Karina Bland
The Arizona Republic
Feb. 26 2008 7:05 am
A decade ago, the idea of monitoring children's Internet usage seemed like censorship or at least an invasion of privacy to many parents. But with growing concerns about child predators online, it's gaining acceptance as smart parenting.
Parents hope that their children follow the rules they set for Internet usage - no giving out personally identifying information, no surfing inappropriate Web sites - but kids are notorious for testing boundaries. And the consequences could be devastating.
Since 1998, law enforcement has documented more than 18,000 incidents of online enticement of children for sex.
Sometimes kids make innocent mistakes such as registering to win a free iPod, providing personally identifying information, or responding to an e-mail from a "friend of a friend" and make themselves targets.
Until they're old enough to know better, parents need to watch closely, said Forrest Collier, chief executive officer of internetsafety.com in Georgia, maker of Safe Eyes. Safe Eyes was rated as the No. 1 parental control software by Consumer Report magazine and twice received the PC Magazine Editors' Choice Award.
Here are 10 signs from internetsafety.com that your child may be breaking the rules online:
• You or your child receives unusual amounts of unsolicited e-mail or pop-ups. This can be a sign that your child has released personal information online.
There are many enticing contests and sweepstakes, offering free MP3 players or gaming consoles, for instance, as a means of getting your child's personal information. Alert your children to the possible schemes and remind them never to give out personal information online.
• Your child tries to block the computer screen or quickly closes the window when you enter the room. Children's reflexes can be quick when they're breaking the rules. You should investigate further.
• Your child spends an unusual amount of time online, especially in the evenings. Sometimes children, especially if they're home alone for extended periods, can become drawn into the social life that chat rooms and instant messaging offer. Know whom they're talking to and what chat rooms they're visiting. Predators can be online at any hour, but they are particularly active in the evenings.
• Your child changes her password and/or will not share it with you. He or she could be hiding something.
• Your child uses an online account other than your family's account. Public computers in libraries or coffeehouses offer unlimited access that your child may not have at home.
• Your child withdraws from family or friends. Sexual predators pull children closer to them by pushing them away from family and friends. Children also tend to become withdrawn after being sexually victimized either physically or verbally.
• You discover photos of strangers on your child's computer. Do random searches of your child's computer for files with photo file extensions such as jpg, tiff, gif or bmp.
• Your child receives phone calls from strangers. Many predators prefer phone conversations. A predator may ask the child to call collect, and when the child calls, the predator records the phone number through caller ID. A quick phone number search using any basic search engine could also reveal your child's home address.
• Your child receives mail, gifts, or packages from someone you don't know. Predators may try to send photos or gifts through the mail. Gifts are frequently a form of seduction used by sexual predators. If any of this activity occurs, take action immediately.
• You discover inappropriate images or files on your child's computer. This warning sign also requires immediate action. Find out the origin of the file. If it's an image your child has voluntarily downloaded from a commercial entity, it's time to install or improve your filtering software, as well as restrict your child's Internet usage. If an individual sent the file, contact law enforcement.
Above all, parents should trust their instincts, Collier said. If parents sense something is wrong, limit Internet usage or cut it off completely until the issue is resolved.
