Internet threats to

children

Dr.Tushar Dashora,
Chairman & Managing Director,
Dash Mediventures (P) Ltd.
 Keeping Kids Safe on the Internet

As sexual
predators
increasingly turn
to chat rooms, e-
mail and Web
sites to target
children, parents
need to watch for
the warning signs

So how can concerned parents
combat the seamier side of the
Internet? The good news is there
are many options. But first, you
must understand the dangers
children face online.

More than 80 percent of children who
use e-mail receive inappropriate spam
– junk e-mail – on a daily basis,
according to a 2003 survey of 1,000
children ages 7 to 18 by Symantec
Corp., a producer of Internet security
software based in Cupertino, Calif.
That e-mail includes sweepstakes
messages, relationship-related spam
such as “meet singles online,” and e-
mails with links to X-rated web sites.
 What are the threats?
Some possible online threats include:

predators and pedophiles
• pornography and explicit sexual content
• hatred, racism and violence
• drugs, alcohol and tobacco
• privacy violations
• “flaming” – rude and obnoxious people
• gambling
• scams, misinformation and fraud
• advertising that is highly manipulative of children
• viruses and worms
• computer crime (aka “hacking”)
Many of these risks can be grouped together under
the general category of material that is
inappropriate, offensive or harmful to children.
 Stranger Danger

Of all the hazards online, contact by strangers,

whether sexual, angry or predatory by nature, is the
most common – and potentially the most dangerous.
Nearly every instance of Internet child luring or
abduction begins with a relationship initiated by a
“stranger.”

It is vitally important for parents to help children

understand what constitutes a “stranger” online. Tell
a child to consider any person met online a stranger,
unless he is certain the person he is writing to is
someone they know well in person.
 Danger signals

Parents also need to be aware that the majority of
contact by pedophiles is initiated in online areas of
“real-time” communication, such as chat rooms
and instant messaging (IM).

In fact, according to the report Online
Victimization, in 65 percent of the incidents of
online sexual solicitation or harassment the
meeting occurred in a chat room; 24 percent
occurred through IM.
•Targeting kids in these live-chat areas is often a function of
searching screen names and profiles. “Parents need to make sure
to first, be aware of their kids’ screen names and certainly make
sure they do not have any identifying info or anything suggestive
in them.
•for example “sexyteen5” – and this can attract the wrong kind of
attention.”
 Power of the parents

While technology has provided parents with numerous
options, high-tech safety tools should be only a piece of the
solution – not the whole pie. Indeed, experts repeatedly
caution against relying solely on high-tech babysitters to
keep kids safe online. “Technology is not a replacement for
good parenting,” says America Online chairman Steve
Case.

Parents must get involved in their children’s Internet life –
even ask their kids for lessons if they’re computer illiterate.

The key to keeping kids safe on the Internet today is

parents who recognize the possible dangers, understand
the technology, and take the time to be involved in their
child’s online activities.

“Parents who understand the Internet and monitor the time
that a child spends online offer the best protection,”

“Kids need appropriate monitoring by parents at home to
prevent inappropriate behavior online."
 Tips
1. Become a net-savvy parent.
The best safeguard against online dangers is being informed. Jump
in and learn the basics of the Internet—read articles, take a class,
and talk to other parents. You don’t have to be an expert to have a
handle on your child’s online world.
2. “Chat” with your kids
Develop an open dialogue so that you can talk with your kids about
the benefits and dangers of the Internet. Cultivate an interest in
their online activities—their favorite Web sites, online games, and
interests. And don’t be afraid to ask your children who they are
talking to online and what they are talking about.
3. Agree on a game plan
Use the Netpapa Game plan to formally agree on your family’s guidelines
for using the Internet. Post them near the family computer as a
reminder. Ensure that your kids know to never share personal
information on the Internet and that they should tell you about any
online activity or contact that makes them uncomfortable.
 Tips…contd..
4. Protect your computer.
Take advantage of the software that exists to help
parents manage their children’s computer experience.
In only a few minutes, parental control software like
Netpapa can monitor inappropriate websites, restrict
the amount of time that your kids use the Internet and
monitor their Instant Messenger chats to protect
against predators.

