This giveaway is now closed! Thank you for stopping by and entering. This is an important subject and I appreciate all of your questions and comments. Stay tuned for a follow-up post from Marian that will answer your questions. The winners are Sarah B., Jason, djp, Carolsue, and Xenia. Congratulations!
The internet is a fabulous thing. It opens up a world of possibilities. In the last week I’ve chatted with friends and family online, reunited with old friends from high school, paid bills, updated our family schedule, and found a recipe for dinner. And that isn’t even a glimpse of what you’ll find online. Children, in particular, are drawn to a world where they can chat with old friends and make new ones. Online safety is a topic many parents are concerned about. Norton recently conducted a comprehensive global survey on people’s online habits and found that three out of four parents say they are worried about strangers approaching their children while they surf the Internet and more than half of these parents admit that they don’t set parental controls on their family computer.
This week I am honored to feature Marian Merritt, Internet safety advocate for Symantec (makers of Norton security software) as she shares with you some tips on keeping your kids safe on the internet.
Keeping Your Children Safe Online by Marian Merritt
I just got a new washing machine and the front panel is a festival of light-up buttons and dials. It looks so complicated and a little dangerous. I had a mental image of soapsuds flowing over the machine and out the laundry room door if I made a mistake. Nevertheless, I powered ahead and was able to run my first load without opening the user manual and everything worked just as it should. It was so intuitive and easy.
Unfortunately, “ intuitive and easy” aren’t words we use to describe computers and the Internet. We know computers are complicated but your children don’t. They go onto the family PC and connect to the Internet just like I used my new washer. By trial and error and clicking around. They have no idea of the various dangers on the Internet that might cause them to lose information, download infecting viruses or cause the family computer to “go haywire.” Not unless you talk to them about it.
I know you aren’t a techy person and why should you be? But you have adult knowledge of the world. You know that the Internet isn’t just a computer; it’s an environment of people. And some of those people want to cause you trouble. You need to talk to your children about using good sense when they go online to avoid those dangerous environments where trouble might be hiding.
The top issue kids contend with is Internet or cyber bullying. This is electronic teasing or harassment that comes in through instant messaging, email or on social networking sites like MySpace. If this is happening to your child, you might not even know because kids hate to admit when something goes wrong and they don’t think you’d understand. Make sure your child knows that you would understand and are available to help them. And more importantly, help empower your child with these four key steps so if they are cyber bullied again, they know that they can do something about it:
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keep a copy
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don’t reply
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block the sender
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contact school or website authorities for help to remove offending information online
There are many other concerns of course so if you want to learn more about online safety for your family, please visit our website at www.norton.com/familyresources or send me your questions at [email protected].
Profuse thanks to Marian for speaking on such an important topic. Please check out Marian’s blog for more information.
Win It! I have five copies of Norton 360, Symantec’s all-in-one security software to give away courtesy of Symantec. Head on over to Marian’s blog and take a look around. Come back and leave me a comment about one of her posts that you found to be particularly useful to you. Alternatively, you can leave a question about children and online safety for Marian to answer and that will also enter you. Comments will close on September 25, 2008 at 10 pm PST and I will announce the winner here the following day. One comment per person, please. US residents only. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.
Want an extra entry? Follow me on Twitter. Be sure to send me a message letting me know since it’s getting a little difficult keeping up with everyone who just started following to gain an extra contest entry!
I’d love to continue to feature guest bloggers on the site, so if there is someone you’d like to see featured or a topic of interest you’d like me to cover, send me an email!
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good advise
this is great to remind people- especially the start of school again..thank you
Do you agree with having computers in a child’s room?
At what age can children be on the computer unsupervised?
I found the article on Cyberbulling useful. It is sad that this happens and it has happened in my own family. We are more cautious on the internet now. I think what you are doing is a great thing and keep up the good work.
Kind regards
How much time should a child be on a computer? And really how realistic is it for the internet to be fully safe to anyone?
Hi,
I’m happy to try to answer some of the questions.
Q: should the computer be in the child’s bedroom?
A: ideally no, because it can increase risks a child is willing to take. But realistically with cell phone’s having web access, this old rule is less valid than it used to be. Make sure you use security software, set filters with younger children and talk to your child about your family’s rules for using the internet.
Q: At what age should a child be on the computer unsupervised?
A: If they are a child, then never. But the level of supervision varies significantly. With an early web user (ages 5-7) you should monitor very closely the sites they visit, ideally sit side by side as they use the computer until you are sure they have basic skills.
Older children (8-10) can use the computer within your field of vision and you should monitor the sites they visit.
