should you let your child talk to strangers on the NET?
601521
Depends on the age and how much you trust them, I would think.   Whatever they do, they need to be monitored and you need to set the expectation that you will be monitoring their activity and ask them about the people they are talking to.
553507
The first and most important thing you need to realize about the Internet is that you can find anything and anyone on the Internet that you can find in the real world.  The only difference is that in the Internet you have a greater deal of anonymity that you get in the real world.\n\nCan chat rooms be dangerous?  Most definitely.  Particularly channels that clearly are catering to younger children.  Pedophiles go where the kids are, and that is just as true on the Internet as in the "real world".\n\nDoes that mean you should avoid all chat channels? Not at all.  Just be aware of what you are doing and saying, and if you have small children, be sure to monitor their activity on the Internet.\n\nThere are several programs, as I recall, that allow parents to track what their children are seeing and doing while on-line.
801788
There are different ways to handle it. if you know a specific site, then you can add it as restricted site in the internet options of your browser. But it is not at all effective because someone can get to site which you don'y know and get from search engines.\n\nThe best solution is to get parental control software. there are many of them if you search in www.download.com.\n\nThe best one and probably the free one, it "Naomi internet filter". it is an excellent software to protect your kids against online unsafe content.\nGet it from: http://www.radiance.m6.net/\nHope it helps.\n\nJust as side note, not only software can  protect your kids but you also need to be watchful about internet habit. Also warn them about bad things in the internet.
671480
Myspace is just another avenue for today's youths to communicate with one another. Yes, it can be a problem, however, it is truly up to you as a parent to monitor what your child may or may not be doing on myspace. \n\nWe have all seen the news reports. It we did not have so many fast a$$ children trying to hook up with every tom dick and harry then myspace wouldn't be receiving all of the hype that it is getting now.
1158645
Monitor what they see on the internet until you feel they are old enough to be unsupervised.  Might be age 17  or 21 or 35.  Depends on your children.  Some children are very trustworthy and fairly mature and some are easily swayed by others.  \n\nDo not allow children to have their own computer in a private place.  It need to be in a public part of the house.  Like a livingroom, den or even the kitchen.  You dont have to sit next to them while they are on it... but they are not allowed to tab-out while on it (as when you walk by).\n\nAlso install blocks that are age appropriate.  \n\nAnd check the computer history of where they have been.
534272
They need to be supervised and educated on this by their parents. Being on the internet you have to be careful to not let people know who and where you are. I am an adult and I don't tell people who or where I am. Kids need to be taught the same thing. People on the internet are not your friends anyway. The internet just gives you access to other peoples ideas and businesses trying to make money. That's about it.
792130
its ok as long as she don't talk to weirdos i'm 13 with an email address my dad keeps a check on it regularly.  maybe you should do that buti think you should narrow it down to 1 email address hope i could help.\n\npinky
219059
It's like most of the rest of the internet:  it, itself isn't necessarily safe or unsafe.  it's how you use it.  Don't give out personal information or post photographs in places people can use to find you (like in front of your house).  Don't go meet strangers or invite them over.  Don't even give out your favorite email address if it has too much information in it (name of your school/business with your full name).\n\nIf you're asking whether or not it's safe for your kids, then the answer is "no."  Kids tend to be too trusting on the internet and feel safer than they really are.
498009
For those with children and a computer, here are some FACTS. With an estimated 24 million children now online, one out of five have been solicited for sex...and 75% of children would gladly give out their personal information for free stuff. One in four children online were sent pictures of either naked people, or people having sex, and an estimated 725,000 children have been AGRESSIVELY approached for sex. Now i leave it up to parents to decide whether or not doing something to protect their children is worthwhile.
390873
If you don't want your kids to become victims of online abuse, then you really should think about parental controls. Also, they can end up spending lots of money w/o the parental controls. Even if you trust your kids, there is still people out there that can take advantahe of your trust. (Check the latest news on online abuse).\nAt the end, it's up to you. Do you wanty to risk your kids?\nHaving parental controls will not limit your abilitu on internet. You can unlock at any time and off you go.
974354
By actually spending time with your children when they are online.  Otherwise don't have a computer in your house if you don't want to be a responsible parent.  It's not everyone elses job to raise your children.\n\nEDIT:  The only assurance from a legal/political perspective is by not going into chat rooms and not showing your online status to anyone other than family/friends.  Do not give out personal information.  Do not meet anyone in person from a chat room.  These all seem obvious but if they do not, consider not using a chat service until you feel mature and able enough to know inappropriate online behaviour.
831911
No. There are many software packages which advertise that they do that, but it is technically not possible to block everything.\n\nInstead, have your children use the internet responsibly, and don't let "it" alone keep them company, as you might do with tv for excample. The internet is not a child-friendly place.
663412
Only if you take the people you chat with seriously...allways remember the illusion of internet:you can be whoever you want to be(and lots of people do to escape their own lives)
124134
Dont talk to strangers on the net i knew a girl who did that and her parents now are overprotective and dont even let her on aim or anything which she can im
487688
Want some candy little girl? Be afraid, be very afraid in the chatroom. You never know who you are talking to. I would not let my children enter one.
955477
myspace has lots of security tools to make sure anyone underage is listed underage and also so you cast look at the page unless you have been added as a freind. I am only 19 and have no kids but if i was a parent with this problem i would just make my own myspace page and be added as my childs friend so i could see what she was posting, who shes talking to to , and who she adds. All you need to do is make sure to talk to her about online dangers and just watch and make sure shes safe.
1060511
you are absolutely right and there should be a separate page maybe you should email yahoo about it.predators are on the rise and you should never meet or call anyone you do not know. parents also should their job by monitoring what their children are doing on the net.THIS IS NOT INVADING YOUR PRIVACY\njust making sure their children are safe.