Staying Safe Online

Family Practices

All of us here at Fannin Bank know the value of family and the importance of keeping them safe. We put together some tips to help you keep yourself and your family safe online.

Best Practice for Parents

Create rules for Internet use in the home

Set reasonable rules and guidelines for computer use by your children and post them near the computer as a reminder. Be sure that the rules are being followed by everyone in the household.

Know what your kids are doing online

Check the Internet history to see which sites your child is visiting. Use filtering and monitoring software on your computer. Remember, it's your family, and you have the power and responsibility to keep an eye on what your kids are doing.

Use the Internet with your kids

Spend time letting your kids show you what they do online. This can be a great learning experience for both of you. If your kids know something about the website or the Internet that you don’t, ask them.

Don’t allow solitary surfing

Keep your computer in an open and public room and position the monitor so that it can be seen by anyone in the room. Do not allow your kids to have a computer with Internet access in their room.

If you agree to let your child meet an online buddy in person, go with them

Be sure to meet in a public spot, and let the buddy know you will be accompanying your child. If the online buddy is against meeting this way, it’s a tip-off that you probably don’t want them meeting anyway.

Don’t rely solely on technology as a substitute for you

Technology will never replace good parenting. It’s important that we talk to our kids about the dangers that they face online and help them to understand the safeguards that we put in place to protect them.

Best Practice for Kids

Keep all of your personal information to yourself

Information like your address, telephone number, or even where you go to school and what you do afterwards can lead to a dangerous situation down the road.

Never give out your picture or post it online

Your image is everything; don’t let someone destroy it. Anything you send could be altered and then given to other people.

Always use a neutral screen name

It is important that your username not reveal any personal information such as your age, sex, or location.

Don’t give out passwords to anyone other than your parents

Your password can be used in a variety of ways that may hurt you. If you think that someone may know your password, change it.

Don’t trust everyone you meet online

Some people are not who they say they are. For instance, someone online could claim to be 12 and really be 50.

If you come across anything that makes you uncomfortable, tell your parents

This includes pictures, messages that are mean, or anything else that makes you feel uncomfortable.

Ask your parents before meeting an online buddy in person

Meeting an online buddy in person is risky. If your parents agree to the meeting, be sure to meet in a public place and bring them with you.