How to Discuss Internet Safety with Your Teen

As the parent of a teen, you should already have had the talk with them about internet safety. However, if you have not had that talk, you should be sure to do so as soon as possible. Your teen is probably already spending a lot of time on the internet emailing friends, participating in social networks and doing research assignments for school. With all that is available for access on the internet it is imperative that your children and teenagers know also can pose some dangers.

If you are not sure exactly how to approach your child or teenagers about internet safety, this is quite understandable. Teenagers especially can become somewhat defensive about the subject, but you should not let this deter you from your mission.

Choosing just the right time to have the internet safety discussion with your teenagers is important. The approach to the subject is just as important, as if you start in ranting your teen could tend to immediately tune you out, or it could lead to an all out argument. When choosing the right time and speaking with your team in a calm, rational manner, you may have less chance of them ignoring you or just plain defying you.

It may be best if you opt speaking with your teenager about internet safety after they have finished on the computer. You could then easily simply question them of their knowledge of the dangers that the internet poses. This will make you sound less overbearing and protective to them, while helping you to ensure that they are utilizing the internet safely.

Do no assume that your child or teenager already has knowledge of internet dangers. Even in the event that you approach the subject and they interrupt to say that they already know, do not stop talking. You should then emphasize your main points and set up some internet use guidelines for your children and teenagers to follow in the name of safety. It is especially important that you not stop talking to them about internet safety even if they say they know, because typically teenagers think they know everything already, when in actuality they haven't a clue. Sure you children may know of the existence of internet predators, but do they really have a clue as to how slick and dangerous these individuals can be. For example, they make a new friend on MySpace they think is their age and everything when in reality it is a predator.

Teenagers really seem to be attracted to the social networks, such as MySpace. They should be informed that anyone can hide behind a computer and pretend to be something or someone they are not in order to get whatever information they can to make them their next victim. You should be sure that your children and teens do not post any person information or pictures on any social network profile.

There are also other avenues that teenagers especially enjoy networking on besides the social network websites. These would be the internet chat rooms. This is not instant messaging, such as MSN or AOL, as these tend to be safer than chat rooms. Instant messaging does not randomly place people into chat rooms with strangers as the internet chat rooms do. Again your child or teen should know that anyone can hide within a chat room and make you think they are someone they are not just to gain their confidence. Your child should be aware of this and encouraged to steer clear of these internet chat rooms. Notify your child or teen that they can always let you know if they run across someone on the internet that is making them feel uncomfortable in any way, or if the conversation steers toward sexual matters.

Several websites such as WorkPress.com and Blogger.com provide a means for individuals to start their own blogs for free. Often teenagers especially use this type of forum as a way to vent their frustrations, or to simply keep their friends up-to-date about their thoughts and feelings. These blogs can be viewed by anyone, and your teenager needs to have that knowledge and act accordingly, while remembering the information that they are placing on their blogs is not private.

Summarily there are several approaches to having the internet safety discussion with your teenager. You simply should be sure to have the discussion before it is too late and they have been reeled in. Every child or teen utilizing the internet should be educated on the lurking dangers of the internet.