The Internet is a helpful resource for students to browse and conduct research, but parents should be aware of the hidden dangers of using one of the most widely used search tools.
Debbie Smith, who has a son, Trey, 13, said that he spends less than an hour per day on the Internet.
"He mostly plays games and uses the Internet to complete homework assignments," said Smith.
"I do trust my son, but I do believe he has accessed sites that he shouldn't have," she said.
Some of those sites, such as MySpace, are attractive to young people. Sometimes, they unwittingly share personal information, which makes them targets for Internet stalkers.
Law enforcement authorities say parents should monitor their child's Internet use at all times.
"We have investigators with the police department who have specialized Web and Internet training," said Greenwood Police Chief Henry Harris.
The police department hasn't had reported incidents of suspicious activity over the Internet, the chief said, but his investigators are able to set up sting operations to catch predators.
Tish Bowie Goodman, broker and owner of Bowie Realty and mother of a 10-year-old, Abbey, monitors her daughter's Internet time.
Abbey knows she cannot access web sites such as MySpace.com, said Goodman.
She is allowed to access an educational Web site called webkinz. The site teaches a child how to care for possessions and how to budget money, among other things.
"It's a fun site that provides real-world scenarios that kids can benefit from in the long run," said Goodman.
To access the web site, a stuffed animal has to be purchased with a card containing password information to the Web site.
The stuffed animals can be bought at Indoor Gardens on Park Avenue in Greenwood.
"Abbey loves this Web site. During the summer, she spent about two hours a day on it," said Goodman.
"She is not allowed to have a personal computer of her own. My purpose is to teach and protect her from the dangers associated with many Web sites, said Goodman.
When students use the Internet during school hours, school districts and public libraries are taking special precautions to monitor the Web sites that students access.
A parent or guardian must come in and sign up any child under 18 who wants access to the Internet at the Greenwood-Leflore County Public Library. If the child is under 16, the parent must be with the child at all times, said Brian Phillips, director of the computer lab at the library.
"We have four stations that are Internet ready and one station for word processing," he said.
Anyone who is in the lab to access the Internet must follow the policies of the lab, Phillips added.
"No one is allowed to e-mail, play games, or access online chat sites," he said. "The Internet is strictly for educational research only."
Workers in the lab constantly monitor individuals who use the library's computers to make sure they don't access prohibited sites, Phillips said.
The library's computer lab is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Students at Greenwood High School have access to the library, two computer labs and the career center to conduct educational research on the Internet, said Margaret Dean, public relations coordinator for the Greenwood public schools district.
Firewall protection is installed in the school's computers, so that students will not be able to access any negative Web sites or chat sites.
They are allowed to do research for reports or any other assignments the teacher may give.
"Most kids use our facilities frequently for educational research, because they do not have personal computers at home," said Dean.
If they try to enter a prohibited site, access will be denied, she said.
Students are never left alone in the labs, library or career center.
The teacher brings the students to these facilities. A career center instructor is always on duty.
Students are allowed access to the computers during regular school hours. The career center is open until 5 p.m.
"It is OK for my son to use the Internet at school, because I know he will be constantly monitored by the teachers and staff," said Smith.
Smith said her son has to have parental permission before he can use the computers at his school.
