Internet Safety for Kids: What to Do When You Suspect Your Child Is a Victim

For today's parents, it sometimes feels like their children are more at risk online than out in the real world.
The increasing popularity of chat rooms, email, instant messaging and social networking means that children are spending more time in an unsupervised environment and less time with their families. It may provide small comfort to know that children who spend hours a day on the computer are talking to their friends and relatives, but this is often not the case.

Children frequently use their instant messaging, MySpace, and Facebook accounts to make contact with strangers under the pretense of becoming "online friends" - many of whom are not children at all.

Those who are communicating with classmates and peers are at a high risk of becoming the victims of cyber bullying, which has a unique appeal in the lack of face-to-face contact and the ability to pass pictures and videos around the internet.

It can be tricky to handle an unsafe internet situation and prevent cyber bullying. Many kids may try to hide their communication with strangers or their conversations with friends, and they often feel threatened when parents try to interfere with their computer use.
However, talking to your kids about the situation and your suspicions openly is the best way to lay the foundation for an environment of honesty and trust.
Address the matter firmly but gently, and be certain to let your kids know that you are neither angry with them nor are you trying to shelter them from meeting new people. Remember that your child's computer, while in your house and paid for by you, is actually yours - and you have every right to review your child's browser history and downloaded files. Look for suspicious materials and websites meant for adults. The best internet safety tips for kids, however, are to keep lines of communication open and to prevent online problems before they occur.
By recommending kid friendly sites, a social networking site for kid's ages 6-12, parents can keep their child's internet chat usage under control and be assured that their children are communicating only with friends and relatives.

Teaching your child responsible online behavior and encouraging them to spend more time with family and real friends is one of the best ways to prevent your child from becoming the victim of an online predator or cyber bully.