14 Internet Safety Tips

There may be a screen between your family and the online world, but that doesn't mean everyone is protected. Make sure the kids are safe and secure online with these 14 Internet Safety Tips.

Since parents are usually the last to know about the ‘next big thing' online, tune in when your kids turn on (the computer). Ask who they are chatting with, playing with and interacting with online. If you haven't heard of Tumblr, Foursquare, 4chan (definitely not for kids), Rookie, Spotify and Games With Friends, chances are your kids have.

Since you can barely remember your own login names and passwords for a multitude of sites, it's tempting to keep your kids' simple—especially for programs you feel are ‘safe.' Don't. A little gender-neutral anonymity goes a long way in keeping little kids secure.

Kids know some things are private. Reinforce the rule that no one but mom and dad should ever know their private online password(s). Don't make it easy to figure them out either. Use a mix of letters, numbers and/or symbols.

They may be too young to access any virtual reality games online, but to a five year old, anything online seems virtually real. Including the notion that little monsters need love, and hungry zombies can be defeated by plant life. Take time to explain that everything they see online isn't necessarily true, accurate or realistic.

You spent hours decorating the home office in your newly finished basement, but upstairs, among responsible and innately curious adults is where your computer should find its final resting place. Keep your screens in high traffic family areas.

Our kids are polite and respectful citizens in the outside world. Then they get home and harangue their siblings to no end. The anonymous online world can seem like a safe place to experiment with different personalities, too. Remind them that manners matter, whatever universe they are in.

Mothers have long memories—very, very long. The only thing to outlast us? The internet. Remind kids that comments, photos, uploads, etc. can all be cached online for eternity (or something like that). So decide on family rules for social sharing and teach them to be smart—and selective—about what, if anything, they post on sites.

You've role-played a stranger in a car offering them candy, a puppy, a DS. You have a ‘safe' word that only your family knows. But in the online world (like in real life) kids can get easily confused or duped by someone who seems trustworthy. Reinforce that they are never to give out private information about where they live, attend school or play sports (this applied to Facebook profiles). They should share with you if they feel uncomfortable with any conversation they are having online.

You know them as the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii or Windows 7 PC. We know them as modern babysitters (on occasion.) But if we're not able to be with the kids the entire time, it's good to know these consoles and others like them can usually be easily programmed to prevent playing games beyond a specific age rating. Almost as good? Automatic timer functions that shut off the gaming after a selected time frame.

Our kids find it hard to take us seriously about getting offline—since we're constantly online ourselves. Instead of encouraging them to instead ‘play with their toys,' ‘read a book,' ‘amuse the dog'—so you can scan your email—disconnect from your online activities and reinforce the connection you have with your amazing kids.

Kids, they grow up so fast. As does their ability to outwit us in all things online. Know when to outsource. Products like Netnanny allow you to block and/or approve sites, keywords and browsing habits. Easy setup (though it will require you to approve or disapprove of content on an ongoing basis) and easy access from any computer with a connection means you won't be outplayed for long.

Kytephone (for Android phone users only) acts as a parental-control program for your phone. You know, the one you let kids play with while waiting for the dentist and then your calendar completely disappears? Offering dozens of ways to make your phone a kid-friendly interface while limiting access to certain apps and other phone options, it also turns your phone into a mobile GPS allowing you to track your child's location when they are in the care of others.

It's not all a big bad world out there in the online universe. Think of the benefits—Skype, Facetime, PhotoBooth, YouTube videos of a sneezing baby panda (146 million views and counting), not to mention reviewing great sport plays and learning about other cultures. Don't just give them fear about the fallout of poor online choices, focus on the benefits of bringing the world together.

Moms worry about everything. It's in our DNA. So when we heard about a social media site that serves to reduce a mother's stress, we got curious. hashtagmom.com uses automatic FourSquare (a site for older teens and up) check-ins to send a text to mom or dad letting them know their child has arrived safely at a destination. Sure, a real phone call would be nice but as an alternative to being totally out of the loop, an automated text isn't half bad.