Why we should be 'SMART' online

3:04pm Thursday 24th January 2008

We should all be safe on the internet whether we are an adult or a child. Throughout our own childhood we were always told never speak to strangers or accept sweets from someone we don't know or let strangers into our homes, but what happens when these people get into our homes, have no face but seem trustworthy? That's why it is important to use the internet safely and be SMART.

It is important that we tell our children to never give out personal details, as we don't want them to be recognised out on the street by predators. If your child creates an About Me' page then it's a good idea to limit how many details they give out, i.e. name, date of birth, address etc, also it is a good idea to show pictures of yourself with a group of friends rather than on your own.

Parents should sit with their child and offer assistance while they surf the net so that you can check out the sites that they are using and to make sure that they are safe and also to let your child know that they can talk to you if they are not sure of something on the site that they are on, you could also agree a set time each day for them to use the net as this creates a relaxed routine.

We also need to let children know that the internet is a positive place to explore as long as it is used safely. It is important to make your child's internet-use a positive and open activity. Taking an interest in the places and people your child comes into contact with on the web prevents any sense of guilt or secrecy that predators could exploit.

Families should keep passwords to themselves and never let friends use their personal screen name. You should never give your internet password to anyone, not even if they claim to be from a trusted source. Passwords can give predators access to your personal details or your account without your permission. It is also a good idea to change your password on a regular basis.

Instant messaging vs. Chat rooms

Chat rooms are websites that offer real time' conversations between a group of people and are open to anyone. They usually revolve around a particular theme.

Instant messaging i.e. MSN or yahoo allow real time' chats between people who are online with the same software at the same time. Instant messenger is safer than chatrooms because you can set up a buddy list' of people that you know. If someone from outside your list tries to contact you an alert pops up and you can refuse to chat and block them from further contact.

Chat rooms are open to all kinds of anonymous people, so you never know who you are talking with even if they state that they are a kids only' site.

Take a look at Kidz Zone safety tips, where you will also find lots of useful links that are helpful to parents, teachers and children.

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