Internet is a powerful tool. On the web we can search anything, from products to jobs. But, despite all the benefits it may bring, which are the consequences of the Internet influence on our children and what should we do?
As I said before, Internet is a powerful tool, but how powerful it is? I say that it is as powerful as a loaded gun. Despite all the good uses Internet has, it may easily be used to commit crimes or be a way in which you can be attacked by a crime. Would you place a loaded gun on your children's hands? In most of the cases, I don't think so.
Children are curious and exploring creatures by nature, and the Web is like streets at night. You can find anything there, from diapers to the most hideous forms of pornography, and Internet doesn't have policemen or efficient means of blocking children from the evil they might find. That is the point where I say: Protect your kids from the Internet. As a Psychologist, I tell you that the Web has excessive stimuli, and many, which kids haven't the maturity to interpret and process yet, and will bypass their power of judgment. Children's emotional apparatus will be damaged by the repeating contact with heavy stimuli.
I'm not telling you should prohibit your kids from surfing through the web, because nowadays, it would be like forbidding they to go out. But, as going out on the street, the Internet use by children must be supervised.
First of all: You must install software that blocks the dangerous websites. Internet are crowded by those dangerous websites, and all kids need to be allowed in these sites is to click on a button that says “I'm over 18”. There are many filter software; some even come with your Anti-virus, as Norton, for example. Norton Anti-Virus has a good filter that will block most of the adult content from your children eyes. It can be very helpful if you can't be with your children all the time when they surf the Web.
Second: You must supervise the kids when they surf the Web. When you go out on the streets you grab your kids' hands and keep them from wandering around alone. Why, in the Internet you should do any different? I know it's time consuming, but raising a kid is a huge responsibility, and you shouldn't dodge this responsibility with lame excuses as this or that is time consuming. So, when your children use the Internet, sit next to them and participate in the activity. That way you can supervise your children's Internet activities and strengthen the bond between you.
Third: Check your children's computer. I know it might sound a hideous and big invasion of privacy, but when your children go out on the streets you check what they have done and where they have been. Why, with Internet, should be any different? As I said before, there is a whole world completely unfiltered out here on the Web. Kids are very intelligent and sometimes they are capable of bypassing your supervision and the Filter Software. Using a single breach in your security, a pedophile may contact your children. Kids may be very intelligent and naïve at the same time, and will believe in the good will of anyone who talk to them on the web. Children tend to believe in people, and some evil in the Internet may take advantage of it.
Fourth: That is not a specific Internet related rule because it applies to everything in parenting. “Talk to your children”. That's right. If your children trust you, the first tree rules will be almost useless, because children will tell you anything and will hide nothing. Children are predisposed to trust their parents, but years of bad parenting can destroy that trust, and that's when they will start to keep secrets from you. So, once again I repeat: Talk to your children. Never respond to what they say with anything but love and caring; they will respond to it. Aggressiveness and stupidity will only draw the kids away from you.
