Surfing and Chatting
When your child uses the computer to read and visit websites online, this is known as surfing. Some call it browsing as well, but the meaning is the same. Surfing is very useful since it allows kids to visit virtual museums, read public documents and books, and even watch films. However, when left unmonitored, your child may be able to access materials online that are inappropriate for his or her age. More often than not, surfing is where teenagers find a chat room where they can talk and even video chat with random people.
Random video chat is typically a part of chat rooms. Chatting is a popular way of exchanging messages online with people you may or may not know. This is very enjoyable especially for youngsters where they talk to other individuals anywhere in the world by simply typing what they would like to say. With the advancement in technology, chatting has become more than just typing. Now, there are many software applications available on both desktops and smartphones where young people can video chat with strangers. For some, this is very harmless because video chatting is like talking in person. However, many people abuse this technological progress by harassing others; particularly the younger ones.
What Parents Should Know about Video Chat
Video chat is usually comprised of two people talking to each other in front of their own computers. It is similar to a phone call where both parties see each other and communicate online. Some video chatting software applications now allow users to chat with groups and not just with another person. Most of the time, the conversations are innocent enough especially if your child is simply talking to a friend, a classmate, or a relative. However, things become different with random video chat.
When teens are allowed to broadcast their webcams to other people, this opens their world to a barrage of harassment, which can either result to them being bullied or sexually abused. The latter is quite common in girls, but it does not mean that young boys are safe from online predators. Young boys and girls alike receive sexual messages where they are often asked to undress themselves in front of their cameras. This is very disturbing most especially since the victims here are often too young to get involved in such activity.
Right now, there are thousands of free random video chat websites and software applications that your teen can gain access to. Some have their own twists and some even guarantee safety, but precautions should definitely be taken for each and every one of them. Some examples include:
Aside from using websites and software programs to chat and video chat with other individuals, there are other dangerous schemes used by the online predators these days. Once again, with the advancement of technology, it is possible to hack cameras at home using a piece of software intended for this purpose. This is invasion of privacy and teenagers along with their parents are advised to remain vigilant. There have been many instances where hackers go after young victims and take control over their photos and videos without the teens’ knowledge. One example is a Dayton man in 2006 who was sentenced to prison for 25 years after hacking into webcams of minors and recording them while watching in his home.
The Real Dangers of Internet Chatting
As enjoyable as the activity is, there are several hazards that are waiting to strike as soon as your child gets into the Internet chatting scene. These include the following:
Children are quite vulnerable especially if parents do not guide them. They can easily give their personal information to people they do not know and of course this can be deadly. A stranger can immediately charm a young girl or boy and soon enough, these cyber sharks may put your child in danger.
What Parents Can Do
The good news is that random video chatting does not have to be that dangerous. This is especially true if your child understands his or her limitations as well as the other party’s limitations. If you have little idea about video chatting, you can research about it. You can use your understanding of this method of communication to help your child comprehend its advantages, disadvantages, and risks.
After you have done your homework, it is time for you to sit down and talk with your child. Open up about the topic and mention the following as well:
The lessons in cyber abuse and video chatting dangers do not end with just talking with your children. Although they may complain about you being too strict, their safety is what matters in the end. Aside from having a serious discussion with them, your job is not done yet. Here are other things that you need to do as a protective, loving, and caring parent:
Think about Internet use as crossing the street. You would not want to let your child cross the street without giving him or her a lesson in safe stress crossing first. Similarly, you would not give your son or daughter the car keys without enrolling them to a driving school and earning a license. The key to safety online is to understand the responsibilities that go together with Internet use. Hopefully this guide can empower you to comprehend the Internet and therefore enjoy the benefits it provides.