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The Internet is a sea of information—but don’t believe everything you read. There are several ways to help your child distinguish reliable websites from those that are full of misinformation. Additionally, good citizens of the online community follow rules of courtesy and common sense that help keep the virtual world safe and friendly. Here are some basic, but important, web surfing dos and don’ts. First, learn to search. Finding one fact in the sea of information on the Internet can seem like filling a teacup at a waterfall. Search engines are powerful portals that comb through millions of websites the moment you type in a search term, in an attempt to provide the most relevant sites. One of the best, Google (www.google.com), has become so indispensable that its name has entered the language as a verb: “to Google” something is to look it up on the Internet. Next, evaluate websites. All are not created equal. Students using the web for research need to learn to assess a website for content and reliability. Generally, sites sponsored by universities and institutions that are well-established in the brick-and-mortar world may be considered reliable. For example, Purdue University’s online writing lab at http://owl.english.purdue.edu is a great resource for students. Links on these sorts of reputable sources usually are safe, but there are no guarantees. And don’t ever trust a site just because it “looks” professional (or, conversely, discard it because it looks homemade). That old saying about a book and its cover still applies. Once a source is considered helpful, resist the urge to plagiarize. Plagiarism, using others’ words, ideas or images without giving proper credit, is on the rise in the electronic era, maybe because it’s so easy to cut and paste from a website into a paper that’s due the next day. Make it a habit to cut and paste URLs into your notes to avoid serious academic charges. Another “to do”: Learn about security settings and filters on your computer. For parents routinely control what their children watch or listen to, setting boundaries on their Internet travels is a no-brainer. Call customer support, read the manual, consider hiring a computer expert for a few hours to set up your home system if it’s not something you feel comfortable doing yourself. Ask about firewalls and antivirus programs, too. While most new computers and Internet providers offer a certain amount of built-in protection, there are plenty of commercially available products that can make your home computer even more secure. Some common-sense don’ts can go a long way here, too. Never provide personal information, such as social security or credit card numbers, unless you’re absolutely sure the site is safe. Also, beware of what your child downloads. Students need to be cautioned against illegal song-swapping. And if you receive an e-mail from an unknown source with an attachment, delete it immediately. There are plenty of other guidelines for proper web use. When writing e-mails, for example, be sure your child avoids writing in all capitals (he’ll appear to be yelling or shouting) and avoids sending junk e-mail or jokes in poor taste to everyone on his e-mail list (also called ‘spamming’). For more tips on being polite online, check out a netiquette guide such as http://www.onlinenetiquette.com/netiquette_guide.html There’s a brave new world at your family’s fingertips. With these dos and dont’s, you and your child can explore it safely! By Emmet Rosenfeld |
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