Saturday, October 31, 2009

Watch this space

This is about the use of Internet. Internet sometimes called the World Wide Web (www) or just ‘the net’, is a massive network of computers from around the world all connected by cable and satellite. When users are connected to the Internet, they can receive text, images, video and sound on their computers anywhere in the world.

According to Butell; in reality, seeing inappropriate material is not the greatest danger to kids online. The real threat comes from those who would take advantage of kids who naively reveal personal information about themselves, such as their name and address.

Therefore, there are many things on-line that are suitable for children or those are cause for concern. The main dangers to children are that they may access inappropriate information; inadvertently form ‘friendships’ with strangers; be subjected to advertising pressures; risk their personal health through excessive use; and endanger their privacy. Some sites encourage children to join clubs and enter competitions. In so doing, they reveal their name and address and may become the target of unwelcome marketing and other material.

However, what parents can do is to comply with the Young Media suggestions as with other areas of children’s lives, parents have a responsibility to provide guidance and to set clear limits. There are therefore several things, according to the Young Media, that parents can do to help counteract the dangers of the Internet while allowing their children to use its benefits such as learn more about it yourselves; be aware of what your children are doing on the Internet; you can do this in a number of ways, including sitting with them while they are using the Internet and chatting with them about what they are doing; establish guidelines about safe Internet use; teach your children to be critical users of the Internet; put in place reasonable boundaries; use blocking software; and if necessary, lodge complaints if you think your children have come across something illegal on the Internet, you can lodge a complaint with the South African Communications & Media Authority.

No comments:

Post a Comment