Child Safety on the Information Highway

+ The Internet, a global "network of networks," is not governed by any
entity.  This leaves no limits or checks on the kind of information that is
maintained by and accessible to Internet users.
 

THE BENEFITS OF THE INFORMATION HIGHWAY

The vast array of services that you currently find online is constantly
growing.  Reference information such as news, weather, sports, stock
quotes, movie reviews, encyclopedias, and airline fares are readily
available online.  Users can conduct transactions such as trading stocks,
making travel reservations, banking, and shopping online.  Millions of
people communicate through electronic mail (E-mail) with family and
friends around the world and others use the public message boards to make
new friends who share common interests.  As an educational and
entertainment tool users can learn about virtually any topic, take a
college course, or play an endless number of computer games with other
users or against the computer itself.  User "computing" is enhanced by
accessing online thousands of shareware and free public domain software
titles.

Most people who use online services have mainly positive experiences.
But, like any endeavor -- traveling, cooking, or attending school -- there
are some risks.  The online world, like the rest of society, is made up of
a wide array of people.  Most are decent and respectful, but some may be
rude, obnoxious, insulting, or even mean and exploitative.

Children and teenagers get a lot of benefit from being online, but they
can also be targets of crime and exploitation in this as in any other
environment.  Trusting, curious, and anxious to explore this new world and
the relationships it brings, children and teenagers need parental
supervision and common sense advice on how to be sure that their
experiences in "cyberspace" are happy, healthy, and productive.
 

PUTTING THE ISSUE IN PERSPECTIVE

Although there have been some highly publicized cases of abuse involving
computers, reported cases are relatively infrequent.  Of course, like most
crimes against children, many cases go unreported, especially if the child
is engaged in an activity that he or she does not want to discuss with a
parent.  The fact that crimes are being committed online, however, is not
a reason to avoid using these services.  To tell children to stop using
these services would be like telling them to forgo attending college
because students are sometimes victimized on campus.  A better strategy
would be for children to learn how to be "street smart" in order to better
safeguard themselves in any potentially dangerous situation.
 

WHAT ARE THE RISKS?

There are a few risks for children who use online services.  Teenagers are
particularly at risk because they often use the computer unsupervised and
because they are more likely than younger children to participate in
online discussions regarding companionship, relationships, or sexual
activity.  Some risks are:

Exposure to Inappropriate Material
   One risk is that a child may be exposed to inappropriate material
   of a sexual or violent nature.

Physical Molestation
   Another risk is that, while online, a child might provide
   information or arrange an encounter that could risk his or her
   safety or the safety of other family members. In a few cases,
   pedophiles have used online services and bulletin boards to gain a
   child's confidence and then arrange a face-to-face meeting.

Harassment
   A third risk is that a child might encounter E-mail or bulletin
   board messages that are harassing, demeaning, or belligerent.
 

HOW PARENTS CAN REDUCE THE RISKS

To help restrict your child's access to discussions, forums, or bulletin
boards that contain inappropriate material, whether textual or graphic,
many of the commercial online services and some private bulletin boards
have systems in place for parents to block out parts of the service they
feel are inappropriate for their children.  If you are concerned, you
should contact the service via telephone or E-mail to find out how you can
add these restrictions to any accounts that your children can access.

The Internet and some private bulletin boards contain areas designed
specifically for adults who wish to post, view, or read sexually explicit
material.  Most private bulletin board operators who post such material
limit access to people who attest that they are adults but, like any other
safeguards, be aware that there are always going to be cases where adults
fail to enforce them or children find ways around them.

The best way to assure that your children are having positive online
experiences is to stay in touch with what they are doing.  One way to do
this is to spend time with your children while they're online.  Have them
show you what they do and ask them to teach you how to access the
services.

While children and teenagers need a certain amount of privacy, they also
need parental involvement and supervision in their daily lives.  The same
general parenting skills that apply to the "real world" also apply while
online.

If you have cause for concern about your children's online activities,
talk to them.  Also seek out the advice and counsel of other computer
users in your area and become familiar with literature on these systems.
Open communication with your children, utilization of such computer
resources, and getting online yourself will help you obtain the full
benefits of these systems and alert you to any potential problem that may
occur with their use.
 

