I
saying this: Make sure that you get a router with
really want to start by saying that I don’t
parental controls. They’re easy to use now and
mean to frighten you, but that would be just
can even be managed from
as honest as
mobile device. Ask at
a person who
“When you let your child sign yourstore that sells computer
any
says “I don’t
mean to be
on to the Internet, it’s easy to parts. They can help. I suggest
NetGear. Second, get yourself
rude” and then
forget that you are basically monitoring software that can
goes ahead and
help limit online time and
says something
giving them access to the
keep track of what your child
rude. The truth
is that a part
world while also giving the is doing. Again, this is super
simple to use and allows you
of me wants to
world access to your child.” to set additional limits. I sugscare you just a
gest Net Nanny.
little bit because
I need for you to take this seriously as does your
That wasn’t so bad. However, this is the part
child. If you’re thinking of granting your child
where I need to frighten you a little bit.
Internet time in the near future, there are numerous things of which you must be aware.
When you let your child sign on to the Internet,
it’s easy to forget that you are basically giving
him access to the world while also giving the
world access to your child. It’s not like the television or classic video games that our parents
used to complain about when we were kids,
when children just stared at a device and the
only real fear was how it might damage their
eye sight or deaden their minds. Things are very
different these days, and in order to keep your
child Cyber SAFE and NOT Cyber SORRY, you
need to be informed.
I have been on the Internet ever since there’s
been an Internet to be on. I’ve run websites and
servers that host thousands of children who
talk and play games together. In order to keep
children safe, I’ve developed a set of guidelines,
and there are a few key points that I would like
to share with you.
BEFORE I BEGIN ...
If you are the type that professes to be computer
illiterate and doesn’t even bother with it since
it’s something that you’ll never learn, I implore
you to continue reading anyway. I promise not
to say anything that you won’t understand. I’ll
even keep the technical jargon to a minimum by
40
ZOOM Autism through Many Lenses
BEING THE TARGET OF
CYBER-BULLYING
When children – especially children who have
autism – are online, there is a very real danger
of cyber-bullying. This is much like bullying
that a child might experience at school except
that, instead of physical harm, there can be great
emotional harm. These bullies have heard the
worst of the worst during their time online as
they feed off of literally millions of other bullies. They learn the most vile and hurtful things
to say to children, and they’ll say them just to
make a kid cry. It becomes a game for them.
a child is autistic, then it only becomes much,
much worse.
WHEN THE VICTIM BECOMES
THE BULLY
Bullying can leave long-lasting impressions on
a child. I have had children join my server with
severe anger management deficits and extreme
bouts of rage, and in many cases, they are super
All it takes is a spark of difference, a hint of bedefensive. They see bullies
ing “weird,” and
where
that’s enough to
“When child &V