In the best interest of our kids, it may be important to know who they are talking to online, what information they’re sharing, and what sites they are visiting. But to what extreme should parents go?
February 23, 2010 (PRESSbooth.ORG) -- Internet safety experts have expressed divergent views regarding the merits of a proactive versus preventative parenting approach to Internet safety. Debates over the hot topic recently spurred after a public call made by cybersafety activists urged parents to enforce a password policy requiring children to fork over all online passwords. Some critics however, are calling this approach “retrogressive”, claiming that coercing children into “giving their parents a full-access pass to their private lives may only lead to aversive consequences.”
Other Internet safety experts like those on KiwiCommons.com, an online safety resource center, are recommending that parents work with their children, not against them. “Seizing a child’s passwords to their online accounts is no different from confiscating their keys to their diary. If they feel their private lives are under constant surveillance, they’ll find ways to circumvent your efforts or conduct their online activities elsewhere, “stated Ashley Huffman, of KiwiCommons.com.
Rather than forcing children to shell out their passwords, Toronto police’s Scott Mills, advises parents to cache a sealed envelope containing their children’s passwords for emergency purposes if, and only if, children volunteer their information. “Getting children to the point where they can entrust their private information in the hands of their parents is the tricky part,” said Ashley Huffman.
“Parents need to first establish safety and trust within the parent-child relationship to ensure their kids cooperate in any sort of Internet safety action plan.” Kiwi Commons advocates involving children as co-partners as opposed to just co-operators in their online safekeeping by holding regular Internet safety discussions and having them participate in the development of a Family Internet Safety Contract.
For more information on developing an effective Internet safety approach, please see Kiwi Commons - Proactive versus Preventative Parenting
About Kiwi Commons:
www.KiwiCommons.com is a web resource that provides the most up-to-date youth Internet safety guides, news and media to educators and parents. Our growing library of resources is developed under the professional guidance of our expert panel. Kiwi Commons is proud to be the content partner of educators across the province of Ontario, including the York Catholic District School Board.
Contact:
www.KiwiCommons.com
Kiwi_Commons (Twitter)
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