Kid's Zone

Warning signs for parents

The following are some warning signs that a child may be involved in inappropriate Internet activity:

Hiding computer CDs and disks
Changing or turning off the computer screen when you enter the room
An empty Internet Browser History
Finding pornographic or encrypted files on the computer
The child is receiving letters, emails or gifts from someone you don't know
Finding an extra Internet account on the computer
The child receives phone calls from people you don't know, or is making calls, sometimes long distance, to numbers you don't recognize.
Spending too much time on the Internet or being online late into the night
Changes in behavior, for example: secretiveness, sleeping problems, neglecting school assignments, avoiding normal social activities or withdrawing from the family.