IM Safely: For Kids Free Internet ATT Phones

The latest craze among kids and teens, instant messaging (IM) is a great communication tool. Within seconds you can send a message to another online friend and correspond as if you are having a true face-to-face conversation. Young adults, tweens, and younger ones love to IM, and if left alone would spend hours on the computer using the various instant messaging programs.

Unfortunately, instant messaging can lead to many dangers. Predators lurk online, and actively seek children through the use of instant messaging. Vile IM spats are also common, and in rare cases have led to violence among teens and tweens.

How do you protect your child from the dangers part of IMing? We all know that strictly banning something from a child usually doesn’t work. Isn’t there a way we can eliminate some of the dangers from online communities, specifically instant messaging groups?

You can, with much diligence, allow your child to instant message and avoid the present dangers. We offer several tips and tricks to help you establish rules, understand new dangers, and provide services that will help you eliminate danger.

Privacy

First, it is imperative that your child does not list their e-mail address, physical address, phone number, or school in their IM profile. mySpace and Facebook both allow you to set a profile to private (Social networks have instant messaging programs, too). Enable privacy settings! However, after researching several providers IM programs, we discovered that all of their profiles are public. Personal information should never be disclosed.

Become aware of all the features included in the IM program. Consider the risks involved with each feature. Some IM programs allow sharing of photos, allow you to give remote access to your computer (which allows a person to access your files), provide for group communication, and, scarily enough, feature location finders that could help someone determine where your child is IMing from.

Chatting With Friends

Talk to your child about their IM friends. Who are they talking to? Some IM programs will allow friends of your friends to contact your teen or child. Strangers are able to contact your child this way. While this feature was devised to help make connections, we do not think it is appropriate for children. Your child must understand that they are not to respond to texts from people they do not know. Along these lines, make sure they do not give out their IM member ID to strangers.

Another key tip is that you should be sure that your child does not add people to their IM list that they only know through the internet. You never know who the person is on the other side. This advice brings us to our next section.

Understand the Dangers of Anonymity

It is a common fact that people on the internet are not who they say they are. Whether by lying on dating sites or acting as though they were someone else, plenty of people hide under the cloak of anonymity that is provided by the internet.

Advise your child that people are not always forthright about who they are. The other “teen” or “child” that is chatting may not be a minor at all. Predators lurk online, and children need to be aware of this fact.

Your child should not communicate with strangers via instant messaging, and your child should never physically meet a person they met online without your presence.

What are they typing about, anyway?

Talk to your child about what they IM about. Set boundaries regarding behavior that you find unacceptable. You’ll be amazed at the codes used by children. For example, PAW means “parents are watching”, MOS is “mom over shoulder” and CD9 stands for “Code 9” when parents are present.

Your child should not use instant messaging to gossip, argue, or spread rumors. In several rare cases, violence occurred after an argument occurred online, whether on social networking sites or through instant messaging. Children should be warned that they are never to “flame” (harass or make fun of) another person online. If your child is flamed, they need to exit out of the internet and let you know. Be prepared in the rare event that an online argument escalates offline.

Your child should never become part of a conversation online that makes them feel uncomfortable. They should logoff and tell you immediately so that you can handle it.

Protecting your computer or phone

Did you know your child can IM by using their phone? Many cell phones available now have instant messaging capability. In order to protect your investments, children need specific guidance to avoid viruses, spam, and cookies from reaching the phone or computer.

Some IM programs allow you to send files, pictures, or video. If these files seem suspicious (children should always read the file name before they open it) DO NOT OPEN. If a friend sends your child a link through the instant message that looks suspicious (check the URL name), they should not open it.

Conclusion

With set boundaries, teens, tweens, and children can instant message safely. Warn them about the dangers that revolve around IM. Become aware of the language and slang they are using. Lastly, protect your hardware investments (phones and computers) from nasty viruses.

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