Softwyre CEO Shares Internet Safety Expertise with KTHV
Protecting Your Child From Online Sexual Predators On The Prowl
Broadcast on KTHV Channel 11 Evening News, June 22, 2007
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Bug bites and sunburn may be the least of parents’ worries this summer as Internet predators are on the prowl for children out of school and surfing the Web.
Shayna Tedder is a mom with a nose for knowing what her two daughters are up to, especially when they are online.
“You never know who is on the other end of that computer, and that’s very scary,” she said.
Her two girls, Grace and Emma, make no bones about telling you about their favorite game, Webkins. Regardless of how playful that game might seem, however, monitoring their activity is Shayna’s top priority.
“We’ve made sure we have no Internet access in rooms away from us,” she said. “The only access is in our bedroom and a WiFi laptop that we monitor.”
That’s a great start, according to Steve Wade with Hardwyre and Softwyre.
“A computer is a very powerful tool. Unfiltered, unfettered access to the Internet using that tool can be very dangerous,” he said. “It’s like giving a child a power tool and being surprised when they hurt themselves.”
Below is a list of Wade’s additional tips for making your child’s online experience as safe as possible:
• Establish ground rules for Internet use.
• Become more computer literate yourself.
• Understand parental controls available through your online service.
• Invest in monitoring software.
“Some of the software providers that’re out there maintain their own lists,” Wade said. “They have people that do the research and monitoring for you.”
According to the Crimes Against Children Research Center, almost one in five children receives sexual solicitation while on-line.
