Rules for younger children
Even if you try to restrict it, most young internet users will at some point make an internet 'friend'. The rules for this should be very clear and repeated often for their own safety. Perhaps a list like the one below could be pinned up on a family notice board or by the computer.
Do not give out your real name or any personal information that may identify you in any way. People in chat rooms are not always who they say they are.
Do not give out your address, even indirectly. The person you are chatting to may use trick questions to get this out of you, like asking about the places you visit or a famous landmark close by.
Do not discuss your family members. Use nicknames for them.
Do not tell people on the internet where your parents or carers work, or how long they are out of the house. You may accidentally tell someone who is contemplating a robbery, or far worse, a paedophile.
Do not give out the name of your school or the names of your classmates.
Do not send your picture to someone you don't know.
Do not give out any telephone numbers. Be especially careful of people who ask for your mobile number.
Do let your parents or carers know which message boards and chat rooms you will be using and who you are regularly talking with.
Do let your parents or carers know if there is an email you receive that makes you uncomfortable, or when anything unpleasant is said on a message board or in a chat room.
Do enjoy yourself on the web, but let your parents know what you're doing.
Older children and teens
Teenagers nowadays are extremely technical and generally ahead of their parents in this area. They know how to access all the information they need online. Possibly they own their own personal computer, or have access to an unmonitored computer at school or a friend's house.
Parental monitoring and restrictions can be resented. Deal with it firmly and convince them that it is out of concern for their safety. The news often reports incidents of innocent and naïve youngsters who have been led into danger through misuse of the internet, with sometimes horrific results. Let your teenagers be aware of the dangers. If they are aware of a friend who is in touch with a stranger, and arranging secret meetings, they should tell someone in authority without feeling like they are telling tales.
Be careful what you say
Finally, it's worth mentioning that everyone, including children, must be extra cautious with what they write in emails. What may have been meant as a harmless joke or amusing remark can be misunderstood or misused by a third person who can forward it to a number of people causing misunderstanding and embarrassment. And this is true of all internet communication, not just email.
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