Education the key to fighting online fiends

Parents who allow children unchecked use of computers are exposing them to the threat of online pedophiles.

That is the warning from Tsang Kwok-leung, leader of the online project at Hong Kong Christian Service.

Tsang said parents must remember that children today are far more computer literate than them.

They should also not forget that youngsters engaged in hobbies and sports are also statistically less likely to become delinquents and drug abusers.

He said banning internet use is a common mistake made by parents, after all children can easily access the web at cyber cafes, schools and libraries.

"The best way to protect your children is to create a positive internet surfing environment at home, to reach an understanding over its dangers and make yourself approachable so they will come to you for guidance," Tsang said.

Leo Chan, McAfee regional manager for Hong Kong and Taiwan, said there are products with parental controls that prevent children from entering dubious websites.

However they do not cover webcams, ICQ, or social networking websites, such as Facebook.

"There's basically no way technology can prevent a children from meeting people online," Chan said.

Software that records key strokes and words entered in a computer may be seen as an invasion of privacy, he added.

Internet Society chairman Charles Mok Nai-kwong said while the threat of pedophiles is not isolated to the online world, their anonymity poses a significant problem.

"It's about who your children are talking to, what they're doing and who they are meeting online." But snooping is not the way to find out, Mok said.

Tsang also said the answer does not lie in parents checking the history of websites visited.

"It will just make youngsters angry over their perceived invasion of privacy. That can destroy a relationship and rule out effective communication.

"Parents need to educate their kids in common sense such as not talking to strangers. Parents often don't want to talk about sensitive subjects like sex with their kids, but it is very important for them to talk maturely about the consequences."

Timothy Chui
The Standard, 21 August 2008