Online Risks To Youth:
Some companies out there see young computer users as
consumer trainees, and the past few years have seen a dramatic increase in
the amount and detail of personal information collected from children.
While many adults are aware of the ways in which this is collected,
children are not.
Although we teach our children not to talk to
strangers, most kids don’t consider a favorite toy or cartoon character a
stranger. Thus, when they log onto a Web site featuring these characters,
they probably won’t hesitate to provide whatever personal information is
requested. Then that data is used for marketing by the company that
developed the Web site, or the other marketers they sold the data
to.
The Center for Media Education in a 1996 report says
children as young as four are being asked to provide detailed information
about themselves before they can enter a Web site where games and
entertainment await them. Children will fill out any form and give out any
information you ask them to, if you tell them that is the only way they
can get to the games and fun activities.
The companies, while conceding that some sites ask
children to provide information – such as name, sex, age, e-mail address,
favorite TV show, and musical group – maintain that the identities of the
children are protected and their lists are not sold.
Teenagers are particularly at risk because they
frequently use the computer unsupervised and are more likely to
participate in “adult” exchanges online. However, children of any age
could be exposed to indecent or inappropriate material, such as that
containing sex or violence, or they may see e-mail or bulletin board
messages that are harassing, demeaning, or belligerent.
Steps Parents Can Take:
Most service providers allow parents to limit
children’s access to certain services, such as adult-oriented “chat”
rooms. Check for this when you first subscribe. In addition, there are now
software programs designed specifically to prevent children from accessing
inappropriate materials on the Internet – for example, Cyber Patrol,
Surfwatch, Net Nanny, and Cybersitter. Such tools aren’t fool proof and
aren’t a substitute for parental involvement. Further, sites that parents
might consider worthwhile for their children.
By far the best way to assure that your children have
positive online experiences is to spend time with them and have them show
you their activities.
Further, you can establish family rules for online
computer use. Here is a list of examples suggested by the National Center
for Missing & Exploited Children.
- Tell your children never to give out identifying
information – such as home address, school name, or phone number – in a
public message. They shouldn’t even reveal such data in private e-mail
unless they’re sure whom they’re dealing with.
- Never permit a child to arrange a face-to-face
meeting with another computer user without your attending.
- Warn your children not to respond to messages or
bulletin board items that are threatening, suggestive, demeaning, or
otherwise make you or your child uncomfortable.
- Set reasonable rules, including time limits, for
your child’s use of the computer. Watch particularly for excessive use
of online use late at night. That could be a tip-off that there’s a
problem.
- Try to make online use a family activity. Keeping
the computer in a family room rather than the child’s bedroom might be
wise.
- Get to know your children’s online “friends” much
as you try to get to know their other friends.
Privacy while Online:
Personal information such as name and address can get
on a solicitation list many different ways. A few examples of the way
information lands user’s information on solicitation lists are when
merchandise is purchased with a credit card, or a magazine is subscribed
to, or one buys merchandise online, or receives information online. Just
renewing a driver’s license puts information into more hands than the
Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Ameritech even offers customers a Privacy
Manager feature on their telephone lines to try to control unwanted
solicitation calls. Once a person’s name and address gets out there,
solicitors buy the information and deluge people with unwanted
advertisements. Most of these are harmless tidbits of information, but
they can be costly if not controlled. The following practices might help
in arresting these unwanted solicitations:
Most online services provide users with a statement
regarding privacy measures. Avoid services that do not have a well-defined
policy. Look for the privacy statement on a web site before giving out
any personal information.
Make sure to develop a unique password and change it
often. Do not choose ordinary words for this password. When establishing
this password try to mix characters, numbers, uppercase and lowercase
letters to make up the unique password and make it harder for computer
hackers to decipher it. When developing a password, try not to use
information that would be easy to figure out, like a birthday, telephone
number, a nickname, or children’s names. Never reveal the password
online and do not keep the password written where others could find easy
access to it. Guard the password from onlookers when signing onto your
computer. Personal passwords are the entry into the computer world and
should be taken very seriously.
Do not send sensitive business or personal information
by computer unless it is a secure situation. Assume that any online
communications are not private. Never buy anything viewed through junk
mail because it leaves users susceptible to unwanted solicitation in the
future. Once a name gets on a mailing list it is very hard to get it
deleted from the list. Unwanted solicitation by advertisers and junk mail
services can be a tedious and sometimes dangerous part of using online
services.
Be cautious about copying free software from
unknown sites. Some organizations will ask for personal information,
such as social security numbers, checking account numbers, etc., which
should not be given out easily. Once that information gets into the wrong
hands, a user opens their self up for major problems. Downloading
information from cyberspace can send sensitive information places the user
does not have knowledge of and can get the user’s name on a list for
future solicitation.
