Summer Internet Safety Tips

MERIDEN — Connecticut’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) released its “Summer Vacation Internet Safety Tips” recently in hopes of helping parents keep their children safe while they are online.

“All of the children in the state have access to computers and the Internet — either from home, school, or the local public library,” said Sgt Andrew Russell, head of the task force. Most children on summer vacation will spend at least part of it surfing the web, so the Department of Pubic Safety offers the following Internet tips:

•Do not spend the entire summer vacation online. Read a good book, play your favorite sport, get together with your friends. Balance your “virtual” life with your “real” life.

•Use appropriate screen names, email addresses and instant message identities. When you choose a suggestive name, such as “lookinforlove” or “itchin4trble,” you often get what you ask for.

•No one under the age of 13 should have a personal profile. If you do have a profile, make sure you do not enter private information like full name, address, phone number, date of birth, school that you attend, or social security number.

•Do not meet people from the Internet without your parents’ permission. If you must meet someone from the Internet in real life, bring your parents with you.

For parents:

•Put the child’s online computer in a common area and supervise Internet access.

•Establish rules for Internet just (just like using the phone or watching the television).

•Review screen names, profiles, buddy lists, and homepage or web page content periodically with your child.

•Supervise any picture swapping.

•Use a filtering program and/or parental controls available through your Internet service provider.