Internet Safety for Teenagers

A concern of every parent of teenagers should be Internet Safety. American teenagers are often adventuresome, knowledgeable about computers and independent but their lack of wariness and life experiences can make them easy targets for various Internet hazards. The Internet poses three major dangers for teens: personal danger; exposure to inappropriate material; and invasion of privacy (Gralla, 204-205).
The first step in protecting teens is in understanding how they use the Internet. An integral part of their lives, they use it for communicating with their friends; homework; finding information and entertainment. Parents need to learn how to use the software that teens use and learn about the safety issues in order to provide their children with the knowledge and skills required for safe Internet usage. There are software tools available that parents can use when necessary. These include activity monitors; cache explorers; site filtering software; spyware removal software; and personal firewalls. Good parenting skills, having a good relationship with the child and having frequent non-judgmental discussions about the Internet and safety are the most important things that parents can use to keep their teenagers safe.