Guide to Talking with Kids About the Internet

Need to talk to your kids about internet use?  The Federal Trade Commission has issued an updated guide to help with the conversation.

“Net Cetera Chatting with Kids About Being Online” provides advice to parents on how to talk with kids about mobile apps, using public Wi-Fi securely, and recognizing text message spam.

The guide notes that the best way to protect your kids online is to talk with them.  “While kids value the opinions of their peers, most tend to rely on their parents for help on the issues that matter most,” the guide observes.  Some of the advice works for adults as well, such as:

• Remind your kids that online actions have consequences.
• Remind kids that once they post it, they can’t take it back.
• Watch out for “free” stuff.  Free games, apps, music, and other downloads can hide malware.  Don’t download anything unless you trust the source.  Teach your kids how to recognize reputable sources.
• Talk about credibility.  Not everything they see on the internet is true.  People online may not be who they appear to be or say they are.

The guide was first published in 2009.  Bulk hard copies of the free guide may be ordered on the FTC’s bulk order site.