Teen Internet Safety

• Install software like "NET NANNY" to monitor internet traffic and to block unwanted traffic.

• Educate your children on the dangers of online networking. Make sure they understand anything they post online can be seen by "ANYONE"

• The biggest rule is to keep your identity private. Only release it to family and friends no one else should know your name online.

• networking sites do not ask for your private information online. Only by the email you give them. They NEVER ask for passwords. these are want to be hackers trying to steal your identity.

• Set ground rules for kids online, and make sure they know they can come to you with any suspect thing and you will not get mad at them but instead take care of the problem.

• If you are having trouble with a person and blocking them doesn't work delete the account and start a new one.

• While it feels good to be the "cool" remember what you don't know about your child can hurt them.

• All IM tools now keep track of conversations and as a parent you may be able to get a copy of this from the provider. They also store these conversations on your computer you just need to find it.

• Use passwords your children don't know or can't guess to keep your methods of protection active.

• Our kids know more about computers than us now a days. Take some computer classes or find someone that knows a lot and have them teach you more about computers so you don't end up in the dark on what your kids are doing.

• Check your child's myspace and other such pages to make sure they don't have inappropriate pictures displayed or personal information.

• Have all friend requests sent to your email so you can monitor them.

• Make sure profiles are set to private so only people on the friends list can view the page.

• Check the internet history, email trash, and computer recycling bin for files that your children may be hiding. most people forget to erase the history and recycling bin.

Adult Online Dating and Networking

     Its common in these times that people meet new people online either for dating or friendship. While this is common and an easy way to meet people it is very dangerous. sites can claim they
screen people but people can lie and sites are not able to do a background check. It is best for you to do it yourself if you are interested in a relationship outside of the internet. Either way it is very dangerous and you should follow some simple rules.
The internet is not all bad. Personally I was able to get back in touch with some old friends because of myspace. I have also done some online dating. Just be cautious of everyone you meet online you don't know who they are

• Never give you out your information. People can use it to come after you or steal your identity

• Never assume a person is who they say they are.

• Meeting outside is dangerous and should be avoided at all costs.

• If you do decide to meet meet in a public place until you feel safe with the person.

• consider doing a background check.( several web sites do background checks.)

• If you ever feel threatened call the police and have the people at the chat site pull your conversation for the police as evidence.

• If it sounds too good to be true it might be check the person out.

• Most scammers on chats right now are saying the live in the USA, but are "working" somewhere in the African region. Check they text for clues that they are foreign. They will not know common US
  terms and slang and will use bad grammar.

• If you think you have a scammer you can test them on things about the town they say they live in the US. Most will ask you for money and or to receive merchandise for them and you send it back
  to them. They are most likely buying stuff with stolen Identities and sending it to you so that it is not tracked back to them.

• Report scammers to the chat or dating site administrators. These people make them look bad and they will delete them
  right away. I have reported at least three so far.

• Don't send provocative pics to people online. You may end up on a porn site or you may encourage them to come see you.

• Use the same kind of rules you would set for your children. People prey on adults too.

The internet is a great place I use it myself for networking. Just be cautious. I have confirmed this information with some other teen internet safety site and they say the same thing I have included some of it in here also. I will find some more information on this subject and post it at a later date. In the mean time here are a few sponsored links to help keep you safe.

     This sponsored link will take you to a site to do background checks on people as well as search for family members and friends that you have lost touch with. This is a good place to do that background check on that person you are interest in on that dating site. It could Save your life.

     This Sponsored link is for Life lock I know you have heard of it. I personally use it and love it I get a credit report every quarter and they notify me of any unauthorized activity on my credit. they also insure you up to 1 million dollars if anything does happen that they don't stop.