10 Safety Rules for Every Family

1. Surf in open areas—Remove computers from your children’s bedrooms and places where the Internet can be accessed in private. Put them in an open area, like the family room, where you can supervise your kids’ Web activity.

2. Keep track—be aware of the Web sites your kids visit. Check the browser history or install keystroke generators to view their online activity Remember, some cell phones allow Web access; think about removing that feature from your children’s plan, if applicable.

3. Install filtering software—Use parental control software to filter Web and chat room content.

4. Learn the rules outside your home—Determine what safety methods are used to protect your children at the other places they might use computers, such as their school, local library, friends’ homes, your relatives’ homes, etc.

5. Create a family privacy policy—Make sure your children know how important it is to remain anonymous on the Internet. They should never give out or post personal information online.
6. Don’t connect in the real world—remind your kids about the dangers of a face-to-face meeting with someone they met on the Internet. Insist they never do it without your supervision. Restrict their IMs to their buddy list, and be sure they know everyone on the list in real life.

7. Edit your Web site—if you or your relatives have a Web site, don’t put photos of your children on it, or at least make sure there is no other identifying information in the photos/site. Or use asocial networking site or photo posting service (online photo “album”) and set up controls that allow only people who know you to access it.

8. Set limits—consider creating household rules governing when your children can use the Internet and what they are allowed to do online.
9. Keep it real—remind your kids that not everything they read online is true. Many sites contain misleading information or outright lies and Internet ads that seem too good to be true.

10. Talk to them—encourage your children to be open about what they do online and make an effort to reserve judgment. Teach them about ways to avoid Internet dangers and try to foster an atmosphere of trust by informing your children of any measures you take to restrict or keep tabs on them.