How do you impress upon your teens the seriousness of safety on the Internet?

Question

We have parental controls, we have a signed contract with our children about the use of the Internet, we have discussed the risks of and forbidden the use of MySpace, we limit the time frame and the amount of time they can be on the Internet. The computer they use to be on the Internet is in the main part of our home where we can monitor them. And yet I still find them divulging personal information that could lead a preidtor right to them. When I find this stuff (I am reasonably sure it is done thoughtlessly and not delibertly) I delete it, but I want to make them understand the risks and be safe without me looking over their shoulder. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

keep doing what you are doing

Answer 2

I am a mother of a 2 year old and I think about how am I going to show and tell my daughter all the risks in life and how to be careful, even now that she is ONLY 2. But I do believe that you are the parent not a friend and not a babysitter so why are you writing a contract with them. If they break the contract are you really going to punish them to the fullest. Be firm and straight foward. Tell them if they do it again the computer is gone and if you need a computer for yourself or your husband then lock it and put it in your room. I'm sure if you look up saftey guidelines on the internet for the internet you'll find what you need. They should be listening to you! Scare them a little bit. There was a girl (I don't remember her name) but she was always on the computer, which was in the family room where her parents could watch her, but she still was led to a preditor and kidnapped and raped! Luckily she was found but that almost never happens. Look it up, that did happen, she had blonde hair and I think she was 13 or 14 at the time. The problem is that it is a proven fact that teenagers are missing, yes missing, a particular membrane or something in their brain that they have no fear of anything happening to them. It develops through your twenties that is why you're more aware of life as you get older. Teens think they are untouchable, so you have to scare them a little by showing them graphic information of things that have happened to other teens. Don't scare them like setting something up to where someone "acts" like their a preditor to scare your teens cuz that is just wrong. Good Luck!

Answer 3

This is coming from a teen.. If you are strict and set all those rules, your kids will rebel against you. They don't see why you are doing this to them, just that "mom doesn't let me go on myspace" or "I can't use the internet after 9". They will look at this stuff when you're not around, we know how to delete things so you can't even tell what we've been doing, and if you block websites there are many ways to get around them. Don't let the computer do your parenting for you.. Share with them your concerns and why you feel that way instead of just saying no.

Answer 4

i think of the presumption is that once you're an adolescent, then you definitely ought to no longer have probably lived sufficient existence to be an experienced mom, nor do you have the economic stability to furnish on your offspring in a respectable style. This, however, isn't continually the case. i think of there are lots of people who've a preconceived concept as to how issues are meant to function, and are too small minded to work out that each and every undertaking is distinctive. for occasion, at 19 years previous, i replaced into in no place to have a baby, yet that has no longer something to do with no remember if or no longer you're able to doing so. in case you have a sturdy kinfolk and are arranged to make a existence on your baby, do no longer permit absolutely everyone permit you recognize which you would be able to no longer do a great activity considering which you're too youthful. those forms of people are presumptuous and can't see the vast image for having their heads too far up their very own as*es. in addition to, merely considering which you're older would not unavoidably mean you would be a great mom. Your sister is a primary occasion of that. That being stated, i do no longer think of that each and every teen is on your place. i think of there are assorted toddlers that do not know what all being a ascertain includes. those are the adolescents which you inevitably get grouped with.

Answer 5

If under 16 these children should be outside playing, not on the internet. Even kids at the young age of 7 get on here and ask questions. Parents need to keep the kids off the internet, unless that KID is the one buying and paying the bills, then,sure let them have a computer, ect....

Answer 6

Let them watch the show on TV that shows predators coming to the house after they have made contact on the internet.

You still need to look over their shoulders. The computer should be in a place where you can oversee what they are doing, not in a teen's room.

Answer 7

I didn't have that problem when mine were growing up but I hope that my grandsons will be taught internet safety *in school* when the time comes as well as by their parents.My *son* had to warn *me* of certain things not to do - once he had to listen to me now I trust him over some things like internet use!
Try these sites (U.K. and U.S. but useful to all)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/chatguide/

http://www.webwisekids.org/

Good luck!
Joan.

Answer 8

yesss. thats what my mom did. She showed me a movie that was on lifetime about a girl my age[13] and how she was talking to predators online, and she went to his house because he was supposedly 17 years old,[ really 35]. This was also a TRUE story, so it scared the CRAP out of me !!!!!!!!

Answer 9

my kid has so many other things she does - she isnt even on the internet...

really..

give them something more fun to do and they will do it...

kids never think they are in danger until its too late - there really isnt anything you can say or do - they are natural risk takers, they also want to "prove you wrong" the more you say "dont do it...." the more they want to do it...