We recently issued our second National
Parental Warning due to sexually explicit content
in an online video game. Easily accessible, the game
is part of a promotional effort for the movie Running Scared.
Web traffic to the site has doubled nearly every day since
the game became available. No doubt New Line Cinema is counting
this low-brow marketing ploy a success - at the expense
of thousands of children across the nation.
Unfortunately, the Running Scared online game is
not alone in containing explicit or pornographic material.
Last summer we discovered hidden pornographic sequences
in the popular video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
and learned again that parents need to be vigilant in monitoring
their children's media use. Unfortunately, this issue is
bigger than any one game or website. In an age where we
can access the Internet on our cell phones, send pictures
in the blink of an eye, and play increasingly sophisticated
online games, a whole world of pornography and inappropriate
content are within easy reach of children.
The entertainment companies are not going to watch out for
our kids-that's clear. We urge parents to be MediaWise®,
watch what your kids watch. Keep reading for tips to
keep your kids safe online and how to talk to your kids
about online pornography.
Parent Checklist
Protecting your kids from Internet
pornography.
I keep our computer in a family common space,
making it easier for me to see where
my kids are online.
I talk to my kids about where they’ve been
and what they’ve seen online.
I’ve talked to my kids about how I feel
about online pornography and our family values.
I've talked with my kids about what to do if they
end up on a site that make them feel uncomfortable
or receive messages that are inappropriate.
I’ve established Internet house rules so
that my kids know what my expectations and
consequences are.
I am familiar with the way the Internet works
and popular teen sites.
I’ve checked into and use the filtering or
tracking software and parental controls through
my Internet provider.
I limit the amount of time my child spends on
the Internet.
Talking to Your Kids
About
Internet Pornography
The Internet is full of both opportunities and pitfalls.
Kids today have more information at their fingertips than
we could have dreamed of just twenty years ago. On the other
hand, they have access to more inappropriate content than
we could have feared.
Chances are, if your child uses the Internet, they have seen
pornographic content whether they wanted to or not. As parents,
it is important that we talk with our kids about who they
are hanging out with and what they’ve seen online. Internet
“incidents” can be a great opportunity to talk to
your kids about important issues like sex, alcohol and drugs,
and relationships. Don’t miss the opportunity to connect
with your kids around these important issues.
Setting your kids
up for success:
tips for talking to your kids about online porn.
Use Internet “incidents” as an opportunity
to communicate – not as a platform for endless
lectures.
Expect some kid or teenage exploration –
do not be surprised if your child has deliberately
or accidentally seen pornography online.
Talk to your kids about your feelings about pornography.
Revisit family rules about the Internet –
which sites are okay and which are not.
If you don’t have any rules – make them
and explain them to your child.
If you find out that you child has been to a site
with pornography, initiate a conversation with your
child about why they went to the site, what they
saw when they got there, how they felt about it.
Remember to LISTEN first!
A lot of young people are simply curious so do
not let websites provide the only answers to their
questions. Let them know that they can talk to you.
Review again what they should do when they see
something that makes them feel uncomfortable.
Make sure your child has a clear understanding
of how you feel about online pornography and your
expectations for responsible Internet use.
