Popular Online Activities
This page will give you a description of some of the online activities popular with kids, and explain some of the potential dangers you should be aware of.
What is itl?
E-mail, short for electronic mail, is a message sent over the Internet from one person to another (or others). The sender can also attach files to the message, such as text documents or photos. You can sign up for e-mail accounts through your Internet Service Provider (ISP), or find free e-mail accounts online.
Potential pitfalls:
E-mail is great for helping people keep in touch, but it does have some drawbacks, such as spam (junk mail), the potential to be used for Internet luring by sexual predators, cyberbullying or harassment from other users, and phishing (e-mails designed to trick you out of financial information).
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Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada
What is it?
Anytime you visit the World Wide Web, you are browsing through a giant network of websites. Anyone, from a student to an international corporation, can run a website, which is hosted by a computer server and accessible through a person’s Web browser. Websites range in size and complexity, but a basic site can be built in minutes using an online service.
Potential pitfalls:
While websites are a great way to find and share information, there is very little regulation of the online world. There are many websites with text, photos and even video that are unsuitable for children. The increasing use of webcams – digital cameras attached to your computer that film you and transmit the image over the Internet – also poses new dangers to youth, especially from online sexual predators.
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What is it?
Chatrooms are, as the name suggests, places on the Internet where people gather to chat. Some are open to the public, and others are private and restricted to those with authorized access. People can chat “one on one” or with a group of people.
Potential pitfalls:
Like e-mail, chatrooms can help bring people together, but their content is not always appropriate for children. In addition, sexual predators will often search for victims in chatrooms that are popular with kids, so it is important that children understand that they don’t really know the people they meet in these places.
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What is it?
Derived from the term “Web log”, or “weblog”, a blog is a place where a person can post diary-like entries electronically. Some blogs allow readers to post their comments as well.
Potential pitfalls:
Youth need to understand that the information they post on their blogs can be viewed by anyone – friends or strangers. They should never put up personal information (such as their real name, address, phone number or the name of their school) that could put them in danger from predators.
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What is it?
Unlike e-mail messages, instant messaging, or IM, lets people talk in “real” time. As a user, you can post a message, and then instantly see any replies from other instant messaging users. You can also create a list of contacts and block messages from people you don’t want to talk with. Like e-mail, users can send attachments with their messages. You can also use microphones and/or webcams as you send messages.
Potential pitfalls:
Instant messaging is a great way to stay in touch over long distances and chat with friends without tying up the phone, but children and parents should take safety precautions when they sign-up with these programs.
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What is it?
Text messaging is similar to instant messaging, but is used through cell phones instead of computers. It’s also known as short message system, or SMS, because cell phones screen are only big enough to show a small amount of text.
Potential pitfalls:
The rapid rise in the popularity of cell phones has brought with it new challenges for parents. Cell phones can be a great safety measure, but they can also be used by youth to bully their peers, cheat on tests and send inappropriate text, photos and even video.
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What is it?
Also known as peer to peer technology, or P2P, file sharing software allows you to find files from the computers of other file sharing users and copy them to your own computer. Music (MP3s), movies and software are examples of commonly-shared files.
Potential pitfalls:
File sharing can be a great way to share information and learn new things, but it does have risks. Downloading file sharing software may make your computer more vulnerable to viruses and spyware. It can also increase the likelihood that children will receive pornographic material or download pirated music and movies (similar concerns have started to arise with the rapidly developing sharing and storage capabilities of multimedia/MP3 players).
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