Family
and Media
Surf’s up (internet
family agreement)
Going out onto the Internet
reminds me of what it must have been like in the Old West. There’s
plenty of opportunity on these new frontiers, but there’s also
uncertainty and a bit of danger, as well. Especially for children.
Bonnie Bruno and Joel
Comm wrote a book to help parents make the most of their cyberpioneering:
Internet Family Fun: The Parent’s Guide to Safe Surfing
(No Starch Press, 1997).
In addition to scads
of tips for navigating the Net and a wealth of family-friendly web
destinations, they offer this four-point family agreement that can
help you and your family feel more secure as you begin to point and
click your way around the globe. Adapt or add your own points to make
this right for you. Review it with your children before they sign
on. Post it near the family computer.
Family Agreement
-
I will abide by the
time limitations and any other restrictions that my parents set
up for me when using the computer.
-
If I run into anything
on the Internet that makes me feel uncomfortable, I will tell
my parents right away.
-
I will not give out
my full name, address, location, phone number, or school name/location
to anyone on the Internet. If someone asks me for personal information,
I will tell my parents right away.
-
I will practice good
netiquette (Internet manners) by showing the same courtesy online
as I would face-to-face.
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