I remember way back when we bought our first computer, It was an apple computer, we have 5 children , ( now all grown except 1) and for them to be on the computer at that time was just like watching tv, they mainly played games and looked up cartoons. Today in 2006 these such things are no longer the norm. with our kids having email addresses they can be sent just about any filthy thing on Gods green earth and you  might  not even know it.,Just look at what comes into your inbox  as an adult and remember these spammers no, no age.  I have found many way to try my hardest to keep my daughter safe on the internet and just want to share a few with you. First off we have 2 computers in our home Hers and mine, hers has just about everything blocked that you can bock  on the internet and still be able to use it.. IF there is something a friend send her and she wants to see it, she has to come to me to unlock this  to be able to view it. That does not happen much  because she most of the time does not want me in here biz. ( one problem solved)
I also Keep her computer in plain site  where I can view her  from alll rooms in the dining area off to one side.  I set time limits,  she is only allowed  1 hour per days on school days and 3 hours on weekend, how she spends them  is up to her, she can play games or talk to her friend ( who live all withing blocks of us) on MSN messenger,. I let her use Msn because I can read it IF i choose anything she writes.. ( which I have not had to do) but its there as a back up if she was to just up and vanish, I could see who and what she was talking about last.  BY this point you might all be saying tis woman is paranoid and over protective . Thats not the case at all, I have not raised 5 children and  never had a problem out of them over a internet Issue.. you have to set rules , in 2006 you just have to, and stand by them.  I always sugest that all photos on a minors emails be blocked, heck most of mine i wish were , YOU  need to stress the point to yourr child of NOT giving out his or her real name address phone number to anyone , even when signing up to talk on msn messenger we use a fake name and number even city,. . I ask her to not put her photos on anything on her messenger without my approval and she has so far complied.. but she is geting older, and soon I will have to loosen the reins  and  let her grow I hope that what I have taught her about the internet and internet perverts will stick with her as I let her grow into  adulthood. these are all good lesons for people of all ages and sexes.  you have to be so very careful today what you let known about yourself on the internet,  our children our our most presious things in life and teaching them good internet safty is very important today .. almost everyone in the free world uses the internet,  they are all faceless people who  could want to harm your child,  taking the right procausions  before hand will nip this in the bud before it turns into something tragic. Also Talk to you kids, ask them who they are taking to , dont ever take  "oh Noone" for an answer  when you ask who they are taking to, get an answer and a correct one at that.  Being a parent these days is so very hard with the way  the world is.. keeping your children safe is nearly impossible .. but you can take steps to  at least curb the intentions of someone who may want to hurt your child.  Thank you for your time. I hope any of this at all helps,.