Nowlin

Internet Safety

Hello,

With the Winter Break upon us and the likelihood of technology being a part of the break we wanted to provide you with some basic Internet Safety information. 

Dr. Tynan

Basic guidelines to share with your kids for safe online use:

  • Follow the family rules, and those set by the Internet service provider.
  • Never post or trade personal pictures.
  • Never reveal personal information, such as address, phone number, or school name or location.
  • Use only a screen name and don’t share passwords (other than with parents).
  • Never agree to get together in person with anyone met online without parent approval and/or supervision.
  • Never respond to a threatening email, message, post, or text.
  • Always tell a parent or other trusted adult about any communication or conversation that was scary or hurtful.
  • Don’t talk to strangers on the Internet
  • Don’t fill in a profile that asks for your name and address
  • Don’t visit a chat room without an adult’s / parent’s permission
  • Don’t stay online if you see something you think your parents won’t like
  • Don’t post pictures of yourself without your parents’ permission
  • Do not download or install anything on your computer without your parents’ permission
  • If you have any questions about something you read, ask your parent or guardian

Basic guidelines for parental supervision:

  • Spend time online together to teach your kids appropriate online behavior.
  • Keep the computer in a common area where you can watch and monitor its use, not in individual bedrooms. Monitor any time spent on smartphones or tablets.
  • Bookmark kids’ favorite sites for easy access.
  • Check your credit card and phone bills for unfamiliar account charges.
  • Find out what, if any, online protection is offered by your child’s school, after-school center, friends’ homes, or any place where kids could use a computer without your supervision.
  • Take your child seriously if he or she reports an uncomfortable online exchange.

Watch for warning signs of a child being targeted by an online predator. These can include:

  • spending long hours online, especially at night
  • phone calls from people you don’t know
  • unsolicited gifts arriving in the mail
  • your child suddenly turning off the computer when you walk into the room
  • withdrawal from family life and reluctance to discuss online activitie

Follow this blog

Get every new post delivered right to your inbox.