Tech Brand Talk

[#1]

Ah, children. They have so much to teach us, and so much to learn from us. In their enthusiasm for all kinds of new experiences, they're unwitting targets for unscrupulous online predators, virus-laden websites, and other threats. As their parents, how can we keep them safe? Here are some handy tips to follow:

1. Stay informed: As the adult, it's your responsibility to keep up to date on the kinds of things your child may be interested in. For both younger kids and teens, that means learning about social sites like Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter, as well as virtual communities like Club Penguin, Second Life, and Webkinz. Whatever your child is excited about, make yourself an expert.

2. Keep the computer in a common room: This is a bit of social engineering. Your kids need to know that whatever they're doing needs to be on the up and up, or they won't be allowed to participate. By keeping everything out in the open, you reduce the chance of activity that might be suspect. This also gives you a chance to talk with your child about what they're seeing/playing, and who they're talking to online. Let there be no secrecy.

3. Teach your kids that the Internet is forever: That might be a bit hyperbolic, but it's true. What we put online tends to remain there, for anyone to search and find. So it's important to tell our kids, especially our teens, that they need to think carefully about what they put in their profiles, on message boards, in comments, etc. It's very difficult to remove something that's gone live, so think twice before posting.

4. Remember the 4 P's: Following on the previous tip, teach your kids about the four P's: parents, principals, predators, or the police. Never post anything online that any of those four shouldn't see. Remember that we don't control who sees what we put out there, so always be mindful of the global audience. 

5. Use the most restrictive privacy settings: This applies most strongly to Facebook. It isn't made plain how best to go about protecting yourself on that site, but it's extremely important to control what information you share with the world.

6. Keep your computer(s) protected: Chances are you're already using some form of antivirus/security software. If you aren’t, you should take steps to make sure your family is protected while surfing the web by installing security software on your family PCs. FutureShop.com and Future Shop retail locations offer a great variety of security software, including AVG security products. Remember, it's always better to be safe than sorry!

7. Above all else, keep the conversation going: Talk with your kids about what they like, what they don't like, what they think is safe, what they think is dangerous. Know who their friends are. Google them to see what the world sees when their names come up. It's okay to be a snoop; you're their parents. Make sure they know that you're interested in their lives, both online and off. Lead by example. Demonstrate safety by being safe yourself. And in the end, try to remember to have fun. There's a lot on the Internet to enjoy! Just make sure you're doing it safely.