[December 27, 2009] Practice online safety for those electronic toys Tweet Dec 27, 2009 (Public Opinion - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- So Santa brought your kids all those neat electronic toys for Christmas, including some they will use on the Internet. The kids might be ecstatic about their haul, but many parents are little concerned about letting the younger generation loose with all that high-tech stuff. Attorney General Tom Corbett has a bit of advice for parents in that situation. Spend time during the holidays reviewing the importance of Internet safety with your children, Corbett says. That is especially important if the kids received new computers, game systems, cell phones or other electronic devices as holiday gifts. "The latest generation of electronic devices allows users to access the Internet or send and receive messages, pictures or videos," Corbett said. The attorney general points out that predators know children will be exploring these new features and are hoping to take advantage of unsuspecting victims. The Attorney General's Child Predator Unit works to find and prosecute predators who prey on children using the Internet. Since 2005, undercover agents have arrested 245 online predators. Predators use many Internet resources to seek out and prey upon children, from social networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook to chat room and Web sites created to discuss popular video games Corbett urged parents to monitor the following: - Know what your children are doing online. - Understand the Web sites they use and who they are communicating with. - Review their MySpace and Facebook pages, or other online profiles. - Talk to them about the dangers of face-to-face meetings with strangers. - Do your own research -- use Google or other Internet searches to see what your children, or their friends, may be posting online. Parents who are giving new game systems or other electronic devices should also review online safety tips: - Many systems and games allow kids to play with people around the world -- friends and strangers alike -- and to send and receive messages. Make sure children do not reveal personal information, like their names, ages or addresses. - Check game system instructions for details about privacy controls and parental restrictions that can be activated. - Encourage children to report any inappropriate contact involving strangers, including sexually suggestive comments, attempts to arrange face-to-face meetings, threats or abusive behavior. ------ Vicky Taylor covers Franklin county court and community issues. She can be reached at [email protected] or 262-4753. To see more of the Public Opinion, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.publicopiniononline.com. Copyright (c) 2009, Public Opinion, Chambersburg, Pa. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]