing photos or videos of other people. No cheating in games or at school.
6. Agree on downloads. What music is okay? Which video sites? Don't give your kids your credit card information. If they need to buy something, you should be involved.
7. Review the basies of smart search. Help your kids develop critical thinking - not everything they see on the Internet is true. Always verify facts and check multiple sources.
8. Talk about peer pressure. Tell kids that just because their friends are doing something, they don't have to do it if it makes them uncomfortable.
9. Keep channels of communication open. Make sure kids know to tell an adult - it doesn't have to be you - if anything suspicious, cruel, or scary happens. They need to know that their safety comes first and that they won't get in trouble.
10. Embrace their world. When you know where your kids are going online, you can enjoy the good stuff together!
More about Common Sense Media:
By providing parents with the tools and information they need to make informed choices about the entire media landscape, Common Sense Media has become a powerful ally in parents' fight to remain the primary influence in their kids' lives.
To find out more about us or read more of our tips and reviews, visit us at www.commonsensemedia.org
To find out more about our parent media education program for schools, contact us at schools@commonsensemedia.org
Remember, the Internet is here to stay. It's our job to help our kids be Internet safe, smart, and responsible.
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