Dedham Police Issue Internet Safety Tips to Parents, Youths

With the Internet making its stance as a dominant force of communication these days, Dedham Police are working hard to inform local parents and their children about best practices and using the web in the safest and smartest ways possible. 

"The Internet has become the main source of communication for people from all over the world," Dedham police said in a recent statement. "The Internet allows people instant access to information which previously would not have been available to them. Along with this new way to connect with the world, the Internet has also brought new risks to both children and parents, such as cyber bulling, online predators and exposure to inappropriate material." 

As such, the Dedham Police Department has issued the following list of Internet safety tips for both parents and for their children: 

Safety Tips for Children & Teens

• Never give out personal information such as your name, home address, school name, or telephone number in a chat room or message boards.   Never send pictures to someone you chat with and don’t know their true identity.

• Never meet in person with anyone you first “met” online. Some people may not be who they say they are.

• If you wouldn’t say something to another person’s face, don’t post it online. Once you click send, you may never get it back.

• Never give out your password to anyone other than your parent or guardian. Best friends today sometimes become worst enemies tomorrow.

• Only add people as friends to your social media site if you know them in real life.

• Use the privacy settings of the social networking sites. Allowing anyone as a friend defeats the purpose of having privacy settings though.

• Remember that colleges and employers are checking social media sites, so be cautious of what you post online.

• If you feel scared or threatened online, tell an adult immediately. Save or screenshot the cyber bullying, in case the police or school need to be involved later.

Safety Tips for Adults

• Keep the computer in the family room or another open area of your home.

• Look into safeguarding programs or options your online service provider might offer. These may include monitoring or filtering capabilities.

• Password protect your WiFi signal to help prevent unauthorized access to your computers and wireless network.

• Be aware of phishing scams: banks, credit cards, PayPal, etc. will not notify you that your account has been compromised and then ask for your PIN number. Do not click on these links and then put your personal information in.

• Don’t post updates and pictures while on vacation. For most people, it shows that you are having a good time…but for some “friends” it is an invitation to break into your house since they know you are not home.

• Talk to children about what to do if they see something that makes them feel scared, uncomfortable, or confused. Show them how to turn off the monitor and emphasize that it's not their fault if they see something upsetting. Remind children to tell a trusted adult if they see something that bothers them online.

Cell Phone & Smart Phone Safety Tips

• Review cell phone records for any unknown numbers and late night phone calls and texts.

• Talk to your child about the possible consequences of sending sexually explicit or provocative images or text messages.

• When shopping for a cell phone for your child, research the security settings that are available.

More information on internet safety can be found at www.netsmartz.org/internetsafety.