The first step toward keeping your kids safe in cyberspace is to become informed about the various sources of information available to them through your computer. Your local library and bookstores will have a choice of easy-to-read books written especially for the newcomer to computers. Another option is to take a computer class through a local community college or adult education program. A class will help you become more computer literate and give you a better understanding of opportunities and trouble areas your children may encounter on the computer.
Online Services: Millions of families subscribe to commercial services such as America Online, CompuServe and Prodigy. These networks provide a multitude of information and entertainment, and enable people throughout the world to communicate anonymously -- via e-mail and chat rooms -- in a virtually uncontrolled electronic world.
E-mail is a way that pornographic materials can be sent to your child, and chat rooms are a favorite hangout for adults who want to prey on kids.
The online services can monitor public messages on their networks and can disconnect members if they become aware of inappropriate behavior. However, they can’t monitor e-mail and the monitoring of chat rooms is inconsistent.
You may be able to block your child’s access to certain online services. For more information, see The Key Is
Parental Supervision And Involvement.
Computer Bulletin Boards: There are more than 40,000 bulletin boards -- also known as BBS systems -- operating in North America, and the 
majority of them are run by private individuals. While most of these people are perfectly honorable, some are looking for ways to involve children in illegal activities. Bulletin boards to watch out for are any that use the letters H/P/V/A/C/T on their advertising screen, right as you log in (these are related to hacking and other criminal activities); and WAREZ, which illegally distributes and sells copyright-protected software. Bulletin boards cannot be blocked by parents, so it pays to stay informed and personally involved in your child’s computer activities.
The Internet: This vast, worldwide net-work of computers has an estimated 40 million users and is unregulated and uncensored. While the Internet offers an extensive array of educational and entertainment-oriented materials, it also provides access to no-holds-barred sex talk and sources for pornographic materials. (An 18-month study of this network found more than 917,000 sexually explicit pieces of information.) What’s more, you can download these materials onto your computer.
Three particularly risky spots for kids on the Internet are:
- Internet Relay Chat (IRC) Rooms, which provide forums for uncensored chat on any and all subjects.
- The Usenet, where photos are stored. The Usenet is home to some of the most sexually explicit material on the Information Super Highway.
- The World Wide Web, which provides access to an extensive variety of multimedia sites with retrievable images and sounds. While the Web is relatively safe for kids, it offers easy access to online adult shops and pornographic magazines.
