Internet Safety

People of all ages now "surf" the millions of websites on the Internet and exchange messages through email, instant messenger, newsgroups and blogs. There are no censors on the Internet: companies, governments, organizations, or virtually anyone in the world can publish material on the Internet. Your Internet service provider and the library link you to all of these sites but cannot control what is on them.

Harris County Public Library uses the WebSense filtering software to block access to sites containing adult entertainment, pornography or which promote illegal activities on all Library computers. WebSense permits system administrators to block network traffic to certain types of Internet sites on public computers. However, no filtering system is 100% foolproof. The Library cannot guarantee that access to sites containing adult entertainment, pornography or which promote illegal activities will be blocked.

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Legend Busters: Internet Safety Video

What Is Social Networking?

According to Netsmartz411, social networking is defined as:

. . . an online community where people from all over the world can meet and share common interests.

Anyone who can access these websites can contact the user through the site. For parents, setting rules for your children and having them follow simple safety guidelines will allow them to both enjoy these websites and keep them safer online.

What Are The Risks?

• You might be exposed to material that is sexual, hateful, violent, or encourages activities that are dangerous or illegal.


• You might provide information or arrange an encounter that could risk your safety or the safety of other family members.


• You might encounter messages via chat, E-mail, or cellular telephone that are belligerent, demeaning, or harassing.


• You could download a file containing a virus that could damage the computer or increase the risk of a “hacker” gaining remote access to the computer.


• You could do something that has negative legal or financial consequences.

How Can I Reduce the Risks?

• Never give out identifying information — home address, business address, school name, or telephone.


• Consider using a pseudonym and think carefully before revealing any personal information such as age, financial information, or marital status.


• Find out about your Internet Service Provider’s privacy policies and exercise your options for how your personal information may be used.


• Never respond to messages that are suggestive, obscene, belligerent, threatening, or make you feel uncomfortable. Encourage your children to tell you if they encounter such messages.


• 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.


• If you choose to meet an online acquaintance in person, arrange to meet in a public place, tell a trusted friend about the time and location of the meeting, and arrange a "safe call" to let your friend know how the meeting is going.


• Any offer that’s “too good to be true” probably is.

What Are Some Guidelines For Parents?

Parental involvement and supervision in a child's online activities is the most important thing for reducing risks on the ‘Net. These guidelines can help you shield your children from inappropriate material and keep them safer online.

• Seek out the advice and counsel of teachers, librarians, and other Internet and online service users in your area.


• Have open communication with your children, use computer resources, and get online yourself - this will help alert you to any potential problems


• Don't blame your child if he or she tells you about an upsetting message, person, or web site encountered while online - help him or her avoid problems in the future


• Do not post photographs of your children in newsgroups or on web sites that are available to the public.


• Get to know the Internet and any services your child uses - if you don’t know how to log on, get your child to show you.


• Never allow a child to arrange a face-to-face meeting with someone they “meet” on the Internet without parental permission.


• Set reasonable rules and guidelines for computer use by your children.


• Check out blocking, filtering, and ratings applications.


• Consider keeping the computer in a family room rather than the child’s bedroom.

Where Can I Find More Information?

HCPL Internet Safety Tips for Kids

HCPL Internet Safety Tips for Teens

Netsmartz411

Federal Bureau of Investigation: Internet Fraud

Internet Crime Complaint Center: Internet Crime Schemes

Federal Trade Commission: Computers & the Internet

ConsumerReports.org: Net Threats

SafeKids.com: Online Safety Guidelines for Parents

AdCouncil/NCMEC: Online Lingo and Internet Safety Quizzes for Kids and Adults (Downloadable PDFs)

NCMEC: Blog Beware (Downloadable PDF)