Parenting Pointers: Internet Safety

Here's a shocking statistic: 13 percent of 2^nd and 3^rd grade students report that they have used the Internet to talk to people they do not know, 11 percent having been asked to describe their physical details and 10 percent having been exposed to private information about strangers. Sexual predators, abductors, bullies and human traffickers are communicating with our children on social media to an alarming degree, and the problem is getting worse.  

As parents, we need to talk early and often with our kids about online communication and safety. Kids need to be aware of what's out there, and parents need to be aware of what kids are doing. Firewalls, Internet filters, and keeping devices in common areas of the house are good starts, but it's hard for parents to be everywhere at every time.

 

FamilySignal is a new (cloud-based) subscription service that alerts parents, via text or e-mail, within five seconds when their child gets/sends a social media message that puts them in danger. It detects cyber-bullying, predator activity, sex and drug-related communication, requests for kids’ personal information, and warning signs of suicide and drug addiction. Nobody else offers parents anything like it. The cost is $4.99 per month for an entire family, and you can view a demo to find out more.

You might think your kids are too young to need to know about Internet safety, but if they're online, you need to talk to them, be aware, and help protect them.