Summary: Staying informed about what your kids are doing online is the best way to help ensure they don’t do anything foolish. You can’t be watching all the time, but you can do the next best thing: check out OnlineFamily.Norton so you know what your kids are doing online this summer.

You bet they can. Especially over the summer when there’s more than the usual amount of free time, there’s an abundance of online activity available to kids of all ages. That’s why it’s more important than ever to ensure your child’s safety online. One way you can do this is through OnlineFamily.Norton.

Here’s a checklist of a few questions to keep in mind this summer:

• What are your kids posting online?
  Be sure to talk to your children about what messages and photos they are posting online. They also want to make sure their friends aren’t posting photos or information about them either. You can track the sending of digital photos from the phone (just check your online or paper invoice) and make sure your child shows you the photos so you can advise them about anything you deem risqué or inappropriate for sharing.
• Is your child an online victim? Are they practicing good online “manners”?
  We have to talk to our children and make sure they know "the golden rule" and understand that it applies to their use of the cell phone and the computer, too. If they join social networking websites, ask to see any profile or Web page they create. If they are bullies or victims, it will be clear to you. Also, if your child seems to be sad or angry after using the cell phone or PC, ask them what the problem might be. A gentle probe may reveal that they are the victim of a cyber bully. It's our responsibility as parents to make sure that our children are neither victims nor bullies.
• How strong are your passwords?
  Make sure to practice good password management and security - never share your passwords with others. And be sure to change your passwords frequently! Your kids should do the same!
• How is your family represented online?
  Sometime this summer, be sure to "Google" yourself and your family members to check on what's available about you and your kids online. Don’t be shy about searching social networks (including your friends and colleagues) and be sure to remove anything private or inappropriate.
• How much information is available about you and your family?
  It’s a good idea to get rid of any online calendars or itineraries from Web sites and social networks regarding your future travels and whereabouts. Even the popular Facebook, which shows events you plan to attend, could easily tip off potential stalkers.

Have you found yourself asking questions like:

• How do we keep a watchful eye on our Internet-savvy kids without being over-protective?
• How do I know what my kids’ Internet choices are when they’re at home and I’m at work?
• How can we be sure our teens and pre-teens are not being exposed to questionable content or inappropriate contact with strangers who they may meet on the Internet?
• Are the kids spending too much time on the Internet? And what are they doing with all that time anyway?
• If my daughter wants to join Facebook, for example, what do I tell her? Should I let her create her own page on this popular social networking site, or should I come up with a half-hearted reason why she should wait another year? And, once she’s using it, will she learn and adhere to a whole new set of precautions I would expect her to follow?

If these are important questions to you, then I can’t stress enough how important it is for you to try out OnlineFamily.Norton! It’s free right now and truly worth the few minutes it takes to set up so that you can have peace of mind about what your children are doing online. It’s not spyware – it’s working with your children to ensure that they are playing and working safely on the Internet.

For more information, click here.

You know I love to hear from you. Please write to me at marian@norton.com.

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