Using the Internet Safely For Seniors

The odds are that your grandkids are getting far more benefit from the

Internet than harm, but just as you pay attention to their behavior offline

to keep them safe, it helps if you’re aware of what they’re doing online.

Talk to them about their Internet activities and be observant if you notice

any unusual behavior, such as spending too much time online, making

or receiving cell phone calls or instant messages late at night, or develop-

ing a serious relationship with someone they’ve met only online.

Bond online with your grandchildren. Learn how to

use the tools your kids are using: blogs, e-mail, instant

messaging, and so on. This is a great opportunity to

ask for help to set up your own blog, get started with

instant messaging, start searching, or show you what-

ever it is you don’t yet know how to do.

Checklist for Online Family Safety

By the time kids turn 18 they need to have fully developed the skills to

be productive, responsible Internet users ready to succeed in the 21st

century. This doesn’t happen without practice — and a few failures

along the way. We aren’t doing our jobs as guardians if we don’t ade-

quately prepare young people for the road ahead.

Start on the right foot. Internet safety isn’t about “don’t,” “never,” or

“no.” It’s about learning how to create an environment to say “yes.”

“Grandma, I want to start social networking.” Answer: “That would be

great wouldn’t it! Let’s figure out how we can make that happen. There

are some skills you’ll need to learn, and some responsibilities you’ll

have to master to protect our privacy and respect others. So let’s get

started.”

Effective safety is something families do together. You really can’t force

people over the age of about 10 to act safely online.

Fortunately, kids have a basic sense of self-preservation most of the

time. They don’t want to be insulted, ripped off, or abused by a scam-

mer, thief, or criminal. And when they realize their actions may place

not only themselves, but their family members or friends, at risk, they

are fairly interested in using safety measures.

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Chapter 11: Grandparents Rule!