The other day I was searching for great deals on custom printing while surfing the Web. As I own my own business, I am constantly looking for discounts on office supplies and services including discount printing.
While surfing for relatively benign subjects I was alarmed at the number of scam and adult sites I accidentally bumped into on the Web. Just the shear number of pop ups alone proved alarming.
I remember a conversation I recently had with my neighbor about their teen's experiences on the Web.
My friend said her teen reported she had been harassed multiple times on the web by rude chat room guests and people who attempted to inappropriately IM her.
While surprising for some, I found this information a sad reminder of the many dangers that now exist online for young Web users.
While the Internet is a terrific place to hang out, meet people and obtain volumes of information, it can also be a dangerous place for those who are not well versed about safety.
Communicating The Dangers of the Web To Your Kids:
As a parent it is important you share knowledge about the dangers of the Web with your children. Consider cyberspace a whole world of opportunity.
While your child may experience many interesting and exciting new people and situation on the Web, they may also expose themselves to dangerous predators each and every time they log on.
Many parents are investing in new technologies including Web tracking devices, filtering devices and decoders to ensure their children are using the Web safely.
I'm sure as my children grow older and start surfing the Web, I too will start taking advantage of some of these technologies to ensure that my children are able to take advantage of the Web, but only is as safe a manner as possible.
As with any tool on the information highway, the Web can be used safely and advantageously, when you know what you are getting into and take steps to protect yourself and your family.