The Internet is an amazing invention. It is an attractive and fun new way of providing
information, dazzling pictures and incredible opportunities for learning. Most children at
some stage will have some sort of contact with the Internet. Many parents can feel they
are being left behind or are out of their depth compared to their children in grappling
with the Internet. As with other areas of children's lives, parents have a responsibility
to provide guidance and to set clear limits. Parents should know what their children
access on the Internet.
Parental control software
OVERVIEW
- It is parents and caregivers who need to control what their children access and yet many
parents have either few or no avenues for finding out about how the Internet works nor the
skills to find their way around it successfully.
- The Internet can have a different effect on children at different ages and stages of
development.
- The 'cyber' world means the use of information technology (computers) to communicate,
get information and play games.
- Children view the Internet as an entertaining and exciting new 'cyber' world. However,
some parents and children's groups are concerned at the ease with which children can find
unsuitable material on-line.
- On the Internet there is no system of classification or age restriction as there is with
other media such as films and television.
- Most schools have information technology rules that protect children.
- Supervision is the most effective policy. In the home, however, parents can't always
supervise every second their child is on-line.
WHAT IS THE INTERNET?
The Internet:
- is a massive network of computers from around the world all connected by cable and
satellite.
- enables you to receive text, images, video and sound through your computer when you're
'logged on'.
It's a bit like a telephone with pictures. Being on the Internet is called being
on-line whilst playing on the Internet or hunting for information is called 'surfing' the
net. Just as there is a book or magazine on nearly every subject in your local library,
bookshop or newsagent, so is there information on virtually every subject on the Internet.
In 1997 there were about 200 million Internet users worldwide and this number is doubling
each year
THE MAIN FEATURES OF THE INTERNET
Chat lines
On a chat line one person can talk (by typing text) to another or to a group of people.
It's like being in a building with hundreds of rooms; you can choose a room by a topic or
location and have an open discussion with the people in that room. The people you chat to
are from all around the world and should be classed as strangers. Some chat rooms are
monitored, which makes sure decent language and conduct are maintained.
Chat lines are very popular with children and young adults.
On-line video
On-line video means that you can view activities in other places as they happen. For
example, you can see what is happening in Times Square in New York and on the NASA site
you can view space shuttle activity.
On-line video chat is like a chat line but with pictures and voice. A small personal
video camera is attached to the computer. These cameras make it possible to see the person
you are talking to.
E-mail
E-mail is an electronic form of sending a letter or document to another person.
It is sent very quickly and is cheap. The e-mail system is very widely used.
World Wide Web
The World Wide Web is a massive collection of pages of information, pictures and games
that can be accessed by any computer that is on-line.
Most pages on the Web contain links and these links connect you to more pages or other
Internet sites. When you are looking around the Web you are surfing.
Newsgroups
Newsgroups are an electronic bulletin board, accessed by using a similar screen to the
e-mail screen; people join news groups of common interest and share ideas and resources on
the chosen topic.
Some newsgroups are monitored and stick tightly to the topic, whilst others are not and
contain adult conversation and may be used by paedophiles.
Interactivity
Simple multimedia programs can be a one-way experience just like reading a book.
Interactivity is like a two-way conversation with the computer.
Introducing an interactive element:
- allows users to become involved by choosing aspects they want to see just by the click
of a mouse
- has the computer 'asking' users questions which they can then answer.
As a result, the computer comes to life with pictures, music and sound effects.
The Internet uses multimedia and interactivity extensively.
BLOCKING SOFTWARE
Software is the name for the programs that you use for your computer. For example, the
browser that runs the world wide web is software.
Blocking software:
- allows parents to control the information that is accessed by children whilst on the
Internet
- can block harmful violent material, sexually explicit material and chat lines
- is inexpensive and available from most computer suppliers or straight from the
provider's sites.
This is the most popular parental control software
BENEFITS OF THE INTERNET
The Internet can provide children and adults alike with a world of exciting
opportunities. It offers:
- educational games and programs
- research information for school projects and business
- the opportunity to communicate with people from all around the world
- the opportunity to share resources and ideas with people that have the same interests
- shopping around the world without leaving your computer!
ON-LINE DANGERS
Because there are no regulations or controls on the material that is placed on the
Internet, there are many things on-line that are not suitable for children or that are
cause for concern. Here are some examples.
