How can I protect my daughter from internet predators?

Question

How can I protect my daughter from internet predators?

Answer 1

do u know what we feel when you scared parents restrict us?its like uhh...i dunno.......usa is big ...ive been a kid too, now im 14 and i have friends from all over the world. i agree thare are bad ppl....just dont tell the adress.......usa cities are big so if you give a pic and a your name or nick nothing will happen.its cool to have friends from other countries , you may find very good people ... i bet if you were born like us in this days you would to the same thing: lie about your age, chat , party loud with your friends, do stupid thing...thats childhood, thats fun !

Answer 2

Just explain to her not to put personal info out.

Answer 3

the computer parent coltrol software I suggested in another one fo your questions will help with this also. Remind your daughter that people aren't always who they say they are on the computer and there are bad people out there who will pretend to be someone else to trick girls into meeting them and talking to them and then they hurt them.

Answer 4

Keep the computer in a public area, not in her bedroom.  Keep parental controls in place on the computer and be interested (but not nosy) in what she's doing.

Make the rules clear:

No chat rooms.

No trading photos, phone #'s or anything of that nature

No giving out information about the area you live in.  (If they ask A/S/L, you allow them your name, but nothing else.)

If she has a Facebook/Myspace account - tell her you WILL be monitoring what she has on the page, and keep to your word.

If she can't abide by the rules, she can't use the computer.

Answer 5

4get it we kidz no watz rite

Answer 6

Make sure you know what she's doing when she uses the Internet.  Also make sure she's educated on what kind of information you should NOT give out on the Internet.  No personal information like real name, location, age, telephone numbers or address.  If you give someone just your name and where you live they can find you.  Make sure she understands that people on the Internet should never be taken at face value.  15/F in California could really be 47/M Oklahoma and she would never know.  You only know what people tell you on the Internet.

Lastly, make sure she knows to NEVER agree to meet an Internet friend in real life.  Predators know what to say to kids to make them feel secure and make it seem safe for them to meet.  She should know that it's never ever safe to meet with someone you only know online.

Answer 7

there's software to protect your children from things like this...if i we're you i would constrict certain things on the internet that would entitle your children to get into chat rooms...other places like that where predators are lerking for  young children.

Answer 8

for things like instant messenger and myspace i gave my daughters user names so that it would be very difficult for someone to approach them....i dont restrict their access but i am a friend (a requirement to access the forum) on any forum they visit (really only myspace)....this allows me to monitor who they are talking to and how they are talking (oh yeah, already had to have the talk about the bad language and also messaged their friends that use bad language to stop or be deleted as a friend....my computer, my house ~ my discretion)....there are lots of things you can do, most of which will be successful but in the end if you have a good relationship with her (i know, 12 is a tough age....wait til she's 16 like mine are) then you will be fine....our daughters are a lot smarter than we sometimes give them credit for and over all as much as they push the boundaries we set for them they will use better judgment and do the right thing....maybe not always but for the most part

Answer 9

Use software to restrict her access.  Keep her out of chat rooms completely.  If she's allowed to use an Instant Messenger, make sure she's talking to people that she knows from school etc.  Never strangers...  

Keep the computer out of her bedroom... ~

Answer 10

Have the soft-ware that restricts her access and DO NOT let her have a computer in her room. Keep the computer in a common area where you can see it.