Parents told: Treat internet like a busy street

GIVING your child free reign on the internet is the same as letting them loose on a busy street or shopping centre, according to the Government’s sexual and domestic violence agency.

Éimear Fisher, executive director of Cosc, said parents don’t need to understand internet technology to know they have to monitor the contact their children have with strangers.

“If you have a child, you have to protect them; it’s your responsibility in all reasonable circumstances,” said Ms Fisher.

“When they go out on the street you kind of keep an eye on them to ensure they are not in any danger with strangers. You wouldn’t let a young child loose on O’Connell Street, so why let them loose on the internet?

“You don’t know who they are meeting on the internet; you don’t have a clue who these people are your son or daughter are talking to. You should treat the internet as you would treat a busy shopping centre or busy street,” she said, adding that there were practical things parents could do, such as placing the computer in a public part of the house, where they can observe what’s going on.

She also said parents should check the history of websites viewed: “If you’re clearing out your son’s bedroom and find a lot of porn magazines under the bed you would say something, but you would allow them to look at whatever they want on the internet.”

She said she was not suggesting looking into private emails or social network accounts. “I’m not a child psychologist — it’s a matter of building up trust.”

The dangers associated with social network sites for children were highlighted last November, when a 14- year-old boy was sexually assaulted by a man who had “groomed” him through the popular Bebo site.

Colm Twomey, 39, of Pouladuff Road, Togher, Cork, made contact with the child on the chatroom, got his mobile number and, after contacting him, went to his home address and sexually assaulted him.

Ms Fisher said parents need to tell their children never to give out their mobile number or address or agree to meet someone they make internet contact with.

She said as children come under the remit of the Office of the Minister for Children, this issue was not a key area for the National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence, but is linked with it.

She encouraged parents to contact the Office for Internet Safety for advice.

* www.internetsafety.ie.