Hello Everyone,
Evelyn here,
On Friday, the Attorney General issued the following Consumer Advisory for parents who children have use of computers.
December 21, 2007
ATTORNEY GENERAL OFFERS COMPUTER SAFETY TIPS FOR PARENTS
McCollum: Simple steps can go a long way toward protecting children online
TALLAHASSEE, FL – Noting that new computers are popular holiday gifts
for children, Attorney General Bill McCollum today issued a consumer advisory offering cybersafety measures and guidelines for parents to use
when setting up computers or other new technology in their homes. The Attorney General reminded Floridians that there are simple steps to be taken that can help protect children from internet child predators and other dangers lurking online.
“It is important for parents to be aware of simple, proactive steps they can take to keep their children safe while online, and the best time to start practicing cybersafety is the very first time a computer is used, “said Attorney General Bill McCollum”. Education and communication is the key to protecting our kids and minimizing the risks they face while surfing the internet. I encourage parents to become familiar with their children’s virtual environment and keep the lines of communication honest and open about online dangers.”
The Attorney General suggested the following steps for parents to take to protect their children while online:
- Place the computer in a common area within the home.
- Install parental control software, which allows parents to control who communicates with the children using the computer; prohibits children from visiting inappropriate sites; and allows for the creation of time limits on computer usage.
- Teach your children why it is dangerous to give out personal information, including their full name, address, phone number, school name, practice schedules and where they spend time after school, to people they “meet” online.
- Have frequent conversations with your children about what they are doing while online and check the computer’s internet history regularly.
- Have open and honest discussions about dangers that exist online.
- If your child has an account on a social networking site, encourage him or her to add the Attorney General as a “friend” so the Cybercrime Unit’s badge will appear on his or her site.
For more tips on safe internet surfing, parents, students, and educators are encouraged to log on to the Attorney General’s cyber safety website, http://www.safeflorida.net/safesurf, for valuable information about staying safe while online. The Attorney General’s MySpace page can be visited at http://www.myspace.com/florida_cpcu.
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Evelyn out.
