The Internet was designed as a public place where companies as well as individuals and families like yours can share information. Compare cyberspace to another public space you know, your neighborhood.
In your neighborhood, you know your way around. You have an idea which areas are safe, where to proceed with caution and what places to avoid, but you can never be totally sure about safety so you set rules for your children.
Cyberspace is similar, there are thousands of sites to visit, with new ones added every day. Some areas you will feel comfortable with and others you won't. It's important to locate sites that are appropriate for your children.
In your neighborhood, you may know most of the people who come in contact with your children at school and at play. But again, you can't be too sure when it comes to protecting your children, so you set family rules about not talking to strangers and being cautious.
In cyberspace, it's difficult to know who will be in contact with your children or what information your children may receive, unless you monitor your child's online experiences. Parents who spend time online can find sites that have reliable, useful information for themselves and their children. Parents can then set realistic rules for what their children can and cannot do online.
In your neighborhood, you protect your privacy by being careful about what personal or family information you share.
In cyberspace, you need to exercise the same types of caution to protect your privacy. Set rules for your children about who they can talk to and what general discussion topics are alright, which are off limits and what personal information, if any, is alright to share.
Think of the Internet as you do any public place. You know how to protect your family's privacy in your neighborhood, or in a shopping mall, or in an airport or bus station. You must do the same in cyberspace.
