HP is committed to protecting the privacy needs of children and we encourage parents and guardians to take an active role in their children's online activities and interests. HP does not knowingly collect information from children under the age of 13 and HP does not target its websites to children under 13.
Famly Rules
You can establish family rules for online computer use. Among those suggested by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (www.missingkids.com) are the following:
- Tell your children never to give out identifying information such as family information, home address, school name, or phone number in chat room discussions and when visiting web sites. They shouldn't even reveal such data in private e-mail unless they know who they are dealing with. They must also not send out personal or family photos without your permission. It's best for children to use "screen names" that are different from their own in chat rooms.
- Explain to children that passwords must never be given to anyone else, even someone claiming to be from the online service.
- Warn your children not to respond to messages that are threatening, suggestive, demeaning, or otherwise make you or the child uncomfortable. Tell them to report such messages to you.
- Set reasonable usage rules, including time limits, for your child's use of the computer. Watch for excessive use of online services late at night. That could be a tip-off there is a problem.
- Try to make online use a family activity. Keep the computer in a family room rather than the child's bedroom.
- Get to know your children's online "friends," much as you try to get to know their other friends. Never permit a child to arrange a face-to-face meeting with another computer user without your attending at least the first meeting
- Also explain that not everything they read online may not be true. Any offer that's "too good to be true" probably is.
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