Privacy and Kids – Do you feel safe?

by Steve Ragan - Jul 23 2008, 11:33

A pair of recent reports, one from Consumer Policy Solutions and another from COX Communications and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, highlight a common thread; privacy is huge online and parents are taking more of a role regarding their online habits of their kids, but the kids have a lot to learn.

Regarding privacy online and your kids, do you feel safe? (IMG:J.Anderson)

Consumer Policy Solutions released a survey highlighting privacy and safety concerns among Internet consumers. The survey of 1035 adults examined online perceptions and behaviors, as well as online safety practices and perceptions of 260 pairs of parents and their teenage children in the same household.The results revealed that 95 percent feel that Internet safety is very important while just under 60 percent of the wired adults feel they do not have enough or no privacy at all online. Add kids to the mix, and Consumer Policy Solutions reported that 52 percent of parents say they currently, or have in the recent past, sat alongside their teenager whenever they are online to monitor activity, while only 33 percent of teenage users say their parents have, or do, sit alongside them while online.The annual COX Communications survey found that teens are wired, and have been since an early age. The COX survey showed that 90 percent of tweens (aged between 8-12) report having used the Internet by nine years-old, while 34 percent of 11 and 12 year-olds have a profile on a social networking site. Regarding personal contacts, 28 percent of tweens have been contacted over the Internet by someone they don’t know. And, of that number, 18 percent admitted to keeping the contact messages to themselves, and 11 percent have chatted with the unknown person. Finally, one-in-five tweens have posted information about themselves online, including pictures, their hometown, and age.To a parent, these numbers may not appear to be too alarming, yet they show a need to continue teaching children. Specifically, you do not need to watch over them twenty-four hours a day online; however, talking with them and getting them to tell you what they are doing can go a long way. Kids are a lot smarter than they are given credit for, and often those who are guided but not restricted tend to be more open when talking about what they do online (I say this speaking from personal experience as a father of a tween myself).“Our first line of defense in keeping kids safe is parents and guardians, and most parents seem to be taking this responsibility seriously,” said John Walsh, host of “America's Most Wanted” on the FOX network. “Seventy-three percent of the tweens who participated in our survey indicated that Mom and Dad had talked to them ‘a lot’ about Internet safety. The remaining twenty-seven percent represents too many kids to leave unprotected when there are people out there who have the compulsion to commit horrible acts. Each child with Internet access must learn as much about safety as possible. The stakes are just too high,” he said.And Walsh appears to be right; this is a large number to be excluded. Yet, once again, it's worth bearing in mind that children are smart, and when it comes to the Internet they are far smarter than most parents think. Give them some credit and make the process painless. Ask them what they like to do online, and even if you understand it, get them to explain it and show you. Be blunt, ask them about the risks online, and let them tell you what the dangers are. You will be surprised as to how candid they can be.

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Mirit ReifJul 27th, 2008 - 11:06:04

I cannot agree more, as the mother of a tween myself i am always on guard as to what my child is doing online. I even have my own facebook account so I can monitor her! It is very very important for adults to educate their children regarding safe behavior online. Since it has become a popular pastime for kids they should know how to play safe, just as they should know the rules of crossing the street and not talking to strangers. In the online world there are virtual crossroads but the strangers are still lurking out there and they can be even more dangerous- never underestimate the dangers!

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