| If you believe that adults can suffer from | | | | such material accidentally and then not to |
| identity theft or be mislead by online | | | | know how are they supposed to react.The |
| criminals, imagine what children can | | | | situation for parents seems very difficult |
| experience in case their online surfing time | | | | and organizations, or administrative units |
| is not properly guided. In fact, parents | | | | like the Commission on Online Child |
| should know that when children are online, it | | | | Protection, have been examining the subject |
| is just like they are out in public. Thus, | | | | of online children protections in great |
| educating kids and monitoring their online | | | | extend. The problem is that safety issues and |
| surfing time can save parents from the | | | | moral issues tend to overlap and while |
| anguish of having to deal with an | | | | parents agree that their children online |
| uncomfortable situation later.Exposed to a | | | | safety is among the top priorities on their |
| variety of stimuli, children today are able | | | | list, they have not yet reached a stage of |
| to surf and visit websites, portals, enter | | | | mutual agreement of their concerns or a |
| chat rooms or participate in online games. | | | | reasonable and effective strategy to limit |
| Since technology has brought a tremendous | | | | the chances of their kids being exposed to |
| shift in children's recreational time, kids | | | | such kind of unwanted imagery or |
| should be taught that when they are talking | | | | solicitations.As no single solution currently |
| with someone in a chat room or an instant | | | | exists, it is imperative for parents to |
| message session, they are actually | | | | educate their kids and explain that the |
| interacting with strangers unless they know | | | | internet is just like a city street with |
| in person the other party from the "real" | | | | interesting parks and happy people but also |
| world, like their school class or sports | | | | full of dangerous characters and speedy |
| team.A number of social studies reveal a | | | | drivers. Since identity can be hidden or even |
| shocking number. One in 4 children between | | | | altered while one is online it is crucial to |
| the ages of 10 and 17 are exposed to sexually | | | | make sure your children understand not to |
| explicit imagery and nearly 20 percent has | | | | reveal any information about their identity |
| received an unwanted sexual solicitation | | | | or whereabouts that would allow someone to |
| during the past year. Although "kids are | | | | track them down. Of course that means that no |
| tough" and are not deeply hurt by these | | | | names, addresses, phone numbers, school or |
| experiences as they consider them as a | | | | parents' work locations and e-mail addresses. |
| forbidden "fun" game between peers, a number | | | | Finally, it is important for kids never to |
| of parents have reported that their children | | | | get together alone with someone they meet |
| have been clearly disturbed by these type of | | | | online. If for whatever reason, your child |
| online exposures. Surely, apart from the | | | | feels that it is absolutely imperative to get |
| kids, parents are also extremely annoyed by | | | | together with someone that they have "met" |
| the fact that unwanted exposures to porn and | | | | online, make sure it's in a public place, |
| suitors have entered their kids' lives | | | | like a restaurant, at a reasonable hour and |
| through the virtual reality of a computer | | | | that a parent is present. Although this does |
| screen. But the fact remains that even when | | | | not give you much assurance that everything |
| children are not looking for these kind of | | | | will go well, you will at least be able to |
| information online, they can readily find | | | | check the person's age, gender and demeanor. |