2,000 FRIENDS ON FACEBOOK?

Or are they fiends? Keep your child surfing safely.

According to a study done by the National Crime Prevention Council, 50 per cent of kids accept strangers as friends on social networks, and 25 per cent have suffered cyber-bullying. That survey was in 2008, but recent research by Trend Micro in the UK also showed that teens aged 11 to 15 took more risks than usual when using the Internet, like befriending strangers, said a report in The Daily Express.

Myla Pilao, director of core technology marketing at Trendlabs, tells you how to make surfing safer for your child:
• Have your child use the computer in a common area, like the living room.
• Set time limits for using the Internet.
• Limit the sites he’s allowed to visit.
• Review the content and privacy policies of the sites he frequents.
• Warn him about giving away personal information online.
• Remind him to ignore unwanted contact from strangers online.

Besides setting rules, install security software for your PC. The new Trend Micro Titanium Cloud Edition Maximum Security 2012 allows parents to view a daily report of every message, comment, video and photo in all major social networks that kids receive or put out. You can also keep Internet access locked until a specified time, and allow access only for a chosen number of hours. From $39, at Popular Bookstore, Challenger and Harvey Norman.

Read the November 2011 issue of Young Parents for more expert advice and local tips to make you a better mum or dad.