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by DailyDotCom from Mobile, Ala.

Last Post 95 days, 23 hours Ago


Internet Safety!
May 23, 2008 | 7:26 PM
Category: Entertainment
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Featured On: MyFoxGulfCoast
All week on the Daily Dot Com, I've been talking about internet safety.

I feel very strong about this topic.  I think it's a difficult time we are living in right now where teens and children know more about computers and the internet than their parents. It is no one's fault.  Kids need the internet now for school work and no one knew what the internet was when our parents were growing up. (Remember, I'm 23 years old, so I am grouping myself with the teens and kids who grew up/are growing up on the internet.)

My mom always has to call me when she wants to look at a website. Try describing where to type to URL address over the phone without getting strange looks from all the computer users sitting nearby :)  Mom, if you are reading this, I must say you have definitely improved!!

Anyway, my point is, what's the answer to this problem?

Here are my suggestions:
  • Parents, call your local college or university even high schools and find out about any free computer classes they may be giving so you can learn the basics.
  • Ask your kids for help, they will be excited to show you what they know
  • Get together with other adult friends and help each other figure it out
  • Talk to your kid's teacher and find out what things he/she is learning in school so you can stay in the know
  • Of course watch my Daily Dot Com segments from this week and see what the FBI says about online safety
Also, let us know what rules you set in place for your family, to stay safe in our message boards or comment on my blog.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this issue, from students and from parents :)
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Member Comments Total Comments: 3
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topren25
May 24, 2008 | 11:51 PM

I love seeing you on daily.com you do a wonderful job. I have four children that I kept off the internet but like you said they need it for school now.. I have let my children go on the internet and was very strict with the sites they could go to unsupervised like disney.com and games anything else me or thier father would have to be in the room. today my 14yr old daughter was on her computer at a child site and thier was someone on thier solicting her for sex and her address. She was playing games and these chat boxes kept coming up. My question to you as what do we do about people like that bothering our children and what other precautions can I take to insure my childrens safety.
There computer is in the family room not thier bedrooms I thought that was the best to watch over them but with my oldest Im scared she will catch my back turned.
Thank you in advance
Renee
DailyDotCom read my blog
May 26, 2008 | 7:21 PM

Hi Renee!

I'm really sorry to hear your daughter was solicited for sex. I also want to applaud you on putting the computer in the family room. That is the #1 piece of advice I give to parents.

My initial response to your question is to install safety software programs like Norton 360 (http://www.symantec.com/index.jsp) to help block dangerous sites and spam.

But in order to answer your questions more specifically I would like to know what website your daughter was on at the time, so I can take a look at it and check it out. Also, what is her online screen name? Sometimes a child's screen name is a magnet for predators and of course it's not intentional on the child's part, but that is a possibility.

I know you don't want to give this info out on a public forum, so shoot me an email ccowart@fox10tv.com so I can better help guide you in the right direction.

Thanks so much for watching the Daily Dot Com!
topren25
May 26, 2008 | 11:21 PM

Thank you Ms Cowart for your help I have emailed you and look forward to hearing from you. Renee
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DailyDotCom

Charissa Cowart was born and raised right here in Mobile. She graduated from UMS- Wright Preparatory High School and went on to receive a Bachelor Degree from Samford University in Birmingham, AL. Charissa now resides in Mobile and is involved in her church, Moffett Road Assembly of God where she is the Drama Director. Charissa is currently the Daily Dot Com reporter at FOX10 News as well as the Internet Producer for fox10tv.com. If you have any story ideas for Charissa and the Daily Dot Com send them to her email address: charissa.cowart@fox10tv.c
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Member Since: 1/11/2008


 

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