Online Safety

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Internet Safety 

Younger children should

  • Use developmentally appropriate websites/programs 

  • Use the computer with parents/guardians, teachers, and classmates 

  • Use computer-safety rules just as they use bike- safety rules 

  • Tell Parents: Let the children in your home show you what they like to do online. 

  • Remind them to be careful not to reveal personal information about themselves in photos, videos or text. 

  • Teach children never to arrange a face-to-face meeting with anyone they first meet online. 

  • Teach children the people they interact with online may not really be who they say they are. 

Tips: Keep your children safe online

  • Share reasons people trick kids and teens: meanness, money, blackmail, etc. 

  • Be aware of other computers child may be using on/at, i.e. cell phones, wireless devices (gaming), friend’s houses, libraries, etc.

  • Use filters to block sexually explicit websites and notify you if explicit materials are shared. Click here for more information about available filters.

  • Learn online acronyms such as – POS = Parent Over Shoulder 
    – A/S/L = Age, Sex, Location 

  • Make sure screen-names are not too revealing or give inappropriate impression 

  • Talk to your child about what he or she does online.

  • Check your child’s friend lists to see who has access to his or her profile. Make sure your child knows all friends in person.

  • Teach your child to set profiles to private – but be aware that privacy settings do not guarantee complete privacy.

  • Have your child remove any inappropriate content and photos and delete any personal information.

  • Check the profiles of your child’s friends to see if there is revealing information or photos about your child.

  • Report inappropriate or criminal behavior to the appropriate authority. Most sites have a reporting mechanism for non-criminal behavior. Criminal behavior should be reported through law-enforcement agencies and the CyberTipline at www.cybertipline.com.

SAMPLE ACRONYMS USED ONLINE

A/S/L/P 

Age sex location photo 

AITR 

Adult in the Room 

BDSM 

Bondage Dominance Submission Masochism 

GAP 

Got A Picture? 

GNOC 

Get Naked on Camera 

IWSN 

I Want Sex Now 

KPC 

Keeping Parents Clueless 

L?^ 

Let’s Hook Up 

CD9 

Code 9 – Parents around 

CU46 

See You For Sex 

DWPKOTL 

Deep Wet Passionate Kiss on the Lips 

LHOS 

Let’s Have Online Sex 

PAL or PAW or PRW 

Parents Are Listening or Watching 

PA 

Parent Alert 

PBB 

Parent Behind Back 

PIR 

Parents In Room 

PLO or 

Parents Looking Over (My) Shoulder

PWOMS 

Parents Watching Over (My) Shoulder 

RUMORF 

Are You Male or Female? 

RU\\18 

Are You Under 18? 

WLMIRL 

Would Like to Meet in Real Life 

WYRN 

What’s Your Real Name? 

If you see your child/teen using an acronym on a text or in a chat function and you are unaware of its meaning, Google it or ask another teen what it means!