How does the internet pose a threat to my child?

Mike Dow, PsyD, discusses how the Internet can pose a threat to your child and provides tips on how to keep your kids safe when they are online.

Transcript

00:00

It's great for children to use computers for homework, for gaining new skills. But keep that computer in the living room.

00:06

And do not allow young children to keep that computer in their bedroom. [MUSIC PLAYING]

00:18

The internet can be a very dangerous place for children. Studies show that one in four children

00:25

have been approached by an online predator. And one in five children have been sent pornographic material.

00:31

So what can parents do to prevent them from happening? First, I always tell my parents, you wouldn't go drop your kid off in a red-light district

00:39

and let them walk around. And yet so many parents are letting their children use the internet without any restrictions.

00:45

And the internet can be a very dangerous place. Here are three things you can do to help your children. Number one, keep the computer in a public place.

00:55

It's great for children to use computers for homework, for gaining new skills. But keep that computer in the living room.

01:02

And do not allow young children to keep that computer in their bedroom. Second, install filtering software

01:09

that will not allow your child to explore and view pornographic material. And third, talk to your kids.

01:18

Talk to your kids about the dangers of the internet, about the dangers of putting personal information. That way, they can really be private.

01:27

And you can really know what they're up to. [AUDIO LOGO]