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Giving parents the tools and resources they need to keep their kids safe online. Free guides, how-to's and resources to help parents deal with myspace and online predators.
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Parents, Internet safety starts with you!
Instant messaging via the internet has become the phone for kids today. Kids will spend hours chatting with friends and many times with people they do not know. It would be like calling some stranger on the phone "back in the day" and just start talking to them, that's something that just wasn't done. However, with the internet, chat rooms and instant messaging kids do not think twice about it. Many kids even become seemingly close friends without ever meeting in person. Many times this is no big deal but unfortunately like any good thing their are those who will abuse it and also those who will take advantage of the technology and the kids using it.
The statistics are everywhere and for good reason, a recent study found that one in five children online is approached by a sexual predator. Predators have learned to use these chat rooms and instant messengers as a tool to "hook-up" with kids as they call it.
Predators literally use chat rooms as a hunting ground to locate their victims. They sit in the background watching the conversations, listening, taking notes and learning about their potential victim. Once they feel comfortable and have enough information they will start a conversation and chat along with them at their level and using their topics of interest. The predators can also check profiles for information about possible victims. All they need is a little insight into the child's life to begin a conversation.
Usually the conversation will be a private one, i.e. not in a public chat room. Private chat rooms are just that private to only those allowed in. Both sides of the chat are displayed and most IM services allow multiple people to be in a private chat room.
The four most popular IM products used by kids are - MSN Messenger, Yahoo Messenger, AOL Instant Messenger and ICQ - and they are all free .
Without a key logger type of software installed on your computer finding out what is being said via instant messaging and to whom will be nearly impossible. Parents, you need to take some action when it comes to internet chat, Instant messaging and\or social networking. Start getting involved, supervise and get software installed to keep your kids safe.
Danger parents need to be aware of when their kids use instant messaging:
- Private conversations can start up immediately, your kids can be chatting with a friend and a stranger can just pop in and start chatting too.
- Releasing personal information can be immediate, real time immediate.
- A parent can forbid their kids from using Instant messaging but the children can use it at a friends house which makes it very difficult to monitor and supervise.
- Unless you are monitoring instant messages their is no trail like their is with other message board type sites.
See our software section for information about monitoring programs and key loggers or do a google search with keywords like: key loggers, internet filtering, monitoring software.
That should get you started.
- Do NOT let your child have a computer in their bedroom. Place your computer in an open room with the monitor facing out. This allows you to quickly see what is occurring on the internet.
- Do not allow a webcam to be used unsupervised. A webcam makes it very easy for your children to post pictures of themselves. Remember, once that picture is posted, it is broadcasted to millions.
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Instant Messaging and your kids..