Children and the Internet, How to protect them

Let's face it, Most children today know there way around on the internet before they ever get to Pre-k. Whether it is Playing games, chatting with friends, studying, or just surfing the internet, children are taking advantage of everything the web offers.

But, Who is really in charge when it comes to our childrens privacy online? The Federal Trade Commission has established new rules for web site operators to make sure your child's privacy is protected while online.

The Federal Trade Commission offers these tips to protect your child's privacy:

-Look for a privacy policy on any website directed to children: The policy must be available through a link on the websites homepage and at each area where personal information is collected from kids.

-Decide whether to give consent: Giving consent authorizes the website to collect personal information from your child.

-Decide whether to approve information collection from your kids based on new uses for the information: Website operators will let you know about the need for new consent by sending you a new notice and request.

-Ask to see the information your child has submitted: The site will ask you to verify your identity to ensure that your childs information isn't given out improperly.

-understand that you may revoke your consent at anytime and have your childs information deleted. To stop a website from collecting additional information from your child, you can revoke your consent. You may also ask a site to delete any personal information it has already collected from your child.

Rememer to talk to your children about the dangers that lurk in the web world. Explain to them that they should never give out personal information online and not to believe everything they are told online.

Supervise your childs computer usage. Place your computer in a family room where you can monitor your child's activities online.Get to know your childs online friends just as you would their other friends.

Website operators must:

-Post their Privacy Policy. Websites directed to children or that knowingly collect information from children under the age 13 must post a notice of their information collection practices.

-Get parental Consent. A site must obtain parental consent before collecting, using or disclosing personal information about a child.

-Get new consent when information practices change in a "material" way. Website operators need to notify parents and get consent again if they plan to change the kinds of information they collect, Change how they use the information or offer the information to new and diffrent third parties.

-Allow parents to review personal information collected from their child. To do this, website operators must verify the identity of the requesting parent.

-Allow parents to revoke consent, and delete information collected from their children at the parent's request. Parents can revoke their consent and ask that information about their child be deleted from the sites database.