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Do you know the meaning of ROTFL, WTF, or AFK? If you don't and your children use instant messaging
software such as AOL Instant Messenger, Windows Messenger, or Yahoo Messenger, you should. These are only three of the hundreds of acronyms out there today used in these popular applications. Some of their meanings may surprise you...
In today's internet oriented world, you can talk to anyone if you know their screen name. Complete strangers can contact each other through the wonders of technology. Here are a few tips to prevent you or your children from falling into the dangers of the internet.
Discuss the rules with your children.
Set some boundaries and make sure they are followed. Some simple rules can keep kids safe online. Make sure that your children know only to give their screen name, or online ID, to people they know or have met in person. Also, remind your children not to share their personal information online, including name, address, phone number, age, or birthday.
Monitor Internet Usage.
Use a monitoring program like NetNanny, or Norton Internet Security, to log your children's internet usage and block them from potentially harmful links they may receive from instant messages. Hardware firewalls are also able to filter content based on keywords that parents set.
Know Your Kids Online.
Make sure you know your kids' screen name and password, in case you need to monitor their account. Become familiar with common phrases, acronyms, and symbols used during chats. For example, a widely used phrase in instant messaging applications is "PAW" - Parents are Watching. For an in depth list, Click Here
Using these precautionary measures, you will be able to keep your kids safe online. Make sure you set boundaries for them and enforce those boundaries.
Portions of this article are based on http://da.co.la.ca.us/pok/im.htm
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