Quote From: luvmylife2kno webcams PERIOD! They are only used to see outward apperence.
Put computer in a room where you, the parent, can walk by at any time. This will keep kids from being places they shouldn't be. which brings me to..
No Chatrooms PERIOD! Your kids had friends before internet. (If your kids are laking in the friend department, try to find organizations in your community with potential of meeting new friends) You still have a telephone, tell your kids to call thier friends.
Ask your kids-friends-parents to monitor the internet in THIER homes as well. If they dont see the "problem" ask them not to let your child use the internet at their house.
Remember your children can go to the library to use the internet. They really DONT need it at home.
Parents need to use thier natural radar systems. If something seems wrong, it probably is. I hope my advice seems helpful, and doesn't sound too much like I took it straight from an episode of Dr. Phil (which some of it probably did)..:)
well just walking by every now and then isn't enough you will need to educate yourself on using a computer aswell. I as a teen can do anything I want if I wanted to. The computer is in a common room but I know the computer better as my parents and am therefor able to allude my parrents if I wanted to.
As for chat rooms I agree don't allow them untill they are wise enough not to do stupid things. but you should allow teens to use messenger programs like MSN messenger or ICQ there are others but these I've used and therefor now risks are relativly low (if they don't give their email addresses they won't be added by someone. Why should you allow this? It is an important part of teen culture and a teens social network now a days also for making homework for instance.
Just make sure to check over their shoulder every once and a while.
For the webcam part it isn't all that helpfull anymore most children carry around mobile phones with camera's aswell and they'll still be able to post pictures on the net if you aren't carefull. Often these pictures or video's have higher resolution aswell.
Also most of you own a digital (video) camera which is easily connected to your pc aswell and most digital foto camera's have an option to video aswell nowadays. So instead of forbidding it just make sure they wont do anything stupid by teaching them the dangers of the internet and how they should use it safely (again this involves educating yourself aswell.) B.T.W. I do think you shouldn't let your twelve year old have a webcam for instance but a proper educated 15 year old will be able to use it without much danger.
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