[September 10, 2009] Communication, monitoring are key to protecting children online Tweet Sep 10, 2009 (Star-News - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Children spending time online has become about as common as children riding bicycles. But for their parents, especially those who aren't technologically savvy, it's a strange frontier to monitor. According to a recent Nielsen Online report, children ages 2 to 11 are spending more time online than their parents. That age group's online time increased more in the past five years than any other age group, according to the study. But for some police detectives specializing in Internet safety and crimes, the spike in the younger crowd's online activity brings new worries. Lisa Ashby, of Wilmington, says she might be a little overprotective, but she doesn't want her children being solicited or engaging in online chats with people they don't know. Her 10-year-old son likes to play games on the LEGO site, a favorite for kids his age, but she doesn't allow him to participate in the site's social networking aspects or to visit popular social networks such as Facebook or Myspace. Users of these sites post information about and photographs of themselves online, the idea being to connect and keep up with friends. But in some cases anyone using the Internet can access the information. "I feel like as a child he is not prepared for what an adult might say to him," Ashby said. "He might get solicited as a teen and not have the mental capacity to handle it. I don't want him to be exposed to that just yet." Watching over shoulders Ashby said she monitors her son when he is online by only allowing him to use a computer that sits in an open area in their home, where she can look over his shoulder from time to time. They also go to the library, where she sits with him and helps him learn appropriate sites to visit. And while it might seem like an extreme approach, over-the-shoulder monitoring is what detectives advise. Detective Randy Eslick, of the New Hanover County Sheriff's Office, said the horror stories of adult sexual predators posing as kids in chat rooms and children being solicited online aren't uncommon in the area. And, with the rise of social networking, he said, kids are even more vulnerable and could be encouraged to share information with people they don't know. Sites like Facebook and Myspace and the popularity of text messages bring up new problems. Eslick said detectives are seeing cases involving teens sending obscene or nude photos via text messaging and other cases involving threats over the Internet, also known as "cyber bullying." And, he said, parents aren't catching on. "Nothing beats good, old communication," Eslick said. "Parents need to talk to kids, see what they're into." He said what Ashby is doing -- allowing her son to use a computer that sits in the open so she can monitor his activity -- is one of the best ways to monitor a kid's online use. Also, computer software is available for parents who want to block their children from visiting certain Web sites or to monitor what they do while on the Internet. Local law enforcement agencies hand out a free software called "ComputerCop" to anyone who requests it. The software has a feature that finds phrases used in chats or e-mails that could point to obscene or dangerous activity. No one but the parent who installs the software knows it's there, Eslick said. Copies are available at the front desks of the New Hanover County Sheriff's Office and the Wilmington Police Department. When Eslick and other detectives speak to school groups and classes about safe online practices, they sometimes refer to NetSmartz.org, an Internet safety resource created by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Parents can make use of the site as well; on it they'll find tips on how to share safety information with their kids and what to do in case of suspected online solicitation or exploitation. Parents also will find a link to CyberTipline.com, a site where inappropriate activity can be reported. The N.C. Department of Justice also provides Internet safety tips and resources for parents. Some recommendations include approving photos children want to send to their friends over the Internet, sharing an e-mail account with children or having access to their accounts and reminding children that their online activity is not confidential. More tips and resources for setting family computer rules can be found at www.ncdoj.com. Shannan Bowen: 343-2016 On Twitter.com: @shanbow To see more of The Star-News or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.starnewsonline.com. Copyright (c) 2009, Star-News, Wilmington, N.C. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. 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