Instant Messenger Safety for Parents (AOL)

What Do You Really Know?

What is an Instant Messenger:
Instant messaging allows two people to communicate in "real time" over the Internet, super ceding the pace of e-mail.

Some Instant Messaging software allows you to track when another person logs on and logs off of the Internet. Some software also gives you the convenience of sending files back and forth to one another.

Depending upon the Instant Messaging software that you choose, it will require you to either enter in a screen name or e-mail address. This is how the program is able to track if a person is online at the same time that you are.

Hazards:
Cyberpredators can add a child’s UIN or instant messaging ID to their notify list (AOL calls it the "buddy list"), allowing them to be notified whenever the child is online. Contacting is then as simple as sending them a message.

If a user is in "online" mode and leaves the computer for a while, the ICQ or AIM program sets the mode to "away" automatically. This means that Cyberpredators could potentially know not only when the child is online but also when the computer is online but the child has stepped away for a few minutes. 

Exactly what does the Cyberpredators gain by knowing this? Maybe nothing; then again, maybe something—like the child has left the computer to get a parent. The bottom line is that the child is giving away a little more information and losing a little more privacy.

Most instant messaging programs are free, but you need to download the software and register to use it. You can find ICQ at www.icq.com and find its affiliate, Instant Messenger, at www.aol.com.

When you register, the providers ask for a lot of personal information, and unless you are careful, that information may be publicly posted. That means you’ll be sharing personal information with others without even knowing it.

Other IM users can add you to there IM program with you even knowing it, which gives them access to knowing when and when you are not online.

If you filled out your information profile with your real information such as real name, address, city, state/province, and or country, then stalkers can find you easily.

Safety:
In order to comply with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, [COPPA], any site requesting personal information from kids under 13 requires parental permission with verification.

There are a few steps you can take to ensure your safety along with your children, below are a few steps you should take to ensure this:

1. Ensure that you have not placed your personal information anywhere in your IM profile or used it in your registration, if you have contact the company of the software and ask them to remove it from your profile if you cannot do it yourself, if they do not do so, ask them to delete you from there account or do it yourself if possible and reregister yourself and children again.

2. If you are harassed while you are online, pick a new username and start over and delete you old account.

3. Ensure your children know what to do if they are harassed while they are online. Ensure them that they have not done anything wrong.

4 Steps to take if you are being harassed while you are online : 1) Shut down the program immediately, NEVER make contact with the individual. 2) If you think your life is in danger contact your local police. 3) Safe all information pertaining to the harasser for evidence if it is needed. 4) Reregister by creating a new user ID that is not common with your old one.

Questions to ask yourself:
Below are a few questions you should ask yourself and your children:

1. Have I took all steps to ensure the safety of myself and my children.

2. Have I or my children given out any personal information about ourselves to anybody we do not know on the Internet.

3. Do I know everybody that are on my buddy list or my children's buddy lists. (If not you should ask your children who they are, if you have any concerns about anybody on there list or yours, you should remove them immediately.)

4. I am ensuring the privacy of myself and my children. (Make sure you read about privacy options and click on all the privacy settings, so that information you provide remains private. Also, provide only the information you have to provide, not the elective or optional information. (And always make sure you check the site’s privacy policy to make sure that whatever information you share really is kept private.)

5. Have your children been approached by any strangers while they were online.