With kids spending more and more time socializing online, the lure of peer pressure to visit social media websites has become difficult to resist.

Exposure to offensive content, violent images, racist or hate material, contact with pedophiles and cyber-bullying are a few of the potential risks for children if their internet use is not monitored.

Who is pulling a tight leash when it comes to monitoring the topics that kids are exposed to while surfing the internet? According to Media Marketing Research in 2006, mothers are the primary gatekeepers for children between the ages of 6 – 11 when it comes to the use of the internet. A child’s best online protection is their parent or guardian. Acting as the gatekeeper they can use internet safety tools to limit access to content, websites and activities.

To be actively involved, follow the internet guidelines below:

• Use Internet filtering and parental control software programs to block access to sites and explicit content. These settings are password protected but kids are computer savvy, so be sure not to use a password that your child would easily know or they might be able to gain access to the settings.

• Use Privacy settings to restrict access to information about your child on various online sites. Most, if not all, social networking sites provide settings that limit who can view a child’s personal information. The privacy setting allows the gatekeeper to give permission to which friends, clubs or community groups are able to view a child’s profile and they can block unwanted guests such as predators or cyber-bullies from accessing any information.

• Teach your children to never give out personal information such as name, address, school they attend or if and when they are home alone at anytime. Encourage your child to be creative and use online nicknames so they don’t give away their real identity.

• Keep the computer centrally located in your home so you can periodically monitor internet activity without it being obvious to your child that you’re keeping an eye on them.

• Bookmark kids’ favorite sites for easy access.

• Limit the amount of time spent on the internet and encourage physical exercise.

• Teach responsible, ethical, online behavior that will help your child develop a respectable online presence.

By talking to your children about potential online dangers and being their gatekeeper, you’ll help them surf the Internet safely.

Photo Credit: FotoChronicle Frankie

Most parents have been running around the electronics stores purchasing the latest and greatest electronic gifts for their children’s Christmas Wish List. You probably cashed in on some of the smoking hot deals during Black Friday or Cyber Monday. Now as you sit down at the dining room table wrapping all of these presents while the kids are still in school you start to worry. How are you going to protect your children while they are using this exciting new technology?

Suzie is getting her first tablet, and John needed a computer because he will be in High School next year. Plus, for the family you splurged and bought an Xbox 360. Now is a good time to start thinking about what guidelines you need to have established when the kids start using these fantastic gifts you saved a bundle on.

 Here are 7 Guidelines to keep your Children safe online.

1) Explain to the Children that all electronic devices will be used in the family room where you will be able to periodically monitor their use. They cannot use them in their bedrooms.

2) Install software that allows you to set Parental Controls so that you can indeed monitor where your children have been surfing on the internet, and have the ability to block sites as needed.

3) Take the time to sit down with your children and actually show them how to use the Internet safely and set clear expectations of consequences if they do not follow your guidelines.

4) Stress the fact that you will not allow them to use chat rooms. This is how personal information is often discovered.

5) If they want to set up an account on a particular website, they need to come to you first. Tell them you will review the website and determine if this site is age appropriate for them.

6) Set up the account on the website your child wants to use yourself, allowing you to maintain access for periodic checks of activity and site changes.

7) Finally, stress to your children that if they are ever the victim of cyberbullying or receive any type of inappropriate information to report it to you immediately.

Now, this is the hard part. You, the parent will actually have to get up periodically when the children are in the family room using these devices and monitor what is on their screen. Not just one time but several times when they least expect it. Use the Parental monitoring software to see what websites they have visited.

If indeed, the children have been following your guidelines, then you should congratulate yourself on a job well done. However, if they have not been following your guidelines, follow through on the expectations of consequences you originally set.

For more information about keeping your children safe on the internet, visit:

 Kidshealth.org Internet Safety

Kids have it rough these days.  Before the advent of computers, the only bully your children had to worry about was on the school playground, walking home after school or on the bus.  This situation was dealt with swiftly and ended the bullying quickly.

Photo Credit: J_O_I_D

That is not the case in this age of the internet with more and more children using facebook, texting, and email.  Now more than ever our kids may be subjected to CyberBullying.  This is the act of harassing or bullying an individual or group, using technology such as the internet, cell phones and related technologies.

We have all either experienced this first hand with our own children, heard about it happening to our friends and co-workers children, or heard it on the news.  Now, more than ever parents and yes, even grandparents have to become more aware and take an active role to help protect children from CyberBullying.

First and foremost, have an open conversation with your kids.  Explain in detail what constitutes CyberBullying. Make sure that they understand that CyberBullying is not to be tolerated, and if they are subjected to it, they need to tell you immediately when it happens.

Most children may think they should try to handle the situation themselves by responding to harassing emails and text messages.  Parents make it clear to your children that this is not an acceptable way to react to CyberBullying.  In fact, this may escalate the bullying and put your children at greater risk.

The children need to understand that the internet can spread the harassing documentation at a rate that will make their heads spin.  The photos, videos and messages can be posted in an instant and go viral before you can blink an eye.  Therefore, the child needs to inform their parents immediately of the CyberBullying so that they can take the necessary actions to stop it.

Parents, to recap, explain to your children what CyberBullying is and that the proper way to handle it is to tell you about it immediately.  They are not to respond to any of it, and stress that they should not delete any of the harassing documentation.

As a parent try to be supportive and understanding when your child approaches you about this matter.  Report the CyberBullying activity to the websites it took place on.  This is usually done on the website through a “report” or “abuse” button.  Finally, the school administrators need to be notified so they can monitor the situation at school and watch over your child.

To learn more about the how to deal with Cyberbullying please visit the websites listed below:

National Crime Prevention Council http://www.ncpc.org/cyberbullying

Stop Cyberbullying Before it Starts (PDF)  http://www.ncpc.org/resources/files/pdf/bullying/cyberbullying.pdf

Cyberbullying Research Center http://www.cyberbullying.us/

State Cyberbullying Laws (PDF)  http://www.cyberbullying.us/Bullying_and_Cyberbullying_Laws.pdf

Stop Cyberbullying  http://www.stopcyberbullying.org
Have you or someone you know experienced CyberBullying? How did you handle it?