You see it in the news more and more - our children on social networking sites being preyed on by men for illicit encounters or worse. Criminals no longer need to hide in the woods or claim they've lost a puppy to ensnare children, they can simply hide behind a fake name on a computer. So how can we keep our kids safe from online predators? It's not uncommon for kids to know more about the Internet than their parents, but that doesn't mean you can't keep your children safe while they're online. Here are a few tips to help ensure your kids' surfing experiences are positive:
* Keep computers in public areas of the house where they can't be used behind closed doors. Kids are less likely to visit Web sites they shouldn't when mom and dad occasionally walk by and check in.
* Talk to kids about the risks of meeting people online and revealing personal information online. And keep the lines of communication with your children open. Ask about the Web sites they visit and who they talk to online. Parents should have the same amount of interest in a child's online friends as they do for friends kids bring home.
* Set clear rules about the kinds of Web sites children can visit and what to do if they happen upon sites they know are inappropriate.
* Install an Internet filter to limit kids' access to sites with inappropriate content.
Clean Internet is a high-speed Internet filter that keeps out adult content. Kids can't get past it because it can't be uninstalled without a call to technical support. Clean Internet is easy to install and use and will not slow down your Internet connection.
The service is compatible with wireless, dial-up, cable and DSL providers as well as both Windows and Mac computers. If a child wants to view content from a blocked site, like a social networking page, he or she must first request permission from parents. Adults simply e-mail technical support and, within minutes, appropriate content can be viewed by the entire family.
Don't let your child be the lead story on tonight's news. Make sure your child is protected from online predators. Sign up for Clean Internet's high-speed Internet filtering at CleanInternet.com today.
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