Parents know how difficult it can be to monitor your child's internet use. You can add search filters, block websites and take away devices, but there's no stopping a curious child sometimes.
One mum has gone the extra mile to scare the absolute bejaysus out of her daughter, by giving her a letter from a Mr Richard Mitchell.
Australian Mum Sue Samad Taher has a strict 'no chatting' policy for her children when they use devices.
On Sunday night, her daughter Sarah Amira came to her crying with a confession - she had been chatting with people she had met through online gaming. The repentant seven-year-old asked to be grounded for breaking the rule.
The next day, Sue 'received' a letter from the Australian government's Department of Child Cyber Security reading, "We regret to inform you that your daughter Ms Sarah Amira has breached the Cyber internet safety contract for children under the age of 16 and has been found guilty of chatting with strangers. We have disconnected her internet for her safety until further notice."
Samad then showed her daughter and son the letter and got the intended response.
As you have probably guessed, there is no such thing as the 'cyber internet contract" for minors in Australian law, or a Department of Child Cyber Security that issues letters to parents. Writing on Facebook, Samad explained: "It got me thinking, ok... I ground her, confiscate the iPad but really no lesson is learnt."
The clever mum continued: "So during my lunch break my absolute manic mind came up with this faux letter with letterhead and all and I put it in our mailbox this afternoon addressed to Mr and Mrs Taher.
"The letter is just a reminder, deterrence and possibly freak the crap out of her for a few years (I hope). The response when I gave her and her brother the letter was exactly what I was aiming for."
Last month, we spoke to two parenting experts on how you can address the topic of sexting and overall internet responsibility with your children. The trick is an open and honest conversation, with minimal judgment.
Samad explained that just like confiscated devices, the letter is only one part of a wider education on internet safety. She said, "The letter doesn't replace continuous education about cyber danger and stranger danger and Keeping the open dialogue and honesty with your children.
"If they make a mistake, pull them up, watch what they are doing, let them make mistakes with you and be ok to discuss those awkward subjects that make your stomach squirm.
Injecting some humour into her post, Samad remarked that the letter will make a novel gift for Sarah Amira in the future: "It'll be a great piece to present at her 18th birthday."
