Fayette County is one of the most internet connected communities in Georgia .  Between home access, coffee shops, even grocery stores, the internet and its content is very accessible.  Using common sense is important when utilizing all that the information superhighway has to offer.  Students are introduced to computers at such a young age; this is not a negative experience, unless we fail to protect them.  Of all the children between the ages of 10 and 17 that report being sexually solicited online, only half of these children report the solicitation to an adult. Parents often feel they cannot effectively protect their children online because they lack the knowledge and technical skills necessary to do so. While children have a high level of intelligence when it comes to technology, they lack the emotional intelligence to fend off advances.  Likewise, adults can be duped into thinking they are the winners of an international lottery or convinced that they need to submit their personal information via email to their bank.  The role that technology plays in our lives certainly makes access to information easier.  By following these tips, you can prevent the worst of the internet from gaining access to you or your information.

Here are some tips for staying safe online:

1.      Protect your personal information (Social security number, date of birth, address, phone number) as you would protect your valuables.  Never give them out to an unknown person or site.

2.      If it sounds too good to be true, it is.  Promises of international lottery winnings or access to a royal fortune are always scams.  Ignore them.

3.      Treat the internet like an open window to the world.  Keep the computer in a family area where children can be supervised.

4.      Set time limits on children’s internet usage, enforce rules on unacceptable content.

5.      Use strong passwords.  Use letters, numbers, and special characters.

6.      Strangers are dangerous but children are most likely to be victimized by someone they know, even online.  Stay alert to who your children communicate with online.

7.      Know about the online services that your children use.  Use them as they do to have the best understanding.   

Be sure to talk to your children and ask them about what they spend their time doing online.  Let them know that they can come to you about things they see or things that make them feel uncomfortable.  Open lines of communication can be the key to keeping Fayette’s children safe.

http://www.netsmartz.org

http://xblock.isafe.org/

http://www.fbi.gov/stats-services/publications/parent-guide/parent-guide