Instant Messaging Dangers
Instant Messaging Dangers
What are the real IM dangers that your child could face online?
Let's take a look at the real dangers of children using instant messaging programs. Instant messaging programs such as icq messaging, instant msn (MSN Messenger 7.5), aim messaging or yahoo instant messenger offer real-time communication. To begin with, don't even consider signing your child up for that free MSN Live Messenger account without being prepared to supervise at least somewhat. Instant Messaging programs are not babysitters to keep your kids busy or out of your hair.
First, let's look at the benefits. Instant Messaging programs can be great communication tools for your kids to get together with their friends online. It's a fabulous tool for getting a group together for brainstorming projects and helping each other with homework. That's why distant education has become so popular especially for working people to upgrade their education as instant messaging can be used for group projects as well as using a web board to ask questions around a busy schedule. When kids are online talking to their friends, it means, that your phone line is not always tied up either.
Now this is where you come in. If you allow your children to use an IM, then you must educate them about the dangers. They have to know that giving any personal information online should never be done. Even if they know whom they are chatting with as anyone could be monitoring their conversation. That's where they need to pick up the phone instead or give it to them in person. They should not even mention their school name or city that they live in. There is no such thing as privacy on the Internet or even with sending emails. Also, once accounts are set up on Instant Messaging programs then your child has the freedom to log into any computer, which you may not know about. You need to setup the account with them and make sure that people cannot add themselves to their account automatically. This helps keep the strangers out. If your child does find someone that does not belong then they should be blocked immediately. Setting up the option to log conversations may be a good idea in case your child experiences anything unusual or cyber bullies. Sometimes, kids experience bullying online from friends that they know and have allowed on their list. Cyber Bullies need to be blocked too once you find out about it. That's another important reason to supervise your child's activity online, as many children do not report bullying. Another thing to be aware of as it happens is that it's possible that your child may not be talking to their buddy but someone impersonating the buddy like a sibling, family member or someone that got a hold of the friend’s password. You can't be 100% sure of who's typing back unless you're using a webcam but I strongly do not recommend using webcams. In my experience, children are just not mature enough to use them responsibly. It's important that you know their password and go through the list of online friends with them from time to time to make sure they all belong. Identity theft is another issue used by fraudsters gaining access to personal information or usernames/password but happens more to adults who aren't cautious online than kids. However, if your child is a blabbermouth about personal information it could potentially put your whole family in jeopardy. For example, your child gives someone your address in one conversation then tells another friend that you're going on holidays for a month and the house will be empty. That's just like leaving the keys in the door for a thief to break in. We don't know who's monitoring our conversations, is the point here. I watched an interview with a security expert that advised that kids should have no more than 100 buddies on their list. I believe this number is way too high and should be much much lower.
If you have children under 12 then this is a great alternative to the real Instant Messaging Program. It's called Club Penguin. It's a safe site for kids to meet online and it's well monitored. I feel confident recommending it. Also, these are really good sites to visit Online Dangers to children and The Australian Government Net Alert, I really recommend that you check them out!!
Until next time, Live to Surf...Safely and Take Action in keeping our children safe!!!
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