Information and resources Internet Safety Information and resources

Internet Safety: The Issues Despite the educational and social benefits of information and communication technologies, there are risks associated with their use, particularly for school age students. Many children and adolescents accessing the internet using a computer or another enabled device will be confronted with material that is disturbing or inappropriate. Although there are technological measures than can be adopted to minimise risks, other strategies include educating children as early as possible about the benefits and dangers of using the internet. It is extremely important to instruct children about how to be ‘street-smart’ and to use the internet in a safe and responsibly manner. Some potential dangers for students Exposure to inappropriate material Students face the risk of exposure to material that is pornographic, sexually explicit or offensive, hateful or violent, or that encourages activities that are dangerous or illegal. Such materials can be accessed via the World Wide Web or newsgroups, shared in peer- to-peer (P2P) networks, or sent via email or instant messaging services. Student access of such material may occur inadvertently through searching for educational content about people, places or issues. Teachers should be aware of safe searching techniques and advise students how to deal with unsolicited inappropriate material. There are risk associated with the use of the Internet, and as a classroom teacher you need to be aware of them. Although most systems now have filtering devices associated with their internet access, as the teacher of record you are ultimately responsible for your students. Also, most systems now have a standard/objective associated with the instruction of issues related to internet safety.

Internet Safety: The Issues Physical danger A risk associated with the internet is ‘stranger danger’—meeting someone online who may claim to be someone they are not. This may occur when a student provides personal information to someone they meet online. In some cases, pedophiles have used chat rooms, email and instant messages to gain a child’s confidence, and then arrange a face-to-face meeting (known as ‘online grooming’). Commercialism of the internet and financial risks The increase in the commercialism of the internet can be identified in the World Wide Web, email, online marketing, or even in gambling. Teaching students how to navigate safely through these elements is essential at all levels of schooling. Some websites are scam sites—they have been set up to deprive people of money or opportunity. Some websites may be bogus or dummy sites, for example websites supposedly for banks but which have been developed to deceive and coax people into providing credit card details (known as ‘phishing’). There is the risk that students may put themselves and/or their family at financial risk by providing their own or their parents’ credit card details. The basic rule of thumb is that if something seems too good to be true, it probably is! Personal Experience: Wikipedia and nude picture of Marilyn Monroe. Foreign languages Chat rooms Police visit to CHS—found out information on girl quickly…where she lived, school, etc. Reinforce with students not to give away information of a personal nature. The basic rule of thumb is that if something seems too good to be true, it probably is!

Internet Safety: The Issues Harassment and bullying Cyber bullying can be carried out through an internet service such as email, chat rooms, discussion groups, instant messaging or web pages. It can also include bullying through mobile phone technologies such as SMS. Cyber bullying can include teasing and being made fun of, spreading rumors online, sending unwanted messages and defamation. Privacy Some websites prompt students to complete a form revealing their name, email address, age and gender, and sometimes even their telephone number and postal address, in order to access information. Some requests are legitimate: much depends on the nature of the website requesting the information. Providing personal information online can result in a student being targeted for spam (unsolicited email), advertising materials and/or viruses. Privacy issues also apply to students developing personal websites and publishing online. Personal details, including photographs of themselves or other students, may lead to the information being captured and reused by others for illicit purposes.

Internet Safety: The Issues Unreliable information Information on some websites may misrepresent the truth, be out of date, biased or incorrect. Information literacy requires students to make judgments about the credibility and quality of material they find, or are sent, while online. Racist websites can claim to tell or represent the truth about complex social, cultural or historical issues in ways that appear logical and plausible. Such websites can actively merchandise or even recruit students. Teachers should be aware of the risks associated with particular classroom topics and teach the required information literacy skills, using examples where appropriate. Spam ‘Spam’ is the email equivalent of junk mail or nuisance phone calls. Spam can simply be defined as all unsolicited electronic mail sent out in bulk to individuals or organizations that have not consented to receive it. Spam may include viruses or pornographic images. Spam is becoming increasingly prevalent and is an issue for any student with a personal email address. Filters can be used to prevent spam from entering a mailbox, but spammers are using increasingly sophisticated techniques to bypass filters. Teachers should show students how to recognize and delete spam without opening it. Viruses While email is a useful way of communicating and sharing information, there are risks associated with its use. These include email from unknown senders that contain virus- infected attachments, or following links in an email to a virus-infected website.

KIDS RULES FOR ONLINE SAFETY 1. I will not give out personal information such as my address, telephone number, parents’ work address/telephone number, or the name and location of my school without my parents’ permission. 2. I will tell my parents right away if I come across any information that makes me feel uncomfortable. 3. I will never agree to get together with someone I "meet" online without first checking with my parents. If my parents agree to the meeting, I will be sure that it is in a public place and bring my mother or father along. 4. I will never send a person my picture or anything else without first checking with my parents. 5. I will not respond to any messages that are mean or in any way make me feel uncomfortable. It is not my fault if I get a message like that. If I do I will tell my parents right away so that they can contact the service provider.

KIDS RULES FOR ONLINE SAFETY 6. I will talk with my parents so that we can set up rules for going online. We will decide upon the time of day that I can be online, the length of time I can be online and appropriate areas for me to visit. I will not access other areas or break these rules without their permission. 7. I will not give out my Internet password to anyone (even my best friends) other than my parents. 8. I will check with my parents before downloading or installing software or doing anything that could possibly hurt our computer or jeopardize my family’s privacy. 9. I will be a good online citizen and not do anything that hurts other people or is against the law. 10. I will help my parents understand how to have fun and learn things online and teach them things about the Internet, computers and other technology.

Additional Resources Teachers Guide for Internet Safety Teacher Resources: Internet Safety Additional Information on Internet Safety The Internet Safety Debate

The Internet Safety Act

Cyber Bullying Cyber Bullying

Safe Sites for Students