Safer chatting

Is your child talking to strangers?

Chatrooms are particularly popular with children and teenagers. Yet because they can't see the person they're talking to, there is a small risk that paedophiles might use them to strike up a friendship.

It's important to remember that these cases are rare and your child will be safer as long as they understand a few basic rules:

1. When chatting online, your kids should always use a nickname (or net name). It's fun, protects their identity, and a good conversation starter for you. Do you know your child's net name?
2. They should never give out personal information. Surfing the Internet can give users a false sense of security. Make sure your child knows (and understands) that they should never give out their details, including email addresses and mobile phone numbers.
3. It's important to get the message across to your child that everyone they meet in a chatroom is a stranger. They would never give out personal details to a stranger in the street - the same applies in a chatroom.
4. Chatrooms have private and public areas. In the public areas everyone can see what is being typed or said. Alternatively, the private areas are used to hold one-to-one conversations, known as 'whispering' (think of it like stepping out of a busy party for a private chat). These one-to-one conversations are potentially dangerous. Getting a child alone is exactly what a paedophile wants. Encourage your child to always stay in the public area of a chatroom where everyone can see what's being said.

Remember, these rules apply not only to chatrooms, but to all contact made over the Internet. Other ways of making contact over the Internet are message boards - these are similar to chatrooms except with people leaving messages for one another, and instant messaging - which is similar to text messaging but is done using a computer, playing interactive games, or by sending messages or images from a mobile phone.