Ask Dr. Sharon

Parent Action Steps

• Sit down with your teens to discuss how posting personal information on blogs, online diaries, and social networking sites could put them in danger. Watch real-life stories with your teen to discuss the possible consequences of his or her online choices.
• Encourage teens not to harm others with their words or actions. Cyberbullying is never a joke or a game; it can hurt the target as well as the instigator.
• Advise them that any activity involving child pornography is illegal and has very serious consequences.
• If your teens witness harmful behavior on the Internet, or if they see something an adult should know about, they should tell an adult they trust right away. Help your children learn the value and responsibility of standing up instead of standing by.
• Move computers to a common area of your house.
• Conduct periodic random checks when your children are using the computer. Be clear that this is not about lack of trust or invasion of privacy, but rather about supervision and protection. It is just as important for you to monitor and supervise their online activities as it is for you to know where they are and who they are with in the real world.
• Research your Internet Service Provider to see if it offers customized settings based on the age of your child.
• Learn how to install parental controls on all of your computers and how to check the history of the sites that your child has visited. For more information about monitoring or filtering tools, please visit www.getnetwise.org.
• Recognize that the Internet is not only accessible from the computer, but also from cell phones, gaming consoles, text messaging, and hand-held devices. Also, know what other access your child has to the computer, including at school, libraries, and neighbors’ and friends’ houses.
• Safety pledges or acceptable use policies can help provide clear guidelines for safer Internet use. NetSmartz recommends using the Internet safety pledge to promote safety discussions and create safer boundaries. Posted near the computer, the pledge will serve as a reminder to children and teens of how to be safer when using the Internet.
• Research shows many children don’t tell their parents or guardians about problems for fear they will lose their access to the Internet or other technologies. If there are minor violations, as there may be, use them as an opportunity to talk about your concerns and expectations. Think about alternative ways to enforce reasonable consequences for violations or lapses in judgment.
• Learn more safety tips for protecting your child online.
• View more recommended resources from the NetSmartz Workshop.
• Read articles to inform yourself about different safety topics.
• Visit "Don't Believe the Type" and "Help Delete Online Predators," two campaigns to help keep teens safer and educate parents and guardians about potential online dangers.