Cybersafety

There is much to be said about keeping our children safe. It used to be that when they were home and the doors closed, they were safe from those outside our influence. This is no longer the case. Cell phones and mobile devices connected via wireless internet connections in the home can be useful, but they can also provide opportunity for our children to be reached at any time of the day or night. Here are some tips for helping your children to stay safe, or at least reduce the potential risk.

Talk these over with your children, as appropriate.

1. NEVER share passwords. Even best friends can let us down. 
2. NEVER pass on a personal message you receive about another person.
3. Remember that as soon as you put something on the internet, you lose control of it.
4. Think carefully about any comment you make through on-line, email or text and run it through the Philippians 4:8 test:  "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true,whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
5. Online friends may not be who they say they are.
6. Ensure your Facebook and other sites' privacy settings are set correctly - friends only, and only accept those who are your friends.
7. Would your mother and father be happy if they read your profile?

Here are two online resources you could use with your children to discuss this further.

• NSTEENS - good discussion starters, video and activities
• Netsafe is a New Zealand site about cyber safety