5. Explore the Internet as a family

With a game plan and a protected computer, you can
now encourage your family to take advantage of all that
the Internet has to offer. Take a genuine interest in
what your kids are doing and stay engaged with them
online.
Chat room lingo

FAIK = as far as I
know

AFK = away from
keyboard

ASL = age sex
location

BB = bathroom break

BBL = be back later

BBS = be back soon

BF = boyfriend

BRB = be right back

BTW = by the way

CUL8R or CULR =

see you later

coz = because

DN = don’t know

FYI = for your
information

G2G = got to go

GF = girlfriend

GG = gotta go
Chat room lingo...contd…

HW = homework

IDC = I don’t care

IDK = I don’t know

IMO = in my opinion

JAS = just a second

JK = just kidding

KOTC = kiss on the

cheek

LMAO = laughing my

a*@ off

LOL = laugh out loud

LYL = love you lots

NFC = no f*@king clue

NM or NVM = never
mind

NP = no problem
Chat room lingo...contd…

OMG = Oh, my God

OTOH = on the other hand

POS = parent over shoulder

ROFLOL = rolling on floor

laughing out loud

SN = screen name

SRY = sorry

sup = What’s up

SW = so what?

TMI = too much information

TTYL = talk to you later

TY = thank you

u = you

WTF = what the f*@k?

y = why
 Warning signs
1. Hiding computer CDs and disks.
Changing or turning off the computer screen when you enter the
room.
2. An empty Internet browser history.
Finding pornographic or encrypted files on the computer.
3. Receiving letters, e-mails or gifts from someone you don’t know.
4. Finding an extra Internet account on the computer.
5. Spending too much time on the Internet or being online late into
the night.
6. Changes in behavior, for example: secretiveness, sleeping
problems, neglecting school assignments, avoiding normal social
activities or withdrawing from the family.
7. And many more yet to be discovered……..
 Safety guidelines for children
 Always use the Internet with your parent’s permission.
 Never, never, give out information online such as your
name, address, phone number, school or parent’s name(s).
 Ask your parents before typing personal information onto a
Web site – even if it’s to play a game or enter a contest.
 Never open or answer e-mails or instant messages from
people you don’t know.
 Never tell anyone your password, including friends or
someone who seems official (except your parents).
 Never make plans to meet Internet “friends” in real life. If
someone asks, tell your mom or dad.
 If somebody says something or sends you something that
makes you uncomfortable or afraid, tell your parents or
another trusted adult. They’ll know what to do.
 Always follow your family’s Internet rules – they’re there to
make sure you have fun and stay safe online.


1. We will never give out personal information such as our last
name, address or phone number. We should also not give out the
name of our school, our city, our siblings, our sports team or our
parent’s workplace.
2. We all agree to not give our passwords to anyone outside of our
family. We have all agreed upon user names to use while we are on the
Internet. I will not change the settings for my computer or my password
without my parent’s permission.
3. We all agree to limit our online time so that it doesn’t interfere
with other activities. We agree to follow the time limits that our family
sets and not let the Internet take time away from homework, sports,
face- to-face interactions or family time.
4. I will never meet an online friend in person. Just as I stay away
from strangers on the street, I will be careful about strangers on the
Internet. If anyone ever asks to meet with me off line, I will notify my
parents immediately.
5. I will tell my mom or dad right away if I come across something that makes me
feel uncomfortable. If anyone uses bad language or mentions things that make me
uncomfortable, I will immediately log off and tell my parents.

6. I will not remain on or click on a page that says, “For Over 18 Years Only.” If this
happens, I will log off and I will let my parents know. I understand that I’m only a click
away from bad sites and that these pages are definitely not for kids.

7. I will only download pictures and files with my parent's permission. Some of
these files may contain inappropriate pictures or dangerous viruses that could mess up
our computer.
8. I will not send pictures of my family or myself to anyone online. The only way that
I am allowed to do this is if my parents say it is all right.
9. I will be safe everywhere. I will follow the same Internet safety rules at my friends’
houses, at school and at the library that I do while I’m at home.
10. I understand that nothing is private on the Internet. I agree that my mom or dad
can read my mail or check the sites that I have been visiting — not because they don't
trust me but because they just want to make sure that I am safe.
Dainik Bhaskar
Rajasthan Patrika
Dainik Navjyoti
Punjab Kesari
The Hindu
 THANKS

THANKS for your
valuable time &
undivided attention.

Together lets make the

world net safe!!!

This program is
conducted by Dash
Mediventures (P) Ltd.
as part of our corporate
social responsibility.