Home
>
Parenting
>
Cyber Parenting 101

Cyber Parenting 101

Many parental units are not "techies" and openly admit they are not. They seem to use that as an excuse to not be informed and "trust" their children to do what is right in an environment that is clearly risky. When it comes to underage children being online, there should be a set of household rules that are in place and followed or no online connections are allowed.

Parenting:

n: The rearing of a child or children, especially the care, love, and guidance given by a parent. One who begets, gives birth to, or nurtures and raises a child.

Nothing there about "except when they are online." ;-) Here are my suggestions for technochallenged parental units:

1. Keep your computer in an open place such as the family room or rec room. No negotiation here! Online activities are only allowed in this public area - when you are home. Allow a computer connected to the Internet behind a teenager's closed bedroom door and you are asking for trouble!

2. Keep your computer and online connection password protected. Use passwords that cannot be guessed by ingenious teenagers. This way, if you are preoccupied or not home, online access is not possible. Change your password on a regular basis when they are not around. Better safe than sorry.

3. Advise your children that they are not to give out their full name, address, city, state, phone to ANYONE. Those who they know in their off-line world get this info through traditional means. No reason whatsoever to give out this type of personally identifiable information online to anyone without your knowledge and supervision.

4. Learn as much as you can about the Internet, how it really works including how to use your computer and browser so that you are aware of the potential problems your kids can run into. (After they are online, use the drop down bar in your browser's location bar to get a hint of what they have been up to.)

5. Be sure to install any one of the many filtering software packages that help prevent your children from being exposed to topics that would make you cringe. Such as:

CyberSitter: www.CyberSitter.com
NetNanny: www.netnanny.com
CyberPatrol: www.cyberpatrol.com

Software is only a tool - not a replacement for your involvement. Here are several of the many publications I have reviewed and offer on one of my other sites (http://www.TechnoChallenged.com) to get you up to speed:

Dummies Series "Internet for Dummies"
CliffsNotes Fast Guides: "Getting on the Internet"
Computer Basics/2 Panel Laminated Tutorial

Use promo code "eArticle" and get 10% off your order at checkout! ;-)

You hear stories in the news all the time about police stings, pedophiles making contact with children or wacky teenagers running away to hook up with their newly discovered online love. We all know that as teenagers we didn't know squat in regard to communicating with strangers or what "love" is. Heck, I thought I was in love with Bobby Sherman! Just dated myself didn't I?

Your child's life experience simply is not in place yet to make mature decisions. That's part of life and your children need you to be their guide as they use technology. Watching over your children's online sessions is not an invasion of privacy. In my not so humble opinion, off-spring do not have privacy until they are 18 and move out! (Or is that around 30 now-a-days?) ;-)

Online monitoring is a sign of a caring parent who is involved in the activities and information their children will be exposed to online. Yes, it may be frustrating and require parents to learn some new things along the way. A computer with an online connection is not a babysitter or because we didn't have computers as children an excuse to not be involved.

Learn, get involved and be part of your children's online experiences. Look at it as another activity you can share together!

About the Author:
Judith Kallos is an authoritative and good-humored Technology Muse who has played @ http://www.theistudio.com for over a decade. Check out her popular Technology Cheat Sheets @: http://www.theistudio.com

personalized cleaning services Des Plaines ..

In The News:

Petco disclosed a data breach exposing customer Social Security numbers, financial account details, and driver's license information due to a software error.

Baseball teams can now analyze complete swing mechanics in normal training environments using Theia's markerless AI system that processes standard high-speed footage.

Smart home hacking fears overblown? Expert reveals real cybersecurity risks and simple protection tips to keep your connected devices safe from hackers.

MIT develops needle-free glucose monitor using light technology. Revolutionary device could replace painful finger pricks for diabetes management.

The ClickFix campaign disguises malware as legitimate Windows updates, using steganography to hide shellcode in PNG files and bypass security detection systems.

Researchers from Osaka Metropolitan University designed a 21-foot dome that combines aquaculture and hydroponics to create a self-sustaining urban food system.

The Fox News AI Newsletter gives readers the latest AI technology advancements, covering the challenges and opportunities AI presents.

ChatGPT data breach exposes personal info of users through partner Mixpanel. OpenAI confirms names, emails compromised in security incident.

Android rolls out Emergency Live Video for 911 calls, letting dispatchers see real-time scenes during emergencies. Great for holiday travel safety.

Malicious Chrome and Edge extensions collected browsing history, keystrokes and personal data from millions of users before Google and Microsoft removed them.

Google's new Call Reason feature lets Android users mark calls as urgent before dialing, displaying an urgent label to recipients using Phone by Google app.

Medical history made as surgeons successfully restore sight to legally blind patient using world's first 3D printed corneal implant grown from human cells.

Data brokers aggressively collect your holiday shopping data to fuel scams and targeted ads. Learn how to delete your digital profile before 2025 starts.

Scammers are sending fake MetaMask wallet verification emails using official branding to steal crypto information through phishing links and fraudulent domains.

Learn what background permissions, push notifications, security updates, auto-join networks and app refresh mean to better manage your phone's privacy settings.

Criminals test stolen data by applying for deposit accounts in victims' names to prepare bigger attacks. Learn why banks won't share fraud details.

New study of 10,500+ kids reveals early smartphone ownership linked to depression, obesity, and poor sleep by age 12. Earlier phones mean higher risks.

A phone phishing attack compromised Harvard's alumni and donor database, marking the second security incident at the university in recent months.

AutoFlight's zero-carbon floating vertiport uses solar power to charge eVTOL aircraft while supporting emergency response, tourism, and marine energy maintenance.

A new phone return scam targets recent buyers with fake carrier calls. Learn how criminals steal devices and steps to protect yourself from this fraud.

New Anthropic research reveals how AI reward hacking leads to dangerous behaviors, including models giving harmful advice like drinking bleach to users seeking help.

The Fox News AI Newsletter gives readers the latest AI technology advancements, covering the challenges and opportunities AI presents.

Holiday email scams, including non-delivery fraud and gift card schemes, spike in November and December, costing victims hundreds of millions, the FBI says.

Holiday visits offer the perfect opportunity to help older parents with technology updates, scam protection and basic troubleshooting skills for safer digital experiences.

Swiss scientists create grain-sized robot that surgeons control with magnets to deliver medicine precisely through blood vessels in medical breakthrough.