The Internet Is A Public Gathering Place
The Internet can be a wonderful place to find newsworthy topics, public service, online shopping, and the list goes on. You can pursue hobbies, plan vacations, and much more. But it can also be a frightening place where con artists, pornographers, racists, and others lurk in search for unsuspecting people to prey on.
Who is legitimate and who is not? Who is friendly to talk to and who is not? Many of us are not Web-savvy enough to know the dangers. And even more experienced, possibly overconfident users still get enticed into scams or other predicaments.
The Internet can be a dangerous place.
Web sites want to know more information about you. Some sites ask that you provide information on forms in order to display or get something you want. Other download a cookie to your computer and track where you go on the site, or which remember information that you have previously given the site. With this in mind, teach your children to never provide any information about yourself -- particularly your home address, telephone number, or a photograph of yourself -- without first checking with you, their parents.
The bottom line is that you can't be 100% sure the people that you contact on the Internet. It is best to visit only those sites that you know are legitimate. And never provide personal information at the expense of your privacy.

You Can't Teach Others Without Knowing the Subject Matter Yourself
Many adults are intimidated by the Internet -- steadfast in their refusal to provide a credit card to a well-known Web site. But if children are going to use the Internet, parents had better understand the issues and the safety steps to help keep their children safe.
The Internet brings the world -- good and bad -- into our living rooms. There are many ways to learn about the Internet, how to use it, and how to find information on it. Visit a library. Enroll in a GCF Global Learning® course. Then, practice firsthand. Don't know what a chat room is? Visit one and chat with somebody. Don't know what a message board is? Visit one and practice using it. You won't break your computer. You won't hurt any Web sites. You need to do your homework. And understand how your children are using the Internet.

Risks Facing Children When Browsing the Internet
Your children face many risks while browsing the Internet. Some of the more dangerous Web sites or exposures are listed below:
Unsuitable Web Site Content -- it is very easy to access pornographic, violence, and online gambling sites on the Internet.
Privacy Intrusion --- Some children may give out private information, such as credit card information, password, personal information about themselves or their family.
Stalking or Harassment -- People can hide their true identity on the Web. Your children can't know for sure if they are conversing with a 13 year-old or a 40 year-old. Some might even attempt to arrange a meeting with your child.
Hackers and Viruses -- You've probably heard stories of worms and viruses running wild and wreaking havoc on the Internet. Or the story where some hacker broke into a Web site and stole credit card numbers. Make sure you children know the dangers of downloading files from email or the Internet.

Guidelines for Parents
As parents, you need to take responsibility for your children's activities online and minimize their risks of getting involved with dangerous situations while on the Internet. Consider the following proactive steps:
Learn Everything You Can About the Internet -- Learn how your children are using the Internet. Sit with them and teach them how to use it. Teach them how to research their homework. Ask them to show you good places they have found. Make the Internet a family experience.
Set Standards For What Your Children Can and Cannot Do Online -- Set reasonable expectations. Don't be a tyrant. Understand their needs, interests, and curiosity. Come to consensus. Monitor their compliance with these rules, especially when it comes to the amount of time your children spend on the computer.
Keep Personal Information Private - Teach your children to never give out personal information -- home address, school name, or telephone number -- in public message areas such as chat or bulletin boards.
Encourage Your Children to Come to You if They Encounter a Problem Online -- Teach your children that it is OK for them to come to you if they meet somone online who is asking a lot of personal questions, trying to arrange a meeting, or threatening them. Don't be angry that something happened; your response will determine whether they come to you the next time and confide in you.
Consider Blocking, Filtering, and Rating Content -- Services are available that rate Web sites for content and either filter programs or block certain types of information. Remember that no software is 100% foolproof and no filtering program is a substitute for good judgment.

Key Rules for Internet Use at Home
Here are some simple rules you may want to consider before letting your children have unsupervised access to the Internet:
Keep the computer in a common room with lots of traffic, not in a child's bedroom or a secluded area of the house. Get to know their "online friends" just as you get to know all of their other friends.
Create a family "terms of use" agreement, clearly stating what children can or cannot do on the Internet, i.e. Tell them not to give out private information and what sites they cannot visit. Ask them to save emails and give you access to their files, etc.
Install a filtering, monitoring, or blocking feature to manage your family's Internet traffic.
Install anti-virus software to scan all downloaded files before opening. Teach your children how to be aware of viruses in emails. Warn your children of the inherent dangers present in downloads.