<p>Protect Children While Online</p> 3/31/03

MANHATTAN, Kan. – With a number of similarities to the original Wild West, a new frontier has opened for American families in the form of the Internet.

"I compare the Internet to the Wild West in a number of ways," said Chuck Smith, Kansas State University Research and Extension family life specialist. "Both have similar players ranging from the painted ladies, street-corner peddlers and local sheriffs. It is a mix of all people."

Smith said parents can educate their families with sound consumer sense to tame the dangers of the wild west for children.

"Parents need to assert their authority with the use of technology," Smith said. "There are a lot of very bad people who do very bad things. However, parents can teach their children how to live in the Wild West of the Internet."

Guidelines for Parents

MANHATTAN, Kan. – By taking responsibility for their child’s online computer use, parents can greatly minimize any potential risks of being online. Make it a family rule to:

* Never give out identifying information — home address, school name, or telephone number — in a public message such as chat or bulletin boards.

* Consider using a pseudonym. Avoid listing your child’s name in any public directories and profiles.

* Get to know the Internet and any services your child uses.

* Never allow a child to arrange a face-to-face meeting with another computer user without parental permission.

* Never respond to obscene, belligerent, threatening or harassing messages or bulletin board items.

* Instruct your child not to click on any links that are contained in e-mail from persons they don’t know.

* Remember that people online may not be who they seem.

* Remember that everything you read online may not be true. Any offer that’s "too good to be true" probably is.

* Set reasonable rules and guidelines for computer use by your children.

* Be sure to make this a family activity by keeping the computer in a family room rather than the child’s bedroom.

-- Information compiled by Kansas State University Research and Extension from netsmartz.org.

More than 30 million of those younger than 18, or 45 percent of children in the United States, use the Internet. Online services generally provide their subscribers with an enjoyable, safe and rewarding experience. However, Smith said these companies cannot police everyone who uses their service.

Internet Benefits - Online services are expanding rapidly to meet consumer demand, Smith said. Information such as news, weather, sports, stock quotes, movie reviews, encyclopedias and airline fares are readily available online.

In addition, millions of people communicate through electronic mail with family and friends around the world. As an educational and entertainment tool, users can learn about virtually any topic.

"The Internet has the potential to be a wonderful, mind-expanding resource and opportunity," Smith said. "It has changed our way of gaining information and our way of thinking."

Rather than avoiding the Internet, Smith said a better strategy instructs children about both the benefits and threats of cyberspace to better safeguard them against potentially dangerous situations.

Risk Factors - Children can benefit from being online, but they can also be targets of crime and exploitation. Trusting, curious and anxious to explore this new world, children need parental supervision and commonsense advice to be safe on the Internet.

Inappropriate content can include nudity or other sexually explicit material; hate group or racist Web Sites; promotional material about tobacco, alcohol, or drugs; graphic violence; information on satanic or cult groups; or recipes for making explosives. Further risks include possible exposure to inappropriate material; physical molestation; harassment and legal and financial scams

Reduce the Risks - While children need a certain amount of privacy, Smith said they also need parental involvement and supervision. The same parenting skills that apply every day also apply to the Internet.

"Wise parents stay informed," Smith said. "Take a look at the placement of the computer in the home and try to make it accessible to the entire family. Instead of a child’s bedroom, share the computer in the living room."

If concerned about a child’s online activities, Smith said to talk with them. Open communication with children, utilization of computer resources and getting online themselves will help parents obtain the full benefits of these systems and alert them to potential problems.

"Talk about the values shared as a family and make the guidelines explicit," he said. "No matter how good of a kid, they’re curious."

If a child talks about an upsetting person or experience encountered while online, don’t blame the child, rather help them avoid problems in the future.

"As a basis for communication, parents may want to visit a radical site with your child and have them help you disassemble the irrational comments," Smith said. "Children need to know these sites cannot be taken seriously."

Filtering features empower parents to limit childrens’ access only to those sites rated appropriate for children. These programs can be configured by the parent to filter out sites containing nudity, sexual content, hateful or violent material.

"Most sites are based on subscriptions, because they want you to start paying for it," Smith said. "Monitor expenses or credit cards closely to stay in touch with possible charges."

Some filters can also be configured to prevent children from revealing information about themselves such as their name, address or telephone number. A directory of filtering programs can be found at http://www.getnetwise.org/tools/.

"Make developmentally-appropriate education decisions with your family," Smith said. "The Wild West can be enjoyable for children with the proper precautions."

K-State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well-being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K-State campus, Manhattan.