How do you know if online programs and services are safe? Part 2: Safety education is one leg of the safety stool
Safety information about any Internet product or service should be easy to find and understand. Ideally you’ll find info both in the Help section and guidance at relevant points—for example, when you’re about to post a picture or type in personal information.
The site’s safety information should answer these questions to your satisfaction:
- Does the product or service give you the information you need to make informed choices about its appropriateness for you or your child?
- Does it clearly outline all the safety features and give you enough instruction on how to use them?
- Are there tips or training that tell you how to use the product or service more safely?
- Does it identify potential risks and outline your choices for reducing or eliminating those risks?
- Does the service have a policy about introducing new features? For example, does it state that when it introduces new features, it will inform you that it is offering a new feature, outline its risks, and explain how you can opt out if it if you choose.
- Does the service tell you how to report any abuse? Is it easy to do?
- Has the product clearly informed you in plain English of its privacy policies? Are you comfortable with these?
Linda
P.S. There’s a temptation to promote the idea that the problems of Internet safety can be solved simply through education—that if you, the Internet user, were better informed there wouldn’t be online abuses. This isn’t true. While it’s critical that services teach you and your children to use a product safely, education alone won’t keep anyone safe.
Go back to Part 1 (introduction). Read Part 3 (safety framework).
