Protect kids from internet dangers
- Apr 4, 2008 - comment
First, the stats.
More than 60 percent of teens report that their parents know little or nothing about their web activities.
More than 70 percent of parents stop monitoring their child’s use of the internet after they turn 14, not realizing that 72 percent of all internet-related missing children are 15 years of age or older.
Twenty-two percent of targets for online predators are between the ages of 10 and 13.
Approximately 90 percent of the strangers who knock on the “private door” of teens’ social network accounts are allowed to enter.
These threats and others from internet usage are real and alarming. Parents, grandparents, school officials, church leaders, and others must become aware of these dangers and take the steps necessary to protect our children.
What are the major online threats? Pornography serves as one of the most pervasive of all internet threats.
According to The Kaiser Family Foundation report, 70 percent of teenagers have viewed pornography on the Web. Since adolescent males make up one of the largest consumer groups of pornography, and their access on the internet is largely unrestricted, they may be facing an even more serious problem – sexual addiction.
Continued exposure to pornography also creates a culture of acceptance for youth who will one day become the mothers and fathers of our next generation.
Another cyber threat is the unregulated access of prescription drugs.
A Columbia University study found that 94 percent of web sites advertising prescription drugs actually do not require a prescription for online purchases.
In a recent survey by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, 4.5 million U.S. teenagers reported having taken prescription painkillers such as Vicodin or OxyContin or stimulants such as Ritalin or Adderall.
Just a few weeks ago, President Bush urged Congress to pass legislation aimed at ending the illegal sales of highly addictive prescription drugs on the internet, citing a growing number of fatal overdoses among young people.
Violent media such as online games and music also serve as threats to our children.
Mature-rated games and music are easily accessible through a variety of websites and by email.
Dozens of studies show conclusively that exposure to violent media results in an increase of aggressive verbal and physical behavior in children.
For some children, exposure to media violence leads to anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances including nightmares. For still other youth, exposure to violent media leads to criminal activity.
Certainly, other elements on the internet threaten our children.
Cyber bullies, hackers, and others seek to exploit and harm our children. However, the threat that presents, perhaps, the greatest potential for harm is the sexual predator.
Predators have turned to the internet for several reasons. One is that they can easily disguise their identity.
The internet provides offenders the opportunity to develop a sense of familiarity and trust with children. Sexual predators also know that parents rarely monitor or track a child’s activity online.
What can parents and others do to protect their children from internet dangers?
Become internet savvy. Learn about the many different ways children can communicate online.
Parents should know the basics of “chat” language. If you do not know the meanings of “asl”, “pos”, and “wtgp,” you need a crash course in chat lingo.
Consider these additional suggestions. Set rules to limit your child’s usage of the internet, especially the use of chat rooms, email, and personal websites such as MySpace, Xanga, and Facebook. Schedule internet times when an adult is available to supervise.
Talk with your children about the dangers of the internet.
Be specific, teaching them to limit the information they share with others on the web.
Spend time with your children online. Have them show you their favorite websites. Suggest sites you have found which are fun and safe.
Keep computers in common areas of your home, not in bedrooms or isolated locations.
Many experts are convinced that allowing teens to have computers with internet access in their bedrooms is the most serious mistake a parent can make.
Be nosy.
Ask your child about the sites they visited that day. Install filter and tracking software on your computer.
Find out what computer safeguards are utilized at your child’s school, the public library, and at the homes of your child’s friends.
Consider having your child commit to an internet pledge. Several samples are available online.
No responsible parent would dare allow a stranger to come into their home and visit privately with their child.
Nor would they allow their child to visit an adult bookstore and purchase pornographic material.
Responsible parents do not take their children to the mall to purchase violent games or music.
Some parents, however, are not protecting their children from these same threats online. The Lord expects us to protect our children.
Do everything you can to be vigilant and proactive in assuring your child’s safety on the web.
This article is reprinted from the March 27, 2008, issue of the Baptist Message, the newsjournal of the Louisiana Baptist Convention.
Further Learning
Learn more about: Family, Children, Parenting, Sexual Purity, Pornography