Starting around age 7, some children begin using the Internet to communicate with their friends. This is the age at which they are exposed to the greatest dangers, such as meeting pedophiles online, which is also true for Quebec! Fortunately, there are ways to make sure your kids have a safe Internet environment.

Here are some points to consider and discuss with your children.

SAFETY

• Make sure your kids don’t give out their personal information (or yours) online. This includes name, address, phone number, photos and passwords.
• Use parental control software to block inappropriate content and manage your kids’ online experience. Visit Videotron's Web site to learn more about the free parental control software for Internet clients.
• Don’t give your children your password; that would defeat the purpose of the parental control.
• Don’t let your children send or post photos of themselves on the Internet without your permission and don’t let them use a webcam without supervision.

COMMUNICATION

• Discuss the Internet with your kids just as you discuss their day at school, their friends and their other activities.
• Have an open dialogue. Be non-judgemental in offering information, support and advice. Your children will be safer if they know they can talk to you.
• Set clear rules for your kids’ Internet use and consequences for breaking the rules. Draw up an online code of conduct, keep it in plain view, and discuss it regularly. Explain that you want to keep them safe, not prevent them from getting the most out of the Internet. Children need boundaries in order to feel secure and supported.
• Start talking about sexuality and warn them about the sexual content they may find on the Web. Explain that it is for adults only.
• Ask them to tell you if they see anything disturbing online or anything happens that bothers them, but don’t prevent them from continuing to use the Internet.

SUPERVISION

• Limit your children’s access to the Internet, especially after school if they are home alone.
• Keep the computer in a common area (family room, kitchen, living room, etc.) and place the screen so you can see it.
• Make sure there is always an adult around when your children are on the Internet and take an interest in their activities and hobbies. It’s a good idea to sit with them and browse the Web together sometimes.
• It is normal for your children to want to use a language and codes that you can’t understand (especially in chat rooms). Don’t fight it but make sure they don’t create a parallel universe on the Internet by inventing a fake identity or making up a different life.
• Keep an eye on your telephone and Internet bills to make sure your children are not making transactions accidentally or without your approval.

CONTACTS

• Know who your kids are talking to and ask them if they know everyone on their contact list. Know their friends and their friends’ parents. Keep an eye on their chats.
• As a rule, don’t let your kids talk on the phone with strangers they met on the Internet and don’t let them meet online acquaintances in real life. If there is a compelling reason to do so, make sure there is a responsible adult present.

HONESTY

• Explain to your kids that it is easy to lie on the Internet and that people don’t always tell the truth about themselves.
• Make sure your children treat other Internet users with respect when they go online. Warn them about cyberbullying, which is a growing problem