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Internet Safety
for Children
What You Need to Know
(ARA) - According to a recent
study from Knowledge Networks/Statistical Research (KN/SI), one-third
of children ages 8 to 17 say the Internet is the medium they
would choose if they could only have one, with the demand exceeding
that for television, telephone and radio.
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That said, nearly 500 new Internet
sites containing sexually explicit material are added to the
Web every day.
In 2000, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
released the results of its survey of 1,500 kids who regularly
use the Internet. This survey reported the following disturbing
statistics:
1 in 4 children is exposed to
unwanted sexual material on the Internet.
1 in 5 children is approached
or solicited for sex through e-mail or chat.
1 in 33 children is telephoned;
receives letters, money or gifts; or is asked to meet for sex. |
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With these statistics, America's recent shocking news headlines,
and the amount of adult-oriented material available online constantly
increasing, it has become even more important for parents to
protect and supervise their kids on the Internet. What can you
do to make sure your kids are surfing safely and taking advantage
of the valuable content that is available on the Web?
Children's Technology Group (CTG) is a small company based in
Golden, Colo., that is committed to providing today's kids with
a safer Internet experience. "The Internet is an incredible
educational resource, but parents have not been able to feel
secure about what their child sees there. This is the problem
we are addressing, and solving, as a company," said Greg
Writer, CEO of Children's Technology Group.
CTG is a leading provider in kid-safe software and offers the
following basic safety guidelines for parents to discuss with
their kids.
Basic Cyberspace Rules:
-- Don't talk to strangers.
-- Never give out your address or other personal information.
-- Always check with a parent before ordering anything online.
-- Surf and learn with your child; make a list of favorite Web
sites that you both enjoy visiting.
-- Know with whom your child is interacting when using e-mail
and chat rooms. Get acquainted with you child's online buddies.
-- Use the parental controls available through your online service,
such as filters, to control surfing and e-mail usage. If such
a service isn't available, demand it or subscribe to an Internet
safety tool.
Visitors to the Children's Technology Group Web site can find
a host of useful Internet safety resources to combat these dangers,
including Garfield Island, a one-of-a-kind online kid-safe Web
browser suite developed by CTG in collaboration with Garfield's
creator, Jim Davis. This Internet safety tool is a community
software suite of Internet-safe applications complete with a
Web browser, closed e-mail and instant messaging, secure chat
rooms, games, and other fun content for kids.
Garfield Island gives parents total control over the features
needed to protect their whole family, with a customized separate
account from www.momsanddads.com. Here parents can set filter
levels, program personalized encouraging messages, and add their
own preapproved sites to CTG's exclusive "include list"
of authorized family-safe sites.
The dangers of the Internet are far from being eliminated, but
you can protect your family easily by being a knowledgeable parent.
Educating yourself and your children about the harsh realities
of the Internet and the security tools and resources available
to you are one great defense. Arming yourself with software such
as Garfield Island lets you take charge of your family's safety
when surfing the Internet.
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Beauty Secrets of the World
