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Message boards usually list the username of the person who posts a message, so it's important that your child uses a nickname to protect their identity.
Make sure your child never posts contact details or their email address, so they do not get unwanted emails or contact from strangers. Explain that people they meet on the Internet may not be who they seem, so they must always be careful when talking with new 'friends'. They should never share their photograph with a stranger.
Help your child to understand that Message boards and Discussion groups are public forums - anyone can read anything that has been posted there. On the Internet, this means that your child has a potential audience of millions.
It's really easy for any child or teenager to make a homepage. These pages can contain information about your family, and may have photographs or pictures of pets. Although homepages are a great way for your child or teenager to share information, it is not possible to control who will see the site.
You must ensure that your child does not publish their name, picture, address or other contact details - such as school address or phone number. This information makes it possible for paedophiles to identify and possibly locate your child. Regularly check out their homepage. Make sure they understand why they should not publish personal information.
Blog is short for web log, which is an Internet diary. Web logs enable children and teenagers to publish their writing for other people to read. "Blogging" is when someone updates their blog, and people who keep a blog are called "bloggers."
Blogs have many benefits for your family. They can encourage young writers by helping them improve their grammar and spelling, and can also develop their technical skills. Blogs can be used to interact with other people or faraway family members.
But because blogging happens online, you must be aware of the dangers of the Internet. You must remind your child that anyone can read their blog, unless it is password protected. Check that your child doesn't disclose personal information such as names and addresses. Make sure they don't give away the location of events they plan to attend. Regularly check the content of your child's blog and scan through comments for any inappropriate or dangerous contact.