Your kids love the internet and spend hours each weekend online downloading their favorite games, chatting to friends or just doing homework, right? Well maybe not. The World Wide Web has its hidden dangers and this is especially true for your children - who may not know how to protect themselves from online exploitation. As a parent or guardian it is your responsibility to protect your kid’s privacy online and make sure they are safe and secure but this may be easier said than done or compounded by your own naivety and ignorance about the dangers that lurk on the Internet. Below are some helpful tips and guidelines that will give you some skills and techniques to help protect your kid’s privacy online. These days, it really is vital for your children’s safety - so read on.
1) Understand the Law
Did you know that there are specific laws that govern your kid’s privacy online? The 1998 Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) makes provision for how website operators handle the personal information of children. These rules have been established by the Federal Trade Commission and are aimed at protecting children by providing for good guidance from their parents. It is in your best interests and those of children in your care to read this act and make sure you know your rights. You can find a detailed copy at:
http://www.ftc.gov/ogc/coppa
2) Read the Web Site’s Privacy Policy
Always make sure that you locate and read the site’s online privacy policy - this should be easily accessible through a link on the website’s homepage and in any area that requires personal information to be shared. If the Web site has a special kid’s section it should be on that homepage also.
Read through this page very carefully to determine how each Web site handles personal information pertaining to kids and what measures are taken to protect kid’s privacy online. Pay particular attention to whether their personal data is passed on to any third parties.
The privacy policy should list the following information pertaining to data collected from children under the age of thirteen:
* The type of personal information that is collected such as name, location, address, email address or hobbies.
* How the data will be used - for example - marketing, to notify contest winners or to make the information available through a child's participation in a chat room.
* Whether the information is forwarded to advertisers or other third parties.
* Who to contact on the site for more information or queries.
If a Web site has no such information - contact them and ask about the ways in which they protect kid’s privacy online and how the information they collect is handled and/or disseminated.
