Nowadays, wide-range of Internet access can be found everywhere. Be it in schools, malls, work offices, and even at homes. People of different age group are all learning the art of Internet. Even kids are very savvy in using Internet since they used this as a resource tool for their school reports, online communication with their teachers, classmates, and friends. They also use it to play several interactive and networking games. Any kid whose age is enough and know how to read and press a few letters on the keyboard can precisely access the world in its innovated form.
However, Internet can also be hazardous to your children. There are thousand of sites having unlimited and unrestricted access on several adult materials such as pornography, sex and the like. Articles containing malicious content may cause kids to become aware of certain topics that are not fitted for their age. With these threats, parents or guardians should be aware on what their kids can access on the Internet. Be it for viewing or listening. Make sure that you know what are the sites they used to visit. Nevertheless, put your hands-on and be close-eyed on the activities of your kids while accessing the Internet. This is one safety issue that parents must be concerned about. Communicate to your kids on your concerns and discussed with them the potential dangers and hazards that Internet brings if neglected.
A federal law has been designed to protect your kids on the use of Internet. This law is designed to seek parent’s consent or agreement first before obtaining their kid’s personal information. Wide dissemination of the information is strictly prohibited. This law is under Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) which requires website developers to explain their privacy policies on the creation of their site for kids. This act also prohibits requiring a child on providing more personal information than necessary to be able to play a game or a contest. Above this law, parents or guardians are still the best protections for their kids in relation with second paragraph. Parents can make use of the available online tools to prevent their child from accessing sites containing hazardous adult materials or not fit for their age.

A lot of Internet service providers (ISPs) provide option for parents in developed websites to block access to certain material. Software is also given by ISPs which is designed to consolidate and populate all “bad sites” into a list. It also filters programs that can block access of restricted sites from entering one’s IP address.

Aside from abovementioned guidelines and tools to protect your child’s internet safety. Here are some additional helpful tips for parents:

• Be a computer literate and learn how to block restricted materials not fitted for your child.
• Place the computer in a common area and not isolated, so you can watch and monitor your child’s internet activities.
• Make sure that you know the email account and its access of your child so you can monitor messages.
• List under Favorites all your child's favorite sites for easy access.
• Guide your child every time he’s doing his internet activities. Sit beside him so you can teach him the proper online behavior.
• Restrict your child from entering private chat rooms and block it with safety features provided by your Internet service provider or with special filtering software.
• Monitor your credit card and phone bills for unfamiliar account charges.
• Check and verify if there are online protections given or offered by your child’s school, friends’ homes, rentals, or any place where he can access the internet without your supervision.
• Take your child seriously if he or she reports an uncomfortable online exchange.
• Consolidate and provide copies of obscene or threatening messages you or your child receives to your Internet service provider.
• Contact your local law enforcement agency immediately if your child has received child pornography via the Internet.
Many sites use "cookies," devices that track specific information about the user, such as name, email address, and shopping preferences. Cookies can be disabled. Ask your Internet service provider for more information.

It's also a good idea to set up some simple rules for your kids to follow while they're using the Internet. These rules may include:
• Follow the rules you set, as well as those set by your Internet service provider.
• Never trade personal photographs in the mail or scanned photographs over the Internet.
• Never reveal personal information, such as address, phone number, or school name or location. Use only a screen name. Never agree to meet anyone from a chat room in person.
• Never respond to a threatening email or message.
• Always tell a parent about any communication or conversation that was scary or threatening.
• If your child has a new "friend," insist on being "introduced" online to that friend.

A chat room is a virtual online room where a chat session is done. Chat rooms are set up and categorized according to interest, subject, region or even age groups. People can communicate to each other alone or in group in a wide variety of categories. Chat rooms are among the most popular destinations being visited on the Web - especially for kids and teens.

However, there are also hazards given by chat rooms to kids. There have been a lot of incidents where kids met "friends" who were interested in exploiting them through chat rooms. No one knows how common chat-room predators are. Pedophiles (adults who are sexually interested in children) are the examples of predators commonly found in the chat room to victimized kids just for their sexual urge and interests. These predators would prod their online acquaintances to exchange personal information, such as addresses and phone numbers, thus putting the kids they are chatting with - and their families - at risk. Many pedophiles pose and pretend as teenagers in chat rooms. Because of this, kids become more encouraged that they’re dealing with safe acquaintances.
Warning signs are easily seen and detect by online predators. And they used these warning signs to target your child for their explicit interests. One particular warning sign is if your child spends long hours online especially at night time. As parents, you should restrict number of hours being spent by your child on the internet so predators won’t have any idea to target your child for their object. You can also include this with the listed helpful tips above in protecting your child’s internet safety.

Playing an active role in your child's Internet activities, you'll be ensuring that he or she can benefit from the wealth of valuable information the Internet has to offer, without being exposed to any potential dangers, abuse and exploitations.

Written By: Jingky Lascuna