Internet Safety for
Children: What You Need to Know
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. 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.
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.
