Using the Internet Safely For Seniors

Understand How Kids

Use the Internet

Your first step in helping kids is to understand what services they’re using

online and what devices they’re using to connect to the Internet. Kids go

online through many devices including cell (mobile) phones, game con-

soles, iPods and other media players, and, of course, computers.

And what are they doing with that access? A lot.of kids use the Internet

for a variety of tasks, such as the following:

➟ Researching topics for homework

➟ Using social networking sites to hang out with friends

and share their photos and thoughts

➟ Sharing videos — often made via their cell phones —

on sites such as YouTube.com

➟ Sending text messages (called texting), sharing music,

photos, and videos via their cell phones with friends

➟ Playing games — single-player and interactive, multi-

player games

➟ Collaborating on school projects

➟ Shopping

➟ Selling items on classified sites

➟ Finding new bands and downloading music

➟ Applying for jobs and college

➟ Finding dates and flirting

➟ Seeking out advice, humor, content, styles, and how

to do things

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Part II: Using the Internet While Dodging the Risk