Tech Talk for the Non Geek

I am often asked by parents how to keep their little darlings safe from all the nasty stuff out there on the internet. I figure the best way to do this is by doing several post on how it is best handled. In all of these when I refer to “kids” or “children” I mean any child living with you that is less than 18 years old. I really don’t care how mature your child is, if they are not a legal adult then you need to protect them from the dangers they can face.

My answer every time I am asked this I give this same short answer:

Never let your child access the internet without supervision.

The best way to do this is to have your computer in the room that is most used by the family, like a living room or den. You don’t really have to look over their shoulder and watch everything they do, just be in the same room so that there is a chance you will glance up and see what is on their screen.

For full disclosure I must state that I have no kids of my own. I have always worked with children in churches and other groups. Usually being the computer guy with lots of games and toys and no kids of my own the tweens and teens will confide in me and my wife. We are not judgmental, and we generally don’t tell on the kids unless there is clear and present danger involved. However, we do know that these not-yet-adults should not be trusted on their own with things like a loaded gun, mind altering drugs and the internet.

Do I think your little precious is a bad kid? No. Do I think they are going to try to do bad things behind your back? I hope not. Do I think that a child playing with fire will eventually get burned? Uh, yeah!

Children are curious and when they find a way to see or learn new things, especially forbidden things, they most likely will. Most every man can tell you of the time either he, or a friend, found their fathers Playboy Magazines. Did they look away and say “my mom wouldn’t like me looking at that?” No. In my house it was Easy Rider Magazine. They just had the naked women on motorcycles. I stole and read everyone I could get away with.

You may say that’s a part of growing up, and it’s healthy. You may be right. However, I wish I could take you to the sites on the World Wide Web I have come across. A lot of this behavior is not natural. It’s not just kids seeing naked people and giggling, it’s a lot worse. I really wish I could post a link to some of this, but I really don’t want you to see this garbage.

Anyway, I have to lower my blood pressure now. Simply DO NOT allow your child (even if they are 17 and mature for their age) to surf the internet alone in their room. I will rant about the next item in another post… then get to some advice that you might actually use.

-7ater

Filed under: Internet