The Real Dangers to Kids Online and How to Avoid Them

Did you know…?

·1 out of 5 kids has been sexually solicited online

·1 out of 4 kids has been sent a picture of naked people 

or people having sex online

·that May 21, 2002 there was the first death of a child 

linked directly to an Internet Predator? 

Parents’ biggest concern about the Internet used to be 

pornography, but there is definitely a greater fear today.

You have probably taught your child not to talk to 

strangers, and in many situations, they would remember 

this. But the Internet is different.

Due to the Internet’s anonymity, strangers are talking to 

children all the time. They try to gain the child’s trust 

by having friendly conversation at first, but over time, 

their true objective of sexually soliciting the child 

becomes evident. Children and parents alike are unaware 

of this, yet this is exactly what is going on via the 

Internet. 

What can today’s parent do? Armed with information, 

there’s quite a bit a parent can do.

Software4Parents.com’s Top 5 Internet Safety Tips

1. Tell your child to NEVER EVER reveal their name, 

address, phone number or any other personal information to 

ANYONE online. Once you give out this information, it is 

impossible to retract.

2. Communicate regularly (not just once) with your child 

about WHAT they do online and WHO they talk to online. If 

you have actually met the friends they are talking to in 

person, you’ll know it is OK for them to chat with them 

online.

3. Take computers out of kids’ rooms and put them into 

public areas such as the family room. Many parents think 

they are helping with homework by giving the kids a 

computer, but it also opens certain dangers that you may 

be unaware of.

4. Choose your child’s screen name, email address or 

instant message name wisely – don’t’ reveal ages, sex, 

hobbies, and CERTAINLY NOT suggestive or sexy names. 

Predators are more likely to pursue a child with the 

screen name “sexyteen5″ than “happygirl5″

5. Use technology to help you protect your child. 

Monitoring software gives you the ability to review your 

child’s Internet usage. Even if you don’t look at each 

and every email or instant message they send, you’ll have 

a good idea if they are making smart choices online.

The Internet can open many doors and provide useful 

information for children. An aware and informed parent 

can help keep children safe.