Who's afraid of the big bad web?

The web as we lay people know it has been with us for over 10 years now and this is still the early days of it.

It is a medium we really need to get a grasp on, especially if we are parents as the web has changed the way that our children and teenagers communicate.

We teach our children how best to protect themselves in the big wide world and we are comfortable doing so as in many ways we are passing on the wisdom we learnt from our parents and the world is a place we are familiar with.

The web is another matter. Both computers and the web are mediums that have developed relatively recently (apologies to Charles Babbage) and to access the web one must get to grips with a computer. Both of these are stumbling blocks to many parents who watch as their children zoom away on the information superhighway leaving their parents stranded.

To properly guide and protect our children we need to start learning about computers and the web. When you lay down your guidelines and rules children will respect them as they know you have taken the time to learn and use both mediums.

Learning about computers and the web can seem daunting at first because of the new words and language that is used. Once started it is not long before it will all just fall into place and not only are you learning and enjoying new skills but also giving your self esteem a wonderful boost.

The web is a fantastic resource and one that is growing daily and here to stay. It is the biggest library in the world and the main means by which we communicate and this form of communication is changing at a rapid pace offering more and more facilities.

The horror stories are few and far between thankfully. What is far more insidious is the level of bullying that is carried on, or the thoughtless uploading of camera phone pictures, and messages left on social networking sites.

Our children have to be taught to think very carefully before they upload that funny photo of Mary Jane slipping on a night out and landing in the lap of the lads. While it may have been funny at the time, snapped with a camera phone, uploaded and available to all to see. Shown to those that were not there, it looks like something else and now Mary Jane may become the target of some unsavory jokes, rude messages which ultimately rob her of her self esteem and leave her feeling defenceless and violated. Once put up on the web, other people can copy and send on, so you are left with little control.

The best protection we can give our children is to learn about computers and the web and let our children see the safety net we provide them as they explore the wonders of the cyber world. Ask questions about what they use the web for, listen and look at the sites they go to. Read articles and slowly become familiar with the jargon. You are not wasting time by sitting at a computer for a couple of hours surfing the net and looking at different sites, this is your learning curve and one worth taking when it allows us to talk confidently to our children about the pros and cons of the world wide web.

There is a terrific article well worth reading entitled 'who's afraid of the big bad web'. This article was published on the Australian newspaper site The Age. What makes this article different is that the author gives a run down on the most common sites used by children and teenagers today. A must for any parent!

"Kids are fearless and many parents are clueless when it comes to the internet."

But instead of being daunted, Ms Treyvaud says parents should draw on their wisdom and experience. "Rather than taking a gloom and doom approach to the internet, ask yourself, 'What can I do to help my children navigate it?'."

Go on, take the plunge, it is a world full of wonders and delight.

Useful links:

Webwise - information for parents and teachers

Mobile phones and safety - Advice on mobile phone bullying from Childline.

Take a course in your local library or night class from a number of providers all listed on Courses.ie