- Adult information and graphic pictures/videos.
- People may pretend to be someone they are not. Is the 12 year old on the chat line
really who he says he is?
- A child may provide personal information to strangers or arrange to meet new friends
they have made on the Internet without really knowing who they are.
- Advertising, with bright colourful images puts on pressure to purchase goods on-line.
- Harassment by e-mail.
- Violent and disturbing images including such things as crash scenes and even mortuary
sites.
- On-line gambling - a credit card number is all it takes for someone to be
play.
- Incorrect and inaccurate information.
- The Internet can become addictive.
- Using credit cards to purchase goods and services on the Internet may not always be
safe.
- The search engines on the Internet provide access to many sites on a given topic. Some
of these sites contain information and/or images that could be harmful to children even
when they are searching for ordinary everyday topics.
PARENTAL CONCERN
While there are over 3 million perfectly safe children's sites on the net, children can
unexpectedly come across material of a sexual or violent nature, language that is rude and
the selling of children's products. Quite innocently you can bring up sites that do not
relate to the topic you are looking for, or someone can send you images or messages that
are not appropriate.
Research has shown that violence in most forms of screen media - films, videos,
television, computer games and the Internet - can have a negative effect on children,
particularly young children.
Children exposed to a steady diet of violent media, including the Internet are at risk
in three ways:
- learning aggressive behaviour
- becoming desensitised to others being hurt
- becoming fearful of their everyday world.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Learn more about the Internet (local libraries sometimes have free courses).
Become comfortable with the technology (you don't have to become an expert) have
a bit of practice.
Pay attention to what your children are doing. Keep track of what is going on by
checking 'Bookmarks', 'Favourites' or 'History' (accessible via the icons on the menu
bar).
Check the sites your children might be revisiting. 'Options' or 'Preference' or
'History' menus and icons can provide a list of recently visited sites.
Help children of all ages to be critical viewers, to understand and talk about what they
view and what it means. This is one of the best ways of reducing the risk of hurt to
children.
Again, teach children, even from a very young age, to be critical. Help them to
understand how advertising works. This is an effective way to reduce the impact on the
whole family.
Teach your children never to give others their name, the names of their friends, or fill
in questionnaires.
The computer that is on-line should be in a family area, not behind closed doors.
If a child or young adult wishes to meet new on-line 'friends' in person, supervise the
meeting to ensure that they are who they say they are.
Encourage children to only use monitored chat lines designed for their own age group and
to be themselves when on-line.
Talk to your children's school about their on-line policy - one the parents can also put
into practice at home.
Encourage a careful approach to 'information' found on the Internet. Information on the
Internet comes from many sources and not all is reliable.
Children should never send images of themselves over the net as they may be used for
other purposes.
Select a reliable service provider and discuss children's on-line safety with them.
Encourage children to use chat groups or news-groups or send e-mail messages only with
your permission and under your supervision.
Block objectionable material by using 'blocking software'.
Never respond to messages or bulletin board items that are suggestive, obscene, or
threatening.
Encourage your children to report such experiences to you and try to discuss these
matters calmly with your child.
Forward a copy of any such messages to your service provider and ask for assistance.
Don't let your children engage in on-line shopping.
As the Internet can be addictive always set a time limit (about one hour) and encourage
other activities. Remember to enjoy the great outdoors.
Note
: In Australia if you become aware of any child pornography on-line, note any
relevant details and report the matter to the Children's Commission, telephone: 1800 688
275 or Crime Stoppers, telephone: 1800 333 000. Both are free calls.
BECOMING 'HOOKED'
Often children can become 'hooked' into the fast moving world of the Internet and the
computer games they can access - and there are LOTS of games on the Internet! Excessive
exposure to games can lead to a number of problems - such as poor eating habits, not
mixing with others, poor communication, trouble with school work and paying attention in
class.
Some signs to look out for are:
- cutting back on the time they are outside, being with friends, playing sports and doing
other social
- activities
- becoming withdrawn or difficult
- eating their meals in front of the computer; staying up late to finish off a game;
missing out on school, homework or other responsibilities
- talking all the time about games, their computer and being on-line while losing interest
in other hobbies
- copying karate moves and fantasising about computer characters
- becoming upset and irrational when asked to turn the computer off; becoming aggressive
or withdrawn.
