*82% of parents don't review the content that their teen(s) are reading and/or writing
in chat rooms or instant messages.

*58% of parents don't know if their teens are speaking with strangers online.
 
Protect your Online Reputation - www.reputationdefender.com/mychild
Learn more about Cyber Safety - http://xblock.isafe.org/

Do You Know The Danger Signs Of A Predator?

► Someone older (often much older) who spends hours chatting online

► They insist on having your address, phone number or other personal information

► Someone sends you pictures or messages that make you feel uncomfortable that you would not want to share with anyone else.

► Someone tells you to keep their chats with you a secret.

► Someone trying to drive a wedge between a child and their family.

► Someone tells you that you will get in trouble if you tell an adult what has been going on.

► Offers of jobs, money, and gifts that are too good to be true.

► Offers of pornography, or requests for suggestive pictures.

► Anyone who threatens them

► If the person wants you to email them pictures of yourself or use a webcam in a way which makes you feel uncomfortable.

► If the person shares information with you and tells you to not tell anyone else.

► If the person wants to meet you and tells you not to let anyone know.

Internet Safety Tips:

► Never give out your address or telephone number

► Never tell anyone where you go to school

► Only meet someone from online in a public place with one of your parents or another adult. If the person is who they say they are they will not have a problem with this.

► Get your school involved! Get together with your friends and come up with a program for a no cyber bullying policy for fellow students.


If You Are Cyber Bullied:

► If someone is bullying you online, you should always tell an adult you can trust. Even if you think you've solved the problem on your own, tell an adult anyway, in case it happens again. If you find it difficult to talk about being cyber bullied, you might find it easier to write down what's been happening to you and give it to an adult you trust.

► Save all original evidence & don't erase the messages - they may be needed to take action.

► If bullied through chat or instant messaging, the "bully" can often be blocked.

► If you are threatened with harm, inform the local police.

► Do NOT respond to any message you get that is negative.

► Tell an adult if someone makes inappropriate suggestions to you or makes you feel uncomfortable online.

► Report the abuse to your local Internet Service Provider Many parents are unaware of their kids' online activities. Do you really know what your kids are doing online?

Parents /Guardians: You can help:

In many cases of cyber bullying, the victim will keep the harsh messages received through text messaging &/or chat boards to themselves. This leads to depression, acts of violence towards others and sometimes suicide.

► Talk to your kids about being safe on the internet. Kids spend a lot of time surfing the internet, sometimes on sites that are not age appropriate. You can monitor their online activity by compromising with them on a weekly timeline when they can and can’t go on the computer. Get some fresh air!

► Be on top of what your kids are posting in their MySpace’s, Facebook’s, blogs, profiles and who they are talking to on the internet. This can help minimize their chances of being cyber bullied. 

For Parents, Kids and Teens
Child/Parent Internet Safety Agreement

Review the following agreement with your children,
sign it and post it by the computer as a reminder. 

1.  I will tell my parents right away if I come across any information that makes me feel uncomfortable. 

2.  I will not give out my address, telephone number, or the name and location of my school without my parent's permission. 

3.  I will never agree to get together with someone I "meet" online without first checking with my parents. If my parents agree to the meeting, I will be sure that it is in a public place and bring my mother or father along. 

4.  If I get a message that is mean, or makes me feel uncomfortable, I will not respond. It is not my fault if I get a message like that, and I will tell my parents if I do. 

5.  I will work with my parents so that we can set up rules for going online. We will decide upon the time of day that I can be online, the length of time I can be online, and areas that I am allowed to visit. I will not access other areas or break these rules without their permission. 

____________________________________________
Child

____________________________________________
Parent  

INTERNET SAFETY ALERT: If your child, you or anyone you know uses MySpace, please beware of an offer of a toolbar and programs to "protect kids from predators." There is no toolbar that offers this kind of protection. The best way to protect children is still working with them to help them understand and avoid all of the Internet dangers.