[Music]
the Internet
it offers enormous opportunities to
communicate most of us including kids do
all kinds of things online we connect
through email text and instant messaging
we post and distribute pictures and
videos
we may have profiles on social networks
where we share our lives our plans and
our thoughts with hundreds of people
these ways of communicating and
socializing can be convenient and fun
yet they come with certain risks many
parents wonder how should I talk to my
kids about being safe online a booklet
called net cetera provides some
practical tips it's based on the idea
that the first step to protecting kids
online is more about talking than
technology when kids want important
information they turn to their parents
so talk to them about your values
honesty fairness courtesy or whatever
values are most important in your family
and how they apply in an online setting
by communicating your values and
expectations you'll help your kids make
smarter more thoughtful decisions when
they face tricky situations online here
are some things to talk about social
networking sites chat rooms and blogs
are some ways kids socialize online they
can help kids connect with friends but
it's important to help your children
learn how to navigate these spaces
safely among the pitfalls sharing too
much information and posting pictures or
video that can hurt someone's feelings
or damage a reputation talk to your kids
about applying good judgment to help
minimize those pitfalls most mobile
phones have cameras and can shoot video
making it easy for teens to capture and
share every moment on the go encourage
kids to think about their privacy and
that of others before they share photos
and videos
cyber bullying is bullying that happens
online and it's a lose-lose proposition
it makes the person being harassed feel
bad and it makes the bully look bad talk
to your kids about treating others with
respect and let them know they can talk
to you if someone harasses them if that
happens
encourage your kids to block the bully
if they can and ignore him or her if
they can't
that's because bullies are looking for a
reaction if it continues ask your kids
to save the evidence and share it with
you or another adult they trust mean
behavior usually stops pretty quickly
when someone speaks up encourage your
kids to stand up for themselves and to
stand up for someone else being cyber
bullied and talk to your kids about
treating others online the same way they
want to be treated here are some other
tips to keep in mind start early young
kids see their parents using smartphones
and computers so as soon as your kids
use one themselves it's time to talk to
them about safety initiate conversations
don't wait for kids to come to you use
everyday chances to talk with them new
stories about cyberbullying a storyline
on TV both can be the start of a good
conversation be patient most kids need
small bits of information repeated often
for it to really sink in keep talking
chances are it'll pay off
read net cetera for more information
about chatting with your kids about
being safe online it's free and you'll
find it at on guard online gov
you