"I attended a presentation on internet predators at the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office in Baton Rouge. The presentation involved a chat room conversation between an adult man and an investigator posing as a teenage girl. I was sickened by the exchange and alarmed at how easily our children can become victims without our knowledge. The following is a list of internet safety tips. I strongly urge all parents to discuss them with their children and encourage parents to regularly monitor their children’s internet activities.”
Sincerely,
Sheriff Henry Whitehorn, Sr.
Internet Safety Rules
- Keep the computer in a common area of the house.
- Establish rules for your child’s internet use.
- Discuss the importance of telling an adult if something makes your child feel uncomfortable while online.
- Know your child’s online friends. Don’t list your child’s e-mail address in any directory.
- Know how to set parental controls and check history files.
- Have your child choose a screen name that doesn't identify them as a young boy or girl.
- Tell your child not to share his or her password with anyone except a parent.
- Warn children that they should not respond to offensive, threatening or unwanted e-mail or instant messages. Also warn them not to give out personal information such as name, address, phone number, school or parent’s name .
- Finally, make sure your child knows that not everyone in a chat room may be who they say they are.
