Internet Use Policies

What is a use policy?

When Defining a Policy

Use policy topics

Use policy example

What is a Use Policy?

Your children should have clear guidelines for Internet surfing. We need to educate our children about how to act in the cyber world in the same way that we teach them how to act in the real world. One way to achieve that is a use policy.

A use policy is an agreement between parents and children that covers all the issues that the parents consider important regarding Internet use.

When defining a Policy

Customize the use policy according to the child's age, maturity level and other specific circumstances. There may be a number of use policies to fit each child in the family.
Include the child when defining the policy in order to make the child more committed to it.
Make sure that the child understands the use policy.
Place a printed version of the use policy near the child's PC where it can not be ignored.

Use Policy Topics

When drafting a use policy each family decides what issues to cover. Below are some general issues that may be addressed when drafting a policy.

Time limit - What is the maximum time period you allow your child to use the Internet? For example, an hour a day, four hours a week etc.

Conditions - Under what conditions is your child allowed to use the Internet? For example, after finishing home work, after doing chores etc.

Appropriate content - Create a list of suggested websites for your child.

Inappropriate content - Define clear limitations on what is considered inappropriate content when using the Internet. You might want to include: porn websites, gambling websites, websites with violent content , hate groups websites.

Online communication - Define the types of online communication that are allowed. For example, email, IM programs, social network services, chatrooms, newsgroups, forums, blogs, P2P networks etc. (For more indepth information, see Risks).

Child privacy - Define the parents' Internet monitoring level. Some parents decide that all children Internet activities will be monitored, sometimes by the help of family security tools (see Tools and Products). Some parents decide not to address this issue with their children and use a family security product without their children knowledge, and some parents decide to agree with the child on privacy boundaries together. For example: Viewing the child emails and IM programs, checking the child social network service webpage etc.

Internet payments - Define online payment limitations and means of payment. For example, It is OK to pay for educational information with a paypal account.

Reporting a problem - What should a child do when encountering behavior on the web that seems suspicious or causes uncomfortable feelings? This section in the policy should include examples for problems like harassments, malware attacks and the immediate solution, such as turning off the computer and notifying a parent.

Disobedience - What happens when the child does not follow the policy rules? The consequences of disobeying the policy should be clear. For example, limitation of Internet use, grounding etc.

Use Policy Example

I _______________ (name of the child) commit to follow the family rules defined in this document regarding Internet use.

I will use the Internet for _________ hours a _________ (day, week, month).
I will not surf to websites with inappropriate content such as porn, gambling, violent content, hate groups and similar web sites.
I will not pay for anything in the web without my parents' approval.
I will only use email and IM programs for online communication.
I will not give anyone or publish in the web, any private information without my parents' approval. Private information can include: Name, Last name, address, email address, passwords, phone number, school name, parent work place etc.
I will not send by online communication (or upload to the web) personal photos or family photos without my parents' approval.
I will not engage in online conversation from any type with strangers (even if they seem in my age).
I will not meet or talk on the phone with someone that I talk to online without my parents' permission.
I will not harass or bully others in the web.
I will not install software or download files to the PC from the Internet without my parents' approval.
I will tell my parents immediately when I encounter something in the Internet that made me uncomfortable or seems suspicious.
I will not give anyone (except my parents), including my friends, my PC password, email password and IM password.
I will write down my user name and passwords of my: PC, email, IM programs, for my parents to know.
I am aware that breaking this agreement will be followed by punishment.

Child's Signature: ____________________ Date: ___________

Parents' Signatures: ______________________ Date: ___________