King County Library System - Using the Library

Tools

HOW DO I…

RELATED RESOURCES

Are Your Children Safe Online?

A Parent’s Safety Guide to Social Networking

Quick Safety Tips, Security Options, and Resources to Keep Your Children Safe

Introduction | Quick Tips | Recommended Books | Online Resources

Every generation finds a unique niche for socializing, whether it’s dragging Main Street, going to the mall, or hanging out at the soda fountain. Today, kids have the added dimensions of the latest computer technology and Cyberspace. Instead of passing notes or meeting at the local burger joint, they use cell phones to text message, and hang out in Internet gathering places like MySpace, Facebook, Xanga and YouTube.

These Web-based social networking sites, a cultural phenomenon for young adults between 16-34 years of age, provide numerous benefits which range from making new friends to building professional and information technology skills. Even libraries and schools nation-wide use these venues to promote programs and services for teens and young adults.

As demonstrated by tragic cases recently reported by the media, these sites also have downfalls. Cyber bullies and sexual predators may prey upon naïve teens who impulsively give out personal information. Inappropriate behavior may occur online or in person. Developmentally, young adults may lack the judgment and maturity that come from life experiences and education to discern what is and is not appropriate online.

KCLS is committed to educating patrons to understand the functions, advantages and disadvantages of these emerging technologies.

To promote safe use, KCLS strongly encourages parents or legal guardians to take the following actions:

Learn about Internet safety
Discuss safe use with your children
Monitor and supervise online activity

Education and awareness remain the best defense to protect your children.

With your guidance, kids will learn to make safe choices and recognize online trouble. By teaching children about Internet safety, monitoring their online habits and guiding them to appropriate sites, parents can launch their children into safe and responsible Cyberspace explorers.

QUICK TIPS:

Talk to KCLS staff about the filtering options available for children under 17.
Learn about the programs your children use. Create your own social networking profile on the site your child uses. By becoming a “friend,” you may learn more about their online friends and interactions.
Establish guidelines and rules. Consider using an Online Safety Contract, such as the one offered by SafeKids.com.
Emphasize the risks involved when your children give out personal information or post information or pictures that could be used to identify or locate them offline. This includes:

full name
address
hometown
SSN
phone number
email address
family financial information, such as bank or credit card numbers
school
sports teams
local clubs
workplace names

Make sure your kids’ screen names don’t reveal too much about them.
Use privacy settings to restrict who can access and post on your child’s Web site.
Remind your kids that comments and pictures posted online may be saved somewhere on the Internet, even if deleted from their page, and may be accessed by unexpected viewers, including teachers, law enforcement officials, college or university admissions officers, potential employers and even sexual predators.
Emphasize that people may misrepresent themselves and warn about the dangers of interacting with strangers online.
Stress that meeting with someone they know only through the Internet is unsafe. If educators or parents permit a physical meeting with virtual friends, adults should chaperone the meeting. Never let them go alone—not even with a friend.
Learn and review how to identify a serious problem, who to contact for help and how to prevent future trouble.

HOW TO REPORT TROUBLE

Contact your local police department
Contact FBI Crime Against Children coordinators at Local Field Offices
Report to the CyberTipline or call 1-800-843-5678
Report to WiredSafety - Cyber911 Help

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Recommended Books

	Lenardon, John. Protect Your Child on the Internet: a Parent’s Toolkit. International Self-Counsel Press, 2006. 004.678083 LEN
	Magid, Larry. MySpace Unraveled: a Parent’s Guide to Teen Social Networking from the Directors of BlogSafety.com. Peachpit Press, 2007.
	McFedries, Paul. MySpace: Visual Quick Tips. Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley, 2006. 004.678 MCF
	Raatma, Lucia. Safety on the Internet. Child’s World, 2005. J025.040289 RAA
	Rothman, Kevin F. Coping with Dangers on the Internet: Staying Safe On-line. Rosen Publishing Group, 2001. Y025.040835 ROT
	Wolinsky, Art. Safe Surfing on the Internet. Enslow Publishers, 2003. J004.678 WOL