Know that when you are online others can access your
information without your knowledge. Places that you visit online can be
found out by hackers and cause major problems in the future. At the least,
other solicitors “rent” your information and the user can be bombarded
with unwanted advertisements and possibly troublesome situations. One
would not tell a stranger personal information, yet online personal
information is exchanged daily. Use caution when sending personal
information to unknown sources. If in doubt, do not use the site. Unwanted
junk mail online or in your mailbox can be the result. Beware when
visiting online and remember what information was given out and to whom.
Do not give out personal information unless the site is
secure.
Unless dealing with a trusted entity, do not reveal a
name, address, phone number, credit card number or computer password while
online. Be careful when using sites that have not been used before or that
ask questions about personal information. Guard any personal
information when online.
Be aware that the user is not the only one that can
look at personal email. Others in the workplace and outside intruders
can break through and take a peek. Information send through email should
not include any personal information. Email should be used carefully and
with the knowledge that someone else could be viewing this information.
Private email can be transmitted to others without user knowledge even
after it has been deleted. Discretion is the keyword when using email. Do
not send email that others’ eyes could not read. There are services that
provide secure email, such a Service as this can provide encrypted email
that only the user and receiver can read. If sensitive information is
going out through email, these secure services should be used.
Email addresses should not give out too much
personal information. Choose an email address that is gender neutral.
Email addresses that are too revealing can cause the addressee, especially
a female or youth, to be harassed, stalked, or verbally abused
online.
Using online services can be time saving. Using online
services can bring information that cannot be found elsewhere. Using
online services can also bring unknown people into the user’s personal
world and trying to get rid of them is a hard nut to crack. Know that
not everyone online is who he or she says they are and guard oneself
against people who might want to use this information for their own
advancements.
Using credit cards online involves the same customer
protection that it allows everywhere else. Charges can still be contested
if merchandise is defective.Credit cards should only be used in secure
sites that have privacy statements. Make sure to take the time to read
a company’s privacy statement. Do not use sites that do not have privacy
statements. Most merchants will alert the user that they are about to send
sensitive information over the Internet and that they are using a secure
site. Look for the closed lock or solid key symbol at the bottom of the
site when using new merchants.
Be careful when designing a personal web site.
Solicitors may use information from the home page to collect various
personal information. In the news recently, it was reported that a woman
put pictures of her young daughter on her home page thinking it would be
nice for out of town family members to see the young girl. An unwanted
intruder starting emailing obscene information to the child causing the
police to get involved. Do not be too trusting of everyone online, not
everyone is online for good purposes. It is hard to tell when dealing
with someone who is dishonest until it is too late.
Services Provided:
There are services that can provide users with an
escape from unwanted information whether it is by telephone, mail, fax, or
email. The following addresses may be helpful in controlling unwanted
solicitations.
Mail:
Mail Preference Service
Direct Marketing Association
P.O. Box 9008
Farmingdale, NY 11735-9008
Send a letter stating:
“Please register my name with the Mail Preference
Service. I would like my name and address removed from any solicitation
lists that it may be on. I do not want any unsolicited information to be
mailed to me in the future.” Then, type our name and address.
Telephone Solicitation:
Telephone Preference Service
Direct Marketing Association
P.O. Box 9014
Farmingdale, NY 11735-9014
Send a letter stating:
“Please register my name with the Telephone Preference
Service. I would like my name and address to be remove from any future
telephone solicitation. I would appreciate no future unsolicited telephone
calls.” Then, type your name, address, and telephone number.
Public File Information:
Opt-Out/1-800-U.S.SEARCH
P.O. Box 3637
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
Send a letter stating:
“I would like to have my information removed from your
Public Record Profile Product. Here is the information you requested: and
follow with your name, any name variations, address, date of birth, and
social security number. In the future, I would not like my personal
information given out to anyone who asks for it without being contacted
first. I would like my information to remain confidential.”
Federal and State Solicitation:
Illinois Motorist Services
Vehicle Services Department
Record Inquiry Section
501 South 2nd Street
Springfield, IL 62756
Send a letter stating:
“I would like to request more information as to how I
may “opt-out” of any sale, transfer and sharing of my personal information
not expressly permitted under federal or state law. Please send any needed
forms and information to:” then state your name and address.
Other Organizations
There are also online organizations that protect
users. One such organization is Utility Consumers’ Action Network
accessible at www.ucan.org, which gives consumers
information regarding various privacy issues. Another such organization
that has multiple information on reducing junk mail, etc. can be found at
www.privacyrights.org.
*Some information gathered from: The Privacy Rights
Handbook, Beth Givens | 
