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THE DANGERS OF 'CHAT' ROOMS
AND HOW TO AVOID THEM
Meanwhile, our children are increasingly taking to the Internet for companionship, fun, stimulation and 'chat'.
If you don't know about the inherent dangers to your children in open 'chat rooms' you may like to get an idea by visiting
http://www.chatdanger.com
set up by Nigel Williams to alert parents to the
risks.
If you already know the dangers you may also know that kids are prepared to take risks in order not to be left out, unless someone finds them safe places to
go.
Take a look at http://www.atkidz.com
a website set up by parents who wanted their children to be able to chat to one another safely on the Internet.
Moderated by 'chat master' Neil Blackburn, the messages are 'cleaned up' as they come in. Swearing is scrubbed
out and personal information that might give away a child's identity or location is taken out.
The 'CM' as Neil is known to the kids, pinpoints adults attempting to infiltrate the chat room and sees to it that they do not
succeed.
Other places to go for information about protecting your children on the 'net, rather than keeping them
away from the 'net, can be found at
http://www.sheeze.com/Safe which gives safe surfing guidelines
http://www.safekids.com and
http://www.childnet-int.org
which is an organisation working to make the Internet safer for children.
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