Child's Play: Protecting Your Child on the Internet is no Trivial Matter

By:  Dorothy Riggs, CFE

Playtime isn’t what it Used to be: New Era = New Toys

New pastimes have emerged. Seemingly vanished into thin air is the era when going outside to play hop-scotch, double dutch or Red Rover is the highlight of a youngster’s day.  Those wholesome pastimes are for the most part obsolete.  They’ve been replaced by Facebook, Pokemon Go, Angry Birds and the like.  A few months ago I had the pleasure of speaking to students in a summer enrichment program about fraud.  It didn’t surprise me that the older pupils, which were in grades six through nine, had their own personal smartphones along with Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snap Chat accounts.  However, it was an eye-opener for me when the younger children, who were in grades two through five, stated that they too have their own personal smartphones and social media accounts.  Regarding the use of modern digital technology, today’s young people are especially advanced.  My grandchildren, who are three years old and sixteen months old, know their way around smartphones, tablets and computers as well, and in some cases, perhaps better than I do.  So, it wasn’t surprising that the younger group of students knew how to use the technology. However, I didn’t think that they would have their own social media accounts at such young ages.

What Kids do Online

Here’s information from Kids Matter about the Internet use of children.  Using up to three Internet-enabled devices, ninety-five percent of eleven year olds have accessed the Internet in the last four weeks.  While a majority of this age group accesses the Internet at home, increasing numbers report using the technology at other places, away from parental supervision. The top sites for eleven year olds in 2013 were YouTube, Moshi Monsters, Club Penguin and Facebook, with playing games, private messaging and posting status updates as their most popular activities.

Since research shows that children are becoming active online at younger ages, the EU Kids Online network enacted a study of the Internet behavior of zero to eight year olds,. Watching videos, playing games, searching for information, doing homework and socializing in virtual communities for kids are the activities of choice for this age group.

Alarming Internet Statistics Involving Children

According to SafeSurfingKids.com, in 2000, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children surveyed approximately 1,500 children ages ten to seventeen that used the Internet regularly and reported the following statistics.

• Only one in three parents use blocking or filtering software on their children’s computer.
• One in four children received unwanted online exposure to sexual material.
• One in five children was solicited sexually over the Internet within the year. With one in thirty-three receiving an invitation to meet with, phone or send the solicitor something in the mail.

Keep in mind these statistics derive from a survey conducted in 2000.  I’m sure current numbers would be even more alarming.

Common Online Safety Measures for Kids

As you can see from the data shared in this article, providing online safety for children is no trivial matter.  You may think of it as merely ‘child’s play’ when your child is online, but don’t take it so lightly. Children may log on with intentions of playing games or interacting with friends, but the potential is present for youngsters to be exposed to inappropriate content and enticed into communicating with shady individuals.  It’s imperative that parents and guardians take this matter seriously and get involved.  Perhaps the following suggestions will give you a start:

Along with the Webville Outlaws, Clicky, a NetSmartz Workshop character, teaches children these four Internet safety rules.

http://www.missingkids.com/Feature/KidsKnowClicky

NetSmartz Workshop also offers the following advice to parents and guardians:

• Set ground rules by establishing basic guidelines like when and how long your kids can go online, which sites they can visit and placing a limit on the number of text messages they can send per month.
• Research before making purchases.  Handheld games can connect to the Internet and many devices have built-in webcams.  Understand the technology you’re bringing into your home.
• Don’t just sit there, report suspicious or dangerous online incidents to the website, cell phone service, law enforcement or www.cybertipline.com.
• Supervise kid’s Internet use.  If you can see what they’re doing, they’re less likely to get in trouble.
• Safeguards lead to safer kids.  However, protective software does not guarantee safety. Technology can’t replace the time and attention from parents or guardians.
• Be mindful of the information you post online.  Refrain from blogging or placing too much information about your children online, such as:  photos, names and locations of schools or your home and etc.
• Talk to your kids.  Ask questions and get involved.
• Keep computers in high traffic areas in your home.
• Monitor all Internet accessible devices like cell phones, gaming devices, tablet and laptops.
• Know your children’s social media password and be aware of who is communicating with your children online.  Set rules for social networking, instant messaging, e-mailing, gaming and using webcams.