What Are The Risks

Important Note: With any discussion of risks, it's important to realize that the most horrendous (i.e. the child turning up missing or molested) is also the least likely.  As with all aspects of life, the risk should be put into context.  Statistically, probably the greatest risk is that a child will encounter people in chat areas and newsgroups. Another "risk" is that a child will spend a lot of wasted time in areas that aren't all that productive.

• Exposure to Inappropriate Material
  One risk is that a child may be exposed to inappropriate material that is sexual, hateful, violent nature or encourages activities that are dangerous or illegal.

• Physical Molestation
  Although not very likely, there is a slight  risk   that, while online, a child might provide information or arrange an encounter that could risk his or her safety or the safety of other family members. In a few cases, pedophiles have used e-mail, bulletin boards and chat areas to gain a child's confidence and then arrange a face-to-face meeting.

• Harassment
  A child might encounter E-mail, chat or bulletin board messages that are harassing, demeaning, or belligerent. This risk may not be life threatening, but it could affect a child's self esteem and, frankly, it's pretty likely to occur for any child who engages in chat rooms or exchanges messages on bulletin boards.

• Legal and Financial
  There is also the risk that a child could do something that has negative legal or financial consequences such as giving out a parent’s credit card or doing something that violates another person’s rights. Legal issues aside, children should be taught good "netiquette" and to behave online as they would in public and to avoid being rude, mean or inconsiderate. 

Passwords: Children should also be cautioned to never give out their Internet or AOL password to anyone even if the person claims to work for AOL or an Internet service provider. When in doubt, children should ask their parents and parents should know their provider's policy regarding passwords (AOL staff, for example, will never ask a member for their password).

• Privacy
  Children have a right to privacy.  Everything about them: their name,  age, what school they go, is their business and the business of their families. No one, including reputable companies, have a right to extract this information from children without first checking with the child's parents. 

• Drugs, Alcohol, Tobacco and other Dangers
  Some web sites and newsgroups contain information that advocates the use of drugs, tobacco or alcohol.  It's even possible to find places on the Internet where you can learn to make bombs or obtain weapons.  We don't know of any cases where a child has committed an act of violence or used a substance as a result of going online. If that happens, it's most likely related to something else going on in the child's life. Yet, with a rescue as vast and as uncontrolled as the Internet, you're bound to find all sorts of information.
  

• Gambling and Other Inappropriate Behaviors
  There are sites that allow people to gamble with real money or just "for fun."  In some cases these sites may be operating legally in the jurisdiction where they are physically located but it is generally illegal (and inappropriate) for minors to gamble regardless of where they are.  Most online gambling sites require a person to use a credit card or write a check to transfer funds. Speaking of gambling, it's also possible to buy and sell stocks and securities over the Internet  If your child has access to your web browser or AOL account and your brokerage password, it is possible that he or she might be able to conduct such a transaction. Keep an eye on this. Either prevent your kid from doing it or watch closely so you can learn something.

These tips are excerpted from Child Safety on the Information Highway by Lawrence J. Magid. They are reprinted with permission of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). Copyright NCMEC 1994 and 1998 . All rights reserved.

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