Middle schoolers get more freedom but you are still checking the computer’s history and talking a lot about what is ok and not ok online. Make sure they know how to be safe (protecting passwords, keeping private info safe, no talking to strangers, no posting photos, etc).
By the time you have a high school child, your role is to give them a secure computer (including security software) and making sure you are talking about web safety and best practices of cybercitizenship. Talk about online reputations and the permanency of things they post online.
should a child be allowed to be on the computer in a room without supervision?
Do you agree with having computers in a child’s room? We wrestled with it and put it in the living room
My question would be: What is the most widely recommended program for filtering or blocking content you don’t want your child to see.
I am very glad to see that mainstream press like Forbes is discussing Cyberbullying.
What do you think is the most appropriate age for a child to get on a computer without adult supervision?
We keep the computers in open space and we check on them regularly.
I read quite a few of Marian Merritt’s posts on her blog and learned quite a bit! One that was particularly interesting was the one on “Stopping Child Porn”
The article started out by saying “There are two kinds of child pornography: the kind created by criminals and the kind our children create themselves” Which in itself is very interesting and I wanted to know more.
It is very interesting and I urge all to read it.
Thank you for alerting me to a very interesting and informative site!
baileybobby6(at)hotmail.com
I thought the buying a locking cable for a laptop particularily when used in a dorm room was great advice.
Children need to be trained to be safe on the computer
At what age should you let your child start learning how to use a computer?
Thanks for your thoughts here! These are very simple but needed steps to know.
The article I found most useful was:
Today’s Easy Peasy Security Makeover – Your Browser. The tip is so easy I plan on using it immediately!
what new ways can you keep young children out of bad internet sites every so often as they become more computer savy than we know
Do you have a recommendation for a website for my grandson to use to play online games. He is only eight years old, and this gran’ma needs to know.
How do you control older kids from what they do online without feeling too ‘nosey’ all the time THANKS
Very good advice on not replying. My son is very interested in computers and he’s 8. So far he is only allowed to go on a few children’s sites. Do you have any recommendations on child friendly sites that teach children to safely search the net?
What is the most widely recommended program for filtering or blocking content you don’t want your child to see
THANK YOU GOD BLESS
How do you keep your cchildren safe online and away from scams?
Should kids be allowed on the internet?
should kinds be allowed on the internet
http://twitter.com/barbarabaker
I am now following you on twitter for an extra entry 🙂
I love the article on Safeguarding your instant messanger…I had Norton 360, but it ran out and have not been able to afford another year. 360 is also highly recommended by me because I saw and was able to notice the security features it has to offer. On her article; it states how it warns you about malware and other suspicious items that can easily come through the IM’s email and other…it keeps and eye on your computer closely, and also the network if you are wireless…so you get extra protection from 360 over any other protection software out there….highly recommended!!!!
How do you keep 5 month olds from rubbing their eyes!
I have kids and I want them to be safe
At what age should you allow your child on the computer without direct supervision?
Norton is a must.
I found the blog on ID Theft very interesting. We tend to feel a false sense of security that it won’t happen to us if we don’t get our purse/credit cards stolen, but there is so much information we give out such as SS#s and info online that can be stolen.
College Students – Protect that Laptop!
I found the article about cyber bullying. I teach high school and I know that it goes on a lot, and it’s very dangerous and frightening for children.
I would love to have this for my children and grandchildren.
Thanks for this great contest and prize!
The article about sharing your password, even with friends is what I’ve been trying to get through to one of my kids. Someone she knows got on her sight and changed a lot of things. And the things they put on her sight were just very nasty and mean. She still didn’t think that it was one of her close friends, because they wouldn’t do that. We had to change her password and they did it again. I told her to make up a new password, just something totally off the wall and don’t tell anyone. We monitored it every day and so far nothing else. I told her that if it happened again I was taking her page down.
Are there any computer programs or websites which can search for a particular e-mail address so a parent can check if their child has set up a myspace, bebo, facebook or another type of account online?
My teenage son is wanting a myspace page, what are your feelings regarding that issue?
Right now I am considering it, if it is set to private, and if I have his password. Yet, it is scary to think of letting them have access to something that I don’t fully understand (I am not a myspace user).
Thanks!!!
At what age can children be on the computer unsupervised?
I’m glad to see that the mainstream is recognizing Cyberbullying.
THis is a must for everyone.
I could use a new version of Norton.
How to buy a laptop is an interesting post.
You might be able to control what your children get into on the internet fairly well, maybe. But a big problem I find is the influence of friends, either visiting your home or your child going to theirs, where parents might not be so vigilant.
