But the Internet has many positives you just don't hear much about. It is up to individual parents to enforce the standards they wish for their children to follow. The good news is that parents can maintain control over what their children access online. Download filtering software on line or purchase it at a computer software store. Configure the software to match your child's interests and age level, and you'll not have to worry about them accessing undesirable content while surfing the web.
Consistency is the first rule.
Draw up a set of guidelines, perhaps as a pact between parent and child, and post them near the computer where they can be reviewed often. If ever I run into something online that makes me feel uncomfortable in any way, I will tell a parent immediately. I will stay away from news-groups and chatrooms unless my parent finds me one that is moderated for children only. A parent will stay close by during my visits there. I won't let a friend use our computer without his or her parent's permission.