Protecting Your Child- Online
Kelly Kennedy

The Internet is a world of its own, you can act as anyone and talk to anyone who will talk back.  Online predators are one example of who’s online.  Your child may be using an instant messenger service, or a social networking group to communicate with friends or find friends, however what they may not know is that someone can be acting as their best friend when in reality they have different intentions.  Here are some precautions to take if you have a child that is spending hours online per week social networking. 

Go online and find out what your child is doing.  If they are using the popular social networking sites such as MySpace.com, explore this site, read over their policies, which will help determine whether your child should be using it at this time or not.  Age requirement for MySpace.com is 14 years old.

Monitor your child’s Internet use.  Let them know, in order to protect their safety, you’d like to observe what they are doing. 

Talk to your child about strangers and other online safety measures.  For instance, although online shopping has become so convenient, if you child has a credit card or has permission to use yours, make sure they are buying things at secure locations.

Online predators usually target vulnerable children, so be sure to give you child the attention they need and deserve so they don’t become victim.