Never give out identifying information
such as home address, school name, or telephone number in a public message such
as chat or newsgroups, and be sure you're dealing with someone both you and your
children know and trust before giving out this information via E-mail. Do not
post photographs of your children in newsgroups or on web sites that are
available to the public. Never allow your child to arrange a
face-to-face meeting with someone they "meet" on the Internet. If a meeting is
arranged, make the first one in a public place, and be sure to accompany your
child. Remember that people online may not be who they seem.
Because you can't see or even hear the person it would be easy for someone to
misrepresent him or herself. Thus someone indicating that "she" is a
"12-year-old girl" could in reality be a 40-year-old man.
Remember that everything you read online may not be true. Any offer that's
"too good to be true" probably is. Be careful about any offers that involve you
going to a meeting, having someone visit your house, or sending money or
credit-card information. Remember that personal computers and
online services should not be used as electronic babysitters.
Get to know your child's "online friends" just as you get to know all of
their other friends.