The Jefferson Parish Library is providing
the following information as an introduction to Child Safety
and the Internet. As with all library materials, parents,
guardians and caregiver's are responsible for their children's
use of the Internet. Remember if your child is going to
use the Internet you, as a parent, should take time to learn
more about it. To assist you, we have listed several websites
about child safety on the Internet.
The Internet is an unregulated worldwide computer network
which provides easy access to a massive body
of information. It is used by a wide variety of people,
mirroring our society. While most Internet users are well-mannered
and respectful, some are rude, angry, and mean. Children
can come in contact with all types of people while using
the Internet. You would never allow your young children
to play near a busy road without supervision, nor would
you want them "playing" on the Internet without
your guidance. Yet, a recent study of 500 households with
children between the ages of 8 and 18 found many parents
are not supervising their children's Internet use. The study,
commissioned by the National Center for Missing and Exploited
Children, found that 20 percent of parents do not monitor
their children's Internet use, and 52 percent monitor it
only moderately. Even more alarming is that 71 percent of
parents with children 14 and older no longer supervise their
children's Internet use (Edupage [online mailing list],
May 28, 1999).
