The South Florida ICAC encourages parents and or guardians to talk with their teenagers and children, especially if they have access to the Internet. It is the knowledge of what their child is doing on the Internet, what websites are being visited, what chat rooms and social networking sites are being used, that allows a parent's involvement to prevent expolitation. It cannot be emphasized enough, that in the event of any suspicious activity, that information should be reported to your local law enforcement agency, to 1-800-THE LOST or to the Cybertip line.

Educating your children on how to safely navigate the Internet is vital in the effort to protect them from on-line enticement. The challenge most parents face is that our young people know more about the Internet and it’s offerings, and they are extremely skilled at navigating the Internet. It is recommended that one visits the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children website: www.missingkids.com for more information. Another good resource is a pamphlet called Child Safety on the Information Highway from NCMEC and the US Internet Service Provider Assocoiation (US ISPA).

With the ever evolving changes in the technology, Internet access is not restricted to the home, it is now portable. The portable devices utilized are mobile phones, personal digital assistant (PDAs), game consoles and PCs. The portability of the Internet heightens the risk for on-line enticement because the kids are not immediately supervised. You should also protect your Internet access from being pirated by password protecting it. Password protection will help prevent others from using your IP address to access unlawful sites or be vulnerable to unlawful activity assigned to your IP address.

It is highly encouraged that parents and guardians are aware of the social contacts and social activities that their children are involved in. Staying Safe on the Internet is a constant awareness process that must be exercised on all levels and by all individuals that come in contact with young people. Making oneself and keeping oneself active in your child's life and lifestyle is very important. Encourage your child and teenager to talk to an adult or friend, someone they trust, if at any time they experience a situation that makes them feel uncomfortable or afraid. The Internet is a wonderful tool and place to find and post very important information and should be encouraged to be used, keeping in mind that certain rules must be in place.

Arranging to meet someone that you have met on line is dangerous and should only take place with parental or guardian approval and supervision. When someone's behavior on line makes you fell uncomfortable, is dangerous or scares you, inform your parents, guardian, or an adult you trust, and call your local law enforcement agency.