Children being online present additional challenges because of their innocence, curiosity, and desire for independence.

Common dangers encountered by children online are cyber predators, bullies, and identity theft.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has the following tips for parents to help keep their children safe online.

• Be involved. Supervise your children's online activities while teaching them good computer habits.  (Consider online activities you can work on together.)
• Consider implementing parental controls.  Restrict or allow certain websites to be viewed on your computer using a password.  (You can set some parental controls within your browser.)
• Keep lines of communication open.  Let your children know they can approach you with any questions or concerns about behaviors or problems they may have encountered online.
• Keep your computer in an open area.  Easily monitor your children's computer activity in a high-traffic area.
• Monitor computer activity.  Be aware of what your children are doing online (which websites they are visiting, who and what they are emailing, etc.).
• Set rules and warn about dangers.  Ensure your children are aware of the boundaries of what they are allowed to do on the computer.  (Boundaries should be appropriate for each child's age, knowledge, and maturity.)

 

For more information on how to keep your children safe online, please visit the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. 

 

Thank you for making our community a safer place to live and grow a family,

Sheriff Heath Jackson