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A Safety Net For The Internet: A Parent's Guide

Who's Afraid Of The Internet? What Parents Should Know

"Surfing," the "net," "gopher," and the "Web" have nothing to do with water, small animals, or spiders. It is the new language of cyberspace. Your children are learning about it in school or from their friends, while references to the Information Highway and the Internet on television may be leaving you feeling lost in space.

A few tips will ease your fears and allow you and your child to take advantage of this new technology.

The Internet is a global network of information networks accessible with a computer. Entertainment, education, and information are all at your fingertips. You can visit the world's great libraries, take a college course, play a game, check weather forecasts, and sports scores. Virtually anything you want to know can be found somewhere on the Internet.

This exciting sensation is world-wide and is not regulated by anyone, which opens the door to some risks. Not all information that appears may be accurate. Also, just as people in person can be rude, obnoxious, and exploitative, the anonymity of the computer allows them to be even more so, if they choose.

Does this mean you shouldn't let your child use the Internet? Of course not, it simply means that you should be on the alert and aware of some of the risks.

How To Minimize The Risks

The best way to assure that your children are having a positive online experience is to stay in touch with what they are doing.

• First, have your child show you how to access the Internet.
• Spend time with them when they are online.
• Explore the wide range of information that is available and discuss with them which topics you consider off-limits.
• Keep the lines of communication open so that you can talk to your children, and they will recognize your interest in what they are doing is genuine.
• Monitor the amount of time your child spends with the computer. Excessive use of online services, especially late at night, may signal a potential problem. The same parenting skills that apply to the "real world" also apply while online.
• Set your rules for the use of the Internet .

Guidelines For Parents

Parents who are concerned about their children's use of electronic resources should provide guidance to their own children. It is important that you as a parent assume responsibility for your child's online computer use, at home, at school, or in the library. Part of your family rules may be:

• Never give out identifying information such as home address, school name, or telephone number.
• Decide whether you want personal information such as age, marital status, or financial information revealed.
• Never allow your child to arrange a face-to-face meeting with someone via the computer without your approval.
• Never respond to messages that are suggestive, obscene, threatening, or make you or your child uncomfortable.
• If you or your child become aware of the transmission of child pornography, report it to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678.
• Remember that people online may not be who they say they are.
• Remember everything you read may not be true.
• Remember that personal computers and online services should not be used as electronic babysitters.

Make computer use a family activity. Get to know your child's online friends as well as their other friends.

Visit

The New York Public Library Home Page
Featuring these two special web sites for children and teens:

Teen Link
Explore hotlines, booklists, links to college and financial aid information, sports, homework help on teen home pages.

On-Lion: For Kids
Provides answers to questions about homework, holidays, history, people and places. Plus, great books for children of all ages to read and enjoy.

For further information see:
NYPL's Policy on Public Use of the Internet

Talking to your child, setting rules together, keeping aware of computer services offered, will make using the Internet exciting for you and your child. The opportunities to expand one's horizons are great. These are challenging times in which we live. Make the most of them by sharing the online experience with your child.

The branches of The New York Public Library offer a variety of resources both print and electronic, for all ages. Ask your librarian to help you to find more information on parenting skills, family activities, and the Internet.