ONLINE SAFETY TIPS FOR PARENTS AND KIDS Parents’ concerns about Internet safety used to be confined to the computer. Today, kids have more access to the Internet through smart phones and gaming devices so the potential for cyberbullying is greater than ever.
lying and keeping kids safe online. Marsali Hancock, president and CEO of the Internet Keep Safe Coalition (www.ikeepsafe.org), recommends the following tips for parents to keep their children safe online:
Cyberbullying is when one minor uses technology as a weapon to target another young person. According to StopCyberbullying.org, elementary and middle schools report cyberbullying as the most frequent problem they face. Twenty percent of kids in the fourth through sixth grade have reported one type of cyberbullying when playing games, including:
Keep current with technology. You don’t have to be an expert, but a little understanding goes a long way towards keeping your child safe online. Get basic technical training and learn about new products as they’re released.
• Password theft • Accessing and stealing virtual items • Mean messages
WHAT PARENTS CAN DO
Parental involvement is key to preventing cyberbul-
Keep communicating with your child about what he/ she is experiencing on the Internet and with technology in general. Know their lingo, and ask when you don’t understand something. Work to keep communication lines open. Keep checking your child’s Internet activity. Know where they go online. Let them know that you’ll keep checking because you want them to understand that