Protecting your children online.
The Dryden Police and Provincial Police gave a small presentation this afternoon at New Prospect School about internet safety.
OPP Constable Erin Huckell says parents need to be open with their kids and talk about their online-habits.
Hildebrand presented statistics that show that 1 in 4 children have had a stranger ask to meet them in person, and 15% of all young internet users have met someone in person that they met on the internet, and only 6% were accompanied by an adult.
Things that parents should look for are:
– if their child is spending lots of time on the computer
– they minimize or close windows when you come in
– finding pornography on the computer
– child/teen receives phone calls from a long distance or unknown number
– child/teen recieves gifts or packages from someone you don’t know
– they withdraw from family and friends
– using someone else’s online account
– appears secretive about friends they’ve met over the computer
– starts dressing older and more seductive
Chat rooms and social media websites are prime places for child predators, however parents can take steps to make sure that their children aren’t accessing those sites.
Hildebrand says there are internet-filters such as www.cyberpatrol.com, www.netnanny.com and www.cybersitter.com.
