| A USA Today article that ran in July 2005 | | | | "free" game or screensaver that has adware |
| cited findings from a survey conducted by the | | | | attached to it. This adware will install |
| Kaiser Family Foundation. They found that | | | | itself on your computer, track all of your |
| during the school year, kids between the ages | | | | Internet activity and show you advertising in |
| of 8 and 10 years old spent an average of 6 | | | | the form of annoying pop-ups or banner ads. |
| hours per day watching television, playing | | | | If your kids are like mine, they don't always |
| video games and/or using computers.Since more | | | | read the fine print and just click on the "I |
| than half of America's 100 million households | | | | accept" button to get their freebies!Talk to |
| have Internet access, I can only assume that | | | | your kids about Internet advertising and |
| some of their computer time is spent in | | | | Adware. Let them know that they are the same |
| online activities. My question is how safe | | | | as ads on TV. Someone just wants you to buy |
| are these kids? Do they know what to look out | | | | their new product. Take your kids to PBS' |
| for? Do they know how to handle themselves | | | | Don't Buy It! website ( ) for great |
| online?Here are some topics to discuss with | | | | information on Internet and other media |
| your children. Keep in mind that each family | | | | advertising.Inappropriate Content.The |
| has their own rules for Internet use. Some | | | | Internet is a great place to find information |
| parents don't allow their children to be on | | | | for any school science project or report. |
| the Internet at all, others will monitor | | | | Just type in a phrase or topic in any search |
| their child's Internet use, and still others | | | | engine and you will get loads of links with |
| have no concern and let their kids surf | | | | useful information. But there are also many |
| wherever and whenever they want.Strangers.The | | | | sites that contain inappropriate content |
| Internet is a wonderful place to meet people | | | | under presumably innocent searches.My friend |
| from all around the world. I remember having | | | | was looking up information for her daughter's |
| a pen pal when I was young and would check | | | | animal report and typed in "horse lovers" in |
| the mail every day to see if I got a letter. | | | | a search engine, figuring that she may get |
| Now all one has to do is turn on the computer | | | | horse enthusiast sites dedicated to providing |
| and check their Inbox! Friends who are | | | | information on their favorite animal. She got |
| separated by a move can still talk every day | | | | sites with horses on them, but they were |
| through email, chat rooms and Instant | | | | horse lovers of a COMPLETELY different |
| Messaging (IM).The drawback to this is that | | | | kind... And not too long ago, there was a |
| no one knows who you really are on the | | | | site at that was of an adult nature. (The |
| Internet. Even in so-called "safe" chat rooms | | | | real White House site is at only way to be |
| someone can be posing as a teenager and they | | | | sure that your child does not inadvertently |
| are really a predator. Just as you wouldn't | | | | find themselves on the wrong site is to be |
| want your kids to tell a stranger on the | | | | with them and guide them in their searches. |
| street where they live, you don't want them | | | | It is also helpful to use a search engine |
| to do so online either. Teach your children | | | | specifically designed for children such as |
| to never tell anyone online their names, | | | | or of how much or how little your kids are |
| addresses or other pertinent information.If | | | | on the Internet, take a minute to talk with |
| you decide to allow your children to use IM | | | | them about the benefits and dangers involved |
| or chat rooms, monitor their activity. Set up | | | | in being online. Let them explore some sites |
| their profile yourself and give as little | | | | that will help them learn about Internet |
| information as possible. It may be helpful | | | | safety. Here are a few that are extremely |
| for you and your child to watch the short | | | | helpful when teaching Internet Safety to |
| movie "Tracking Teresa" on the Kidsmartz.org | | | | kids:Netsmartz.org - Teens - |
| website ( Just like TV, there are lots of ads | | | | |
| on the Internet. Unlike TV, we don't get a | | | | Netsmartzkids.org - Kids - |
| break from them! They are everywhere! They | | | | |
| show up as pop-up ads, banners, hover boxes, | | | | (this site is specialized for each state) - |
| games and they are even disguised as articles | | | | |
| or information items. They warn you that your | | | | Disney's CyberNetiquette -- remember - be |
| computer is infected, you have new mail, you | | | | involved in your children's Internet |
| are the umpteenth-million visitor to this | | | | activity. Teach them to use this powerful |
| site or they may look like a survey or poll. | | | | tool responsibly. It will save them time and |
| And ads on sites geared for kids are often | | | | you headaches as you travel the World Wide |
| very inviting and intriguing.Along with ads | | | | Web.Lisa Workman is the author of Tokens for |
| we also have adware. Microsoft defines adware | | | | TV: A Sensible Approach to Balancing |
| as "Advertising that is integrated into | | | | Television, Video Game and Computer |
| software. Adware is often combined with a | | | | Activities. How much time does your child |
| host application that is provided at no | | | | spend "plugged in" to some sort of electronic |
| charge as long as the user agrees to accept | | | | device? |
| the adware." So a child could download a | | | | |