It's "Safer Internet Day"

February 07, 2012

Today is Safer Internet Day.  Ontario’s Ministry of Education says while the internet can be a great resource for learning and socializing, it is urging parents to be aware of its potential dangers, including privacy issues, online safety and cyber-bullying. The Ministry say parents should also get to know what sites their children visit most often and visit them to ensure there’s no offensive or questionable content.

Here are some tips to help promote safe, responsible online behavior:

-Encourage your teen to let you know if they come across material or receive messages that make them feel uncomfortable or threatened 

-Report threatening or inappropriate messages to the police and your Internet service provider

-Get to know which websites your teenager visits the most and visit them yourself to ensure there is no offensive or questionable content

-Make sure your teenager has adjusted the privacy settings on their social networking accounts so that only friends can see their photos, comments or any information they post

-Remind your teenager that anything posted on a social networking site can be seen by anyone -- parents, teachers or future bosses 

-Remind your child to get permission from others, including friends, before posting pictures of them on social networking sites

-Remind them to be safe and responsible online: they should not use the Internet to spread gossip, bully or threaten others. When teens stay safe and treat each other respectfully online, they contribute to a more positive school climate.