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How to keep kids safe online

Posted Feb 10, 2010 by Beth Gaddis

Updated Feb 10, 2010 at 11:03 AM

Sexting, texting, bragging, bullying - it’s all part of your child’s online world.  And it’s not just teenagers who are exposed to it. 

Dozens of parents went to Wilson Middle School Tuesday night to hear about the dangers lurking online, and ways to keep their children safe.  Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Detective Phil DuBord told them some scary stories, including one about a church deacon who he said posed as a teenaged boy and befriended a 16-year-old teenager online, then copied her picture, put her head on nude photos and threatened to post them if she didn’t send him pictures of herself naked.  Read the full story

Miss the meeting, but want to know what you can do? 

Here is a list of Web sites that can get you started:

www.safeflorida.net/safesurf:The Florida Attorney General’s Web site with tips for parents and advice for teens.

www.missingkids.com: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children

www.ikeepsafe.org: Features Faux Paw’s Fun Zone, which uses games and videos to teach children about internet dangers.

www.netsmartz.org: Offers advice for kids, caregivers, law enforcement and more.

www.staysafeonline.org: National Cyber Security Alliance

www.wiredsafety.org: Includes help for cyberstalking, cyberbullying and cyberabuse.

www.protectkids.com” Includes youth rules and tips to empower parents.

www.getnetwise.org: Includes blogs, how-to tutorials and more.

www.webwisekids.org: Offers interactive simulations based on real crime cases.

And here is a list of monitoring software you can use:

www.spectorsoft.com

www.spytech-web.com

www.kidswatch.com

www.cybersitter.com

www.iambigbrother.com

www.webwatcherkids.com

www.symantic.com

www.mcafee.com

www.avast.com

www.grisoft.com