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