How To Keep Kids Safe Online: Anne Arundel Police

MILLERSVILLE, MD — A computer and an Internet connection can put your kids in touch with people anywhere in the world. Anne Arundel County Police know the Internet has drastically changed the way that children interact with the world. They have access to in-depth knowledge, tools to express their creativity, and people near and far.

Along with a new way to connect with the world, the Internet also offers risks such as:

• Cyberbullying
• Exposure to inappropriate material
• Online predators
• Revealing too much personal information

Anne Arundel County Police urge parents and children to learn the basics of online safety. Children use a variety of online services, and they can all have different safety concerns. However, there are some basic precautions to take no matter how your children use the Internet.

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children offers the following advice:

For Parents

• Keep the computer in a high-traffic area of your home.
• Establish limits for which online sites children may visit and for how long.
• Remember that Internet technology can be mobile, so make sure to monitor cell phones, gaming devices, and laptops.
• Surf the Internet with your children and let them show you what they like to do online.
• Know who is connecting with your children online and set rules for social networking, instant messaging, e-mailing, online gaming, and using webcams.
• Talk with your children about online safety

Tips for Kids

• Remember that not everyone you meet online is trustworthy.
• No one that you meet online should ask you to keep secrets from adults you trust.
• Ask a trusted adult before sharing personal information with an online friend.
• Be suspicious if an online “friend” tries to turn you against your friends and family.
• Don’t accept gifts from people that you meet online.
• A real friend, whether you’ve met them in real life or online, won’t pressure you into doing anything that makes you uncomfortable.
• Report anyone who sends you or asks you to send inappropriate messages and photos.
• Be a good friend: talk to a trusted adult if someone you know is planning to meet offline.
• If someone asks you to meet offline, tell a trusted adult immediately.

Don’t respond to people asking you for personal or inappropriate information.

For more information, visit http://www.netsmartz.org/internetsafety.

Image via Shutterstock