Archive for November, 2011
Klout Makes Changes to Improve Child Privacy
Photo Credit: Alan Cleaver
This article is a follow up to the October 28, 2011, Kids Email blog post entitled, “Can Klout take your child’s privacy away.” Since that article was published there have been some major changes at Klout.com regarding Privacy and we here at KidsEmail want to make sure you are up to date on this issue.
5) Then on the “Opt Out from Klout” Page scroll down to the bottom of the page and Click on Twitter or Facebook
6) You will have to sign in using your Twitter or Facebook username and password, then follow the instructions.
If you are already a Klout member, you will have to be signed into your account before you proceed. Then follow Steps 1 through 4 above. Then you will be taken to your Edit Profile Page of your Klout account. Under the “We Value Your Privacy” paragraph, click on “Continue opting out”. Just follow the directions.
To further protect yourself and your children, when you are on any social media site make sure that you have a private account. If your account is private your data will not be analyzed by Klout unless you give them permission to do so. However, if you create a public account and do not want the data analyzed by Klout, go to Klout and go through the Opt out process described above.
If you find out that your child has provided information to Klout without your knowledge or consent, contact Klout by email at privacy@klout.com to have that information deleted from their records.
Also, make sure that you go over your children’s privacy controls on their Facebook account to ensure that they are set correctly.
To read the response by Klout’s CEO Joe Fernandez to Critics reported by the Social Media Today Website or The New York Times article entitled, “When Sites Drag the Unwitting Across the Web” click on the links below:
http://socialmediatoday.com/rohnjaymiller/392574/klout-ceo-joe-fernandez-responds-critics
Have you taken steps to remove your child from Klout? Do you think the changes listed above are enough?
Tell us about your experience.
Add comment November 23, 2011
He’s 8 and wants his own Email and Facebook!
James Emery
Basically you find out that there is no hard and fast rules that states a child has to be X years old before they can have an email account. Each parent has to decide this for themselves. Do you feel that your child is mature enough to have his own email account. Can he be responsible, and follow the rules you set down for the account? Also, take into consideration if your child really needs an email account at age 8, if the answer is yes, then follow these basic steps.
It is best to set up an account on your own computer using Eudora or Outlook so that the child’s email will come right into your computer. That way you can oversee the account and delete any spam or inappropriate emails. Since he is only 8, and has limited reading skills, he will need adult supervision for some time with his email account.
You could also sign your child up for an email account through kidsemail.org. Try it for Free for 30 days! Kids Email is designed specifically with your child in mind. You control the account when you choose the settings. Here are some of the settings available for the Kids Email accounts:
1) Receive email only from the contact list that the parent sets up and controls.
2) Parent is CC’d on every incoming or outgoing email.
3) Remove images from incoming emails.
4) Removes links.
5) Allow only certain types of attachments
6) Filters out bad words.
7) Have spam automatically filtered and removed.
When your child receives an email from someone on their contact list, the Kids Email software will take the email, censor any bad words, remove any images, and scan it for viruses all based on the parent’s settings. The parent is automatically sent a copy of each email the child receives or sends so that they are aware of the correspondence. When your child receives the email, they receive it in a safe environment without any ads, bad words or viruses.
If somebody tries to send an email to your child that is not on their accepted contact list, the email is not sent to the child and is only sent to the parent by Kids Email. Then the parent reviews the email and decides whether to accept the email or deny the email in the Kids Email Mail queue. If the parent accepts the email that person can be added to the child’s contact list or simply reject the email and not allow it to be sent to their child. For more information about Kids Email accounts please visit our About Kids Email page and don’t forget to watch the video.
Next you should give the email address to his grandparents and a few of the aunts and uncles so that your child has some email coming in so that you can guide him in the process of how an email account works. Explain what spam email is and that he should only give the email address to his very close friends. Make sure that you stress that he should let you know immediately if he ever receives an email that makes him uncomfortable.
Now, you have to let him down very gently when you explain to him that he cannot have a Facebook account until he turns 13 years old. It is out of your hands, because Facebook Terms of Service, Section 4, Registration and Account Security, Item 5 States, “You will not use Facebook if you are under 13.”
Parents, keep in mind that Facebook has to follow Federal Laws and has designed the site for use by teens and adults. If your child is 13 years old and wants a Facebook account they are free to sign up. To safeguard your child’s privacy and safety on Facebook, please visit the following websites listed below.
http://www.facebook.com/safety/tools/
1 comment November 18, 2011
Keeping your Children Safe on the Internet
Picture Credit: Flickr blvesboy José Luís Agapito
First, you, the parent need to educate yourselves about Internet Safety. If there is a local adult education class given at your college, city library or other organization, please take it. There are also many great resources on the internet that you can use. The more that you learn, the more you can safeguard and teach your child.
5 guidelines you can use when discussing safety on the Internet with your children.
1) Have a very open and honest conversation with your children about internet safety. Explain that the computer will be kept in a family room and that you will be monitoring their computer usage daily.
2) Make sure that the kids understand they are not to give out any personal information over the internet. That includes their name, address, birthday, social security number or school name.
3) Establish a username for your child to use on different websites so they are not using their real name. Then instruct your children to use this username.
4) Do not allow them to use the chat rooms online, period. No discussion. Too much personal information is gleamed from chat rooms.
5) Stress to your child that if they are ever the victim of cyberbulling or inappropriate contact by email they are to notify you immediately.
6 steps that you, as a parent can take to safeguard your children while they are online.
1) Install online tools that can block and filter the internet sites your children can access.
2) Talk to your Internet Provider and see if they offer any parental control options with their service. If they do, use them.
3) Physically sit down with your child at the computer and teach them how to safety use the Internet.
4) Have your children’s email sent through your email account so that you can monitor them. Better yet, you can sign your child up for an email account through kidsemail.org. Try it for Free today!
5) Make a point of walking by the computer while your child is using it, so they are aware that you are monitoring what they are doing online.
6) If your child comes to you with information about being a victim of cyberbullying or receiving inappropriate information take the threat seriously. Praise your child for coming forward immediately with the information and take the appropriate steps to report it to your IP service provider, local police department and/or the FBI.
By following the steps above you will be able to help keep your children safe on the internet. Remember, that this is an ongoing process. Never let your guard down for a moment. Make sure that the children are following your guidelines, and let them see that you are monitoring their online usage. That way, the children will start being more careful about what they are doing online and start monitoring their own online behavior.
Have more tips for keeping our children safe online? Please share them in the comments below!
For more information about keeping your children safe on the internet, visit the sites below:
Kidshealth.org Internet Safety http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/family/net_safety.html#
YouTube Video How to Keep Your Kids Safe Online http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=Q9dC_ekyD64
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) of 1998 http://www.ftc.gov/ogc/coppa1.htm
Add comment November 4, 2011
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