Internet Safety Rules

Setting up internet safety rules, no matter how old your child is, can be a good step for your child when online.

Whether it's a school project, emailing friends or poking around a chat room, children on the Internet go many places. Internet safety rules for going those places and doing certain activities can help keep them safer.

What would some of these internet safety rules be? First, let your child know that they should never give out their personal information online. There is absolutely no reason why they should give anyone their address or phone number online. Make sure that your child knows that just because the person they are talking to online claims to be a 16 year old boy or girl, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they are.

Two, it is also important to prevent your child from posting personal pictures or videos of themselves online. However, this is something that many children do. Make sure they are portrait type photos, those that show head and shoulders only. If your child wants to post pictures or videos online, be sure to at least review them yourself first.

Three, make sure your child knows that they are not allowed to meet, in person, with anyone who they meet online. This is important, as this is how many children and teenagers fall victim to internet predators and sexual predators. Yes, the person who they are talking to on the computer may be who they say they are, but are you willing to take that chance? If an in person meeting does take place and you know about it, attend with your child. Let multiple people know where you are going and who you are meeting with. Be sure to do so in a public place.

Four, set rules for your child on their use of internet chat rooms and social networking websites. For starters, if you don’t want your child to use these things, don’t let them. If you do, sit with them when they first sign up and negotiate the site yourself. Then set time limits they can be inside these rooms. For example, make sure you are in the room if your child is using an internet chat room.

Five and finally, make sure that your child knows that all of the internet safety rules you set concerning internet use apply to all computer use, not just on the computer at home.