What suggestions do you have for a child to resist the influence of a friend trying to lead them onto sites you have restricted them from?
The article about Is Your Child’s MySpace Photo “Slutty”? was helpful — in being more attentive to posted pics!
Today’s Easy Peasy Security Makeover – Your Browser
I found Marian’s tips for protecting a laptop very helpful, especially the idea of installing a tracking device and avoiding peer-to-peer software use. I constantly worry about my laptop being compromised or stolen, so I will definitely follow her tips to keep it safe and secure.
I really liked reading the information that she posted about Facebook and about Cyberbullying. These issues were not around when I was in school so it is great to get caught up to speed so that I can better parent my children.
We keep our computer in the living room so we can see what they are doing.
I went over to Marian’s Blog and what I found most useful to me is her entry about “Back to School Means Increase in Cyberbullying”. My oldest son is 11 and he is very much getting into using the internet and I do want to protect him as much as I can from the dangers that children can encounter when using the internet. I am going to educate myself as a parent so I can take all the necessary precautions to keep my children safe. I have 2 other children, but they are not old enough to use the computer yet, thank God! I will be very prepared by the time they are old enough!
Cyberbulling article was interested
My granddaughter spends alot of time on the computer working on school work and has to do some researching and a program line Norton to protect here would be great.
whats the right age for a child to get his first email. That is something I have always been wondering. Very helpful post.
I have always watched my children on the computer. I have a 18 year old who has a computer of her own,but it still worries me
I found the article on the age that a child should get his/her first email address enlightening. I have a 4 year old that already enjoys using the computer for some things and can simply tell that it will only be a few years before she is wanting to talk to her friends through this medium as well…. they grow up way too quickly!
How much time is ok for 8 year olds to be on the computer supervised?
I liked the 9-22 post called “What’s The Right Age For Your Child’s First Email Account?” It had some great information. I agree it really kind of depends on each invidual child. I have two kids and do have an e-mail set up for one. I am in control of it and they never see any of the bad stuff that keeps getting thru. I couldn’t imagine them having unsupervised internet access for several more years.
The post about ID theft was great to read. I sometimes run around willy nillt assuming my information is safe. I wasn’t shocked to see how many opportunities people have to steal my information. I just never thought about it.
Thanks!
chefskate at aol dot com
Good advice, My grandson loves to go on the computer, sometimes internet but he is closely monitored right now. It’s so scary though.
The article on Cyberbullying is very interesting. My daughter is getting interested in computers and it just blows my mind how mean kids can be to each other. Bullying sure has changed since name-calling and gossiping when I was a kid. Thanks for the giveaway!
How to buy a laptop is an interesting post.ty 4 the great giveaway and information!:)
I really liked the article about a child’s first email account. In this day and age, it’s hard to figure out if and when they should have one. It was nice to hear opinions on the subject.
What should I do if I think my son has been looking at porn? I’m not sure, but I’ve found evidence.
– A heavy hearted thanks
My son is a very immature 14 and wants a MySpace page- do you think he is ready? I’m scared!!
the article “Privacy a Top Concern for Adults and Children Alike” was really interesting to read.
Having a family member that has become addicted to pornography and started in high school through our family’s internet – I am very concerned about protecting my kids from the internet and enjoyed the tips that were given about it. You can never be too careful!
I found Back to School Means Increase in Cyberbulling useful. I recently became aware of how serious the problem of Cyberbulling is because of several well publicized incidents. I wanr to be able to protect my child.
I really had a “wake up call” while reading about ID theft – it amazed me how many times in a normal day it could actually happen to each of us. We have become so used to living the way we do – it’s amazing more of us haven’t had our ID’s stolen.
Do you think a child should have his own computer?
What is the right age for a child to get their own email.
I liked the article about IM safety.
bebemiqui82(at)yahoo(dot)com
A Shared Password Can be Used Against You (Video)
I love Marian’s post about protecting your laptop!
The cyber-bullying mentioned is of GREAT GREAT importance to me and thanks
I don’t agree with having a webcam at the computer for various reasons, mostly due to our children being coerced into getting on cam for someone they think is their friend? I watch them closely while they are at the computer but I can’t be 100% observant, we disconnect the cam when it isn’t in use and put it away. Am I being too paranoid?
Blin … really beautifully written! All this is so familiar … and truthfully!
Hm that sounds good but I would like to know more details.
Your news is a cool stuff man, keep it going.
Good story for me but please more details.
Stunning blog and good article. High 5 for u man !
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