Avoiding On-line Predators Tip Sheet

• Keep user names and profiles generic and anonymous.
  • Many children provide too much of their personal information online.
  • Talk to your children and make sure that their screen names and profiles are non-specific.
• Remind your children that online friends or still strangers.
  • Predators trick their victims into believing that they have similar interests and groom children to desire a more intimate relationship.
  • The best defense is to keep your children informed and knowledgeable.  
• Place the family computer in an open area.
  • You should always accompany your child when they are exploring the internet to provide them with support and direction should they be subjected to aggressive solicitation or inappropriate material.
  • It is important to make sure that you become a constructive part of your child's online experience.
• Be aware of phone calls or mail deliveries from unfamiliar persons.
  • Predators will often call or send gifts in an attempt to warm the child up and groomed to meet them.
• Learn about the internet.
  • The more you know about the internet the better prepared you are to teach your children about how online predators operate and what you can do together to identify and elude them.
• Respect children's privacy
  • It is important to respect your child's privacy, but make certain he or she knows everyone on his or her email or instant messenger Buddy list.  Work to generate parent and child trust that supports open and honest Internet use.