Crime Prevention and Justice Assistance Division

The Internet is an invaluable tool, but there are serious dangers that need to be discussed.

Online sexual predators: They can be anyone. The Internet allows people to remain anonymous and does not prevent adults from lying about their age or intentions.

Online sexual solicitation: Unprovoked, uninvited, or unwanted requests to engage in sexual activities, engage in sexually explicit conversations, or give personal sexual information.

It’s important to educate your children and teach them how to better protect themselves. The best way to help protect your children is by being involved and talking to them. Feel free to use the acronym quiz on the front as a starting point.

Protect Your Child’s Online Life

• Prepare your children for the online world just as you would for the real world.
  • Establish guidelines and rules.
  • Know who communicates with your children.

• Learn about the Internet.
  • Familiarize yourself with the programs your children are using.
  • Consider using Internet filters or blocks.

• Place the family’s computer in a common room, where supervision and guidelines are more easily observed and met.

• Talk about the benefits and dangers on the Internet and help your children make smart decisions while online. This is just as important as limiting your children’s computer time when it comes to safeguarding them while online.

• Explain to your children instant messaging (IM) is only for chatting with school and family friends they know by face and are approved by you. And go over your children’s IM “chat list” with them. Make sure they are able to put a face to every screenname on the list.

When Communicating Online

• Tell your children not to write anything they wouldn’t say in public

• Reinforce people are not always who they say they are when communicating online

• Make sure your children know how dangerous it is to give out personal information such as their name, mailing address, or e-mail address

• Stress the fact it is not safe to get together with someone they first “meet” online

How to Notice and Address a Problem

• Be sensitive to any changes in your child’s behavior or attitude

• Be on the lookout for unknown telephone numbers on your bill or your child’s cellular telephone bill and unexplained gifts your child has received

• Show concern, listen compassionately, and remain calm if your children share any distressing incidents they have encountered while online

• Don’t judge your children or threaten to remove their Internet privileges

• Use the incident to discuss safety rules and reinforce the fact people are not always who they seem to be online

Help Delete Online Predators

Report any disturbing incidents by giving the screenname or e-mail address and any other information known about the online sexual perpetrator to your Internet service provider, local law enforcement, and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s www.cybertipline.com.

The majority of children who use the Internet do not get into serious trouble. The Internet is a wonderful tool, but like anything else you need to be careful when using it.

To learn more about Internet guidelines please visit www.cybertipline.com and www.NetSmartz.org or call 1-800-THE-LOST^® (1-800-843-5678).

121: one to one 143: I love you 747: let’s fly ADN: any day now AFAIK: as far as I know AFK: away from keyboard A/S/L: age, sex, location ASLMH: age, sex, location, music, hobbies B4: before B4N: bye for now BAK: back at the keyboard BBIAB: be back in a bit BBL: be back later BBN: bye bye now BBS: be back soon BEG: big evil grin BF: boyfriend BFN: bye for now BG: big grin BMTIPG: brilliant minds think in parallel gutters BRB: be right back BTA: but then again BTW: by the way BWL: bursting with laughter BWTHDIK: but what the heck do I know C&G: chuckle and grin CNP: continued (in my) next post CP: chat post CRBT: crying real big tears CSG: chuckle, snicker, grin CU: see you CUL: see you later CYO: see you online DBAU: doing business as usual DIKU: do I know you? DL: dead link DQMOT: don’t quote me on this EG: evil grin EMA: what is your e-mail address? EMFBI: excuse me for butting in EMSG: e-mail message EOT: end of thread F2F: face to face FC: fingers crossed FISH: first in, still here FMTYEWTK: far more than you ever wanted to know FOMCL: falling off my chair laughing FTBOMH: from the bottom of my heart FUD: fear, uncertainty, and doubt FWIW: for what it’s worth G2G: got to go G: grin GA: go ahead GAL: get a life GD&R: grinning, ducking, and running GF: girlfriend GFN: gone for now GIWIST: gee, I wish I’d said that GMBO: giggling my butt off GMTA: great minds think alike GOL: giggling out loud GTR: got to run GTRM: going to read mail GTSY: glad to see you H&K: hug and kiss HAGN: have a good night HDOP: help delete online predators HHIS: hanging head in shame HTH: hope this helps HUB: head up butt IAC: in any case IANAL: I am not a lawyer (but) IC: I see IDK: I don’t know IHA: I hate acronyms IIRC: if I remember correctly ILU: I love you IM: instant message IMHO: in my humble opinion IMNSHO: in my not so humble opinion IMO: in my opinion IOW: in other words IPN: I’m posting naked IRL: in real life IWALU: I will always love you JIC: just in case JK: just kidding JMO: just my opinion JTLYK: just to let you know K: okay KIT: keep in touch KOC: kiss on cheek KOL: kiss on lips KOTC: kiss on the cheek KWIM: know what I mean? L8R: later LD: later, dude LDR: long distance relationship LMIRL: let’s meet in real life LMSO: laughing my socks off LOL: laughing out loud LSHMBB: laughing so hard my belly is bouncing LTM: laugh to myself LTNS: long time, no see LTR: long-term relationship LULAB: love you like a brother LULAS: love you like a sister LUWAMH: love you with all my heart LY: love you M/F: male or female MOSS: member of same sex MOTOS: member of the opposite sex MSG: message MTF: more to follow MUSM: miss you so much NADT: not a darn thing NAZ: name, address, zip code NIFOC: naked in front of computer NP: no problem NRN: no reply necessary OIC: oh I see OLL: online love OM: old man OTOH: on the other hand P2P: peer to peer P911: my parents are coming! PAW: parents are watching PDA: public display of affection PIR: parent in room PLZ: please PM: private message PMFJIB: pardon me for jumping in but POAHF: put on a happy face POS: parent over shoulder PU: that stinks QT: cutie RL: real life ROTFL: rolling on the floor laughing RPG: role playing games RSN: real soon now S4L: spam for life SAW: siblings are watching SETE: smiling ear to ear SF: surfer friendly SHCOON: shoot hot coffee out of nose SHID: slaps head in disgust SN: screenname? SNERT: snot nosed egotistical rude teenager SO: significant other SOMY: sick of me yet? SOT: short of time STW: search the web SWAK: sealed with a kiss SWL: screaming with laughter SYS: see you soon TA: thanks again TAW: teachers are watching TCOB: taking care of business TCOY: take care of yourself TIA: thanks in advance TMI: too much information TOS: teacher over shoulder TOY: thinking of you TTYL: talk to you later UW: you’re welcome WB: welcome back WFM: works for me WIBNI: wouldn’t it be nice if WTG: way to go WTGP: want to go private? WU: what’s up WUF: where are you from? YBS: you’ll be sorry YL: young lady YM: young man