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Are your kids old enough to be surfing the internet on their own? Are you sure? What precautions are you taking to protect them from internet predators?
These questions are a lot to think about, but it can be important. We've all heard stories in the news over the past few years, or even months, of young kids or teens being tricked by internet predators. Fortunately, there are some very simple precautions you can take.
Number one is simply to monitor your children's usage. I don't mean stare over their shoulders the entire time. However, many families have computers in their children's room or other places where the computer can be used unsupervised. You may want to consider placing the computer in a more public area of your house. Yes, your children may complain, but it's their safety you're worried about. Don't supervise them to the point they feel harassed, but do keep a general idea on how the computer is being used and who they're chatting and emailing with, as well as what sites they visit.
There are wonderful products available to help you protect your family. Net Nanny, for example, has been rated as the best internet filter. They offer powerful tools to help you protect your family, even when you don't have time to keep an eye on exactly what your children are doing online. You can block sites, control surfing time, view usage logs and more with their main product. They have a new product as well which allows you to monitor chats. The Net Nanny website quotes a University of New Hampshire study which found that 20% of children have had sexual advances from strangers while chatting. This is not something any parent can afford to ignore. Net Nanny's Chat Monitor records both sides of the chat, prevents children from giving identifying information that you have chosen to protect, and even has a stealth mode to make it difficult for your children to be aware of the monitoring.
Of course, more and more ISPs are starting to offer protections similar to this, but you should do your research and make sure your ISP is doing enough for your peace of mind. It really comes down to how closely you can monitor your children when they are online. The internet is a wealth of information as well as misinformation, so research your options carefully and be realistic.
Do your children know how to be safe?
It's very important to talk to your children about safety, especially in situations where they might encounter people they don't know.
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