Webcams

How do I make it safer?

Monitor adolescents' use of webcams as well as the posting and exchanging of pictures/videos online. Once pictures or information are sent over the Internet, control over what happens to the pictures or information is lost. Teach adolescents to be mindful of what they send.

Reinforce to adolescents the public nature of the Internet.
Teach adolescents that it is illegal for people to manufacture, possess or distribute naked or sexually explicit pictures of children under 18 years of age. Explain to adolescents that they need to tell a safe adult if they are presented with this situation.
Explain to adolescents that it's illegal to threaten someone online or offline. Explain that they should never comply with threats. If someone threatens them online, they need to tell a safe adult.
Suggest adolescents review Respect Yourself, a website designed to teach teens about the risks they face when sending pictures or videos by email, Instant Messaging (IM) or by posting them online. This site guides teens through the risks and provides them with strategies to help keep them safe.