GUIDELINES FOR PARENTS

By taking responsibility for your children's online computer use, parents
can greatly minimize any potential risks of being online.  Make it a
family rule to:

+ Never give out identifying information -- home address, school name, or
telephone number -- in a public message such as chat or bulletin boards,
and be sure you're dealing with someone that both you and your child know
and trust before giving it out via E mail.  Think carefully before
revealing any personal information such as age, marital status, or
financial information.  Consider using a pseudonym or unlisting your
child's name if your service allows it.

+ Get to know the services your child uses.  If you don't know how to log
on, get your child to show you.  Find out what types of information it
offers and whether there are ways for parents to block out objectionable
material.

+ Never allow a child to arrange a face-to-face meeting with another
computer user without parental permission.  If a meeting is arranged, make
the first one in a public spot, and be sure to accompany your child.

+ Never respond to messages or bulletin board items that are suggestive,
obscene, belligerent, threatening, or make you feel uncomfortable.
Encourage your children to tell you if they encounters such messages.  If
you or your child receives a message that is harassing, of a sexual
nature, or threatening, forward a copy of the message to your service
provider and ask for their assistance.

Should you become aware of the transmission, use, or viewing of child
pornography while online, immediately report this to the National Center
for Missing and Exploited Children by calling 1-800-843-5678.  You should
also notify your online service.

+ Remember that people online may not be who they seem.  Because you can't
see or even hear the person it would be easy for someone to misrepresent
him- or herself.  Thus, someone indicating that "she" is a "12-year-old
girl" could in reality be a 40-year-old man.

+ Remember that everything you read online may not be true.  Any offer
that's "too good to be true" probably is.  Be very careful about any
offers that involve your coming to a meeting or having someone visit your
house.

+ Set reasonable rules and guidelines for computer use by your children
(see "My Rules for Online Safety" on last page as sample).  Discuss these
rules and post them near the computer as a reminder.  Remember to monitor
their compliance with these rules, especially when it comes to the amount
of time your children spend on the computer.  A child or teenager's
excessive use of online services or bulletin boards, especially late at
night, may be a clue that there is a potential problem.  Remember that
personal computers and online services should not be used as electronic
babysitters.

Be sure to make this a family activity.  Consider keeping the computer in
a family room rather than the child's bedroom.  Get to know their "online
friends" just as you get to know all of their other friends.
 

MY RULES FOR ONLINE SAFETY

+ I will not give out personal information such as my address, telephone
number, parents' work address/telephone number, or the name and location
of my school without my parents' permission.

+ I will tell my parents right away if I come across any information that
makes me feel uncomfortable.

+ I will never agree to get together with someone I "meet" online without
first checking with my parents.  If my parents agree to the meeting, I
will be sure that it is in a public place and bring my mother or father
along.

+ I will never send a person my picture or anything else without first
checking with my parents.

+ I will not respond to any messages that are mean or in any way make me
feel uncomfortable.  It is not my fault if I get a message like that.  If
I do I will tell my parents right away so that they can contact the online
service.

+ I will talk with my parents so that we can set up rules for going
online.  We will decide upon the time of day that I can be online, the
length of time I can be online, and appropriate areas for me to visit.  I
will not access other areas or break these rules without their permission.
 

For further information on child safety, please call the National Center
for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678).

This brochure was written by Lawrence J. Magid, a syndicated columnist
for the "Los Angeles Times,' who is author of "Cruising Online: Larry
Magid's Guide to the New Digital Highway" (Random House, 1994) and "The
Little PC Book" (Peachpit Press, 1993).

"Child Safety on the Information Highway" was jointly produced by the
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the Interactive
Services Association (8403 Colesville Road, Suite 865, Silver Spring, MD
20910).

This brochure was made possible by the generous sponsorship of:

        America Online
        CompuServe
        Delphi Internet
        eWorld
        GEnie
        Interchange Online Network
        Prodigy Service
 

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) is funded
under Cooperative Agreement #92-MC-CX-K001 from the Office of Juvenile
Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Office of Justice Programs, U.S.
Department of Justice.  Points of view or opinions in this brochure are
those of NCMEC and do not necessarily represent the official position or
policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.

(© 1994 by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, 
2101 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 550, Arlington, Virginia 22201-3052)