KEY POINTS:
Children around the world unsuspectingly now hold weapons of mass destruction in their hands!
These children may become the next generation victims of a new global terrorism. Who are they? It may be surprising to learn these are not child soldiers in Africa, nor new young militant recruits in the Middle East.
These are children in our own homes sitting in front of the PC hooked up to the internet, with mouse in hand. The internet, like the invention of the automobile, helps us to travel (through cyberspace) and visit places never before dreamed of.
However, in the same way as a child left unsupervised behind the wheel is in grave danger, without careful monitoring the internet can be a lethal weapon.
In a world where most kids know more about computers than Mum and Dad, it's essential that parents are well equipped to safeguard their children - protecting them from direct and passive abuse - including marketing techniques that lure children toward consumerism, scams that result in fraud and identity theft, and sexually explicit material and/or predators.
Most parents are unaware to the extent of prolific sexual content their children have been exposed to surfing the net, and even fewer are aware of consequences.
It's estimated up to five new kids are lured into the online child-pornographic arena each week with online images of girls and boys are getting younger and more graphically violent.
While there are many cyber-safe and filter products available to protect young internet users, there is no surrogate for a parent's knowledge on how to adequately safeguard their family.
FOR PARENTS
*Teach children ethical online behaviour.
*Limit the amount of time the internet may be accessed, and set firm boundaries around its use. At work, we sign internet ethic and boundary contracts. Do the same at home with family members and demonstrate (by example) healthy surfing habits.
*Never allow internet access after bedtime or when neither parent is at home.
*Computer passwords should not be allowed. Computers should always be kept in common areas and online accounts be easily monitored.
*Up-skill and know the ins and outs of MySpace, MSN, and youtube.
*Make it your business to know what internet sites your kids visit, who their online chat friends are (who is on their buddy list), and monitor chat room discussions.
*Never allow kids to delete Website Browser History (time/date coded) or Messaging and Chat Room dialogue logs.
*Ensure open and comfortable dialogue about internet risks (including sexually explicit material and online predators) with your kids, such that when (not if) they are exposed to inappropriate content (intentionally or unintentionally), they feel safe to talk to you about it.
*Have a generic family email address, allowing all correspondence to be transparent.
Dr Robi Sonderegger is a clinical psychologist who writes for APN publications in New Zealand and Australia
