It’s important to keep your child’s online safety top of mind as he/she heads back to school. When students aren’t using the Internet to do research and homework they’re most likely keeping up with friends through social media sites and online communities like Facebook and MySpace. Staysafeonline.org says most teens are Internet savvy, but it’s up to parents to keep kids informed of online risks:

71% reported receiving messages online from someone they don’t know

45% have been asked for personal information by someone they don’t know

30% have considered meeting someone that they’ve only talked to online

14% have actually met a person face-to-face they’ve only spoken to over the Internet (9% of 13-15s; 22% of 16-17s).

Here are some tips to keep your family safe online:

Talk to your kids:
This one sounds easy enough, but explaining to youngsters that sharing personal information online or talking with strangers can be dangerous can make a huge difference.

Post rules next to the computer:
Posting rules so they are visible at all times keeps them top of mind.

Use parental controls
Setting parental controls lets you decide where your child can explore online.

Keep the computer in the family room or another open area of your home.
Keeping your computer in a common area of the home will keep kids from searching inappropriate content or visiting questionable Web sites.

Check out government sites like Staysafeonline.org and Onguardonline.gov to find additional tips and resources for keeping kids safe online.