Chat Rooms Dangers Exposed! A Teens Guide To Chat Room Safety.
Safe chat room, err chatting? Is there such a thing
?Internet chat room dangers are real. Children are often unaware of the dangers lurking on the world wide web.Being in the comfort of their own home can lead them into a false sense of security and this is what online predators are hoping for. Most kids are trusting and take what others say at face value, as life experiences haven't yet taught them otherwise.There are some chat room safety tips that children and teens can learn immediately, to reduce their exposure to the dangers of chat rooms.
EDUCATE YOUR KIDS
Only three percent of online teens said they told and adult or authority figure when they were contacted online by a complete stranger. Most kids will not report inappropriate behavior, internet contact or bullying to their parents because they are afraid of losing their internet privileges. They may also be embarrassed or ashamed. This why it is so important to educate your children on how dangerous chat rooms can be, teach them what to look out for and how to handle it.
TEENS CHAT ROOM SAFETY TIPS
1. Never enter into private chats or private chat rooms with people you don't know. Most kids know about stranger danger and are taught not to talk to, or give personal details to strangers in the street. The same rules apply, don't do it with strangers online either.
2. Think before you send a message. Once a message is out there, there is no way to get it back so think before you send the message and be careful about what you let others know about you.
3. Be careful of who you trust or think you know. Online predators specifically target chat rooms as most kids feel safe as they are in the comfort of their own home. Just because you have seen someone's profile, they are still a stranger.
4. Always use a nickname on your personal profile and don't include any personal details.
5. Log out if you, in any way, feel uncomfortable and make sure you tell a parent or adult immediately.
6. Stay in control. Never give out personal details in chat rooms, it doesn't matter how well you think you know them. This includes your name, nickname, address, phone number, password details, email addresses etc. If they are a friend, get their home email address(not an online one) or phone number and communicate personal details that way.
7. Learn how to block and/or ignore people.
8. Never meet anyone you have met in a chat room in person. If you must meet someone in person make sure you discuss it with an adult so that they can make sure its in a public area and with an adult present.
9. Learn how to save parts of your chat room conversations you may want to show your parents or report to the authorities.
10. Look out for your friends. Never use their information instead of yours and make sure they follow the same guidelines. Let your parents know if you think your friend is in trouble or out of their depth.
11. Know how to report any suspicious behavior to your chat room provider and tell your parents. Things like inappropriate comments, asking for personal information, talking about things that make you uncomfortable should all be taken seriously.Don't be embarrassed or ashamed of any inappropriate behavior online, it is not uncommon and it is not your fault, so please tell an adult.
If kids follow these simple steps they will significantly reduce any potential chat room dangers for themselves.
THE ONLY WAY TO KEEP YOUR CHILD SAFE
If your kids will not abide by the guidelines you set for them, or you are still concerned with their chat room and internet use, another alternative is to invest in some monitoring and recording software, which will allow you to oversee their chat room communications and know if they have strayed from the boundaries set. Another option is to invest in filtering and blocking software which can set times they can go online (for better supervision), and block chat room sites you deem inappropriate. Parents can also set different filtering and blocking modes depending on the user. Some software can even block specific online users from chatting with your child so you don't have to block the whole site.
Chat rooms are a great way for kids to socialize and have fun, and it is becoming more and more popular. Make sure you set ground rules for your kids and educate them on internet chat rooms dangers to ensure the experience is not just fun but safe too!
by:Lisa Sullivan
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