If anybody has seen a recent episode of NBC's Dateline, it is no surprise to learn that Sexual Predators exist within the realms of the World Wide Web. As a long-time internet user and a parent, I know from experience through my internet travels that these predators do in deed exist. Often these predators use Chat Engines such as My Space, FaceBook, Yahoo, AOL, ICQ, and many other free online sources to prey on our children.
Too often we hear horror stories through the news media about child abductions that transpire through the calculating and devious planning of these internet predators. While the internet poses as just one more risk added to the many resources that Child Sexual Predators use, to prey on our children, it is important to remember that before there was internet, these viscious monsters were and still are, seeking out their prey on playgrounds, school grounds, baseball fields, and neighborhoods.
As parents, we are the first line of defensive safety when allowing our children to utilize the internet. We not only have a responsibility, but an obligation to do whatever is necessary, to keep our children safe on the internet, while still allowing them reasonable freedom to explore what the World Wide Web has to offer, as learning tools. The responsibility begins at home.
Even though computers and internet have evolved in technology for many years, there are still some parents who know very little about computer technology. For these individuals, there is hope in protecting your children. Communities, local schools, and colleges often provide basic internet and computer courses that teach individuals basic skills and knowledge, to be able to navigate the internet. Developing these skills will enable parents to better monitor their children's internet behavior.
In sharing a personal experience with my child, I discovered that he was learning about certain websites through other classmates, in school. Some of these websites included Google Videos, various joke sites, and even a video of Saddam Hussein's Hanging. While some of these sites seemed harmless enough, others were determined to be inappropriate after I reviewed some of them with him. These inappropriate websites have since been blocked from access on my home computer. As a 13 year old, my child is still not allowed to use Blogs or Chat/Instant Messenger Services. Although he does maintain access to email, his account is carefully monitored by myself.
I have learned much over the years while surffing the internet, and though parental controls have improved some, with many internet providers and site hosts, there is still no greater protection for our children surffing the internet than their parents. |
