1 Internet Safety By: Nicole Sutton, Kenny Messinger, and Emily Whitman

2 Main Issues and Problems Cyber-Bullying Web Surfing Social Network / Chat Rooms Sexual Solicitation / Child Molesters Gaming Identity Thief

3 1. Cyber Bullying Cyber Bullying is when a child, preteen or teen is tormented, threatened, harassed, humiliated, embarrassed or otherwise targeted by another child, preteen or teen using the Internet, interactive and digital technologies or mobile phones. There are two kinds of cyber bullying, direct attacks (messages sent to your kids directly) and cyber bullying by proxy (using others to help cyber bully the victim, either with or without the accomplice's knowledge).

4 Cyber Bullying (Cont) The victims often tend to have the following characteristics: –Low self esteem –Insecurities –Lack of social skills –Don’t pick up on social cues –Easily emotionally distraught –Unable to defend or stand up for themselves

5 2. Web Surfing The first area of concern is what your children are exposed to, either through their own actions (entering an area that you may not want them to enter) or through accidental exposure. The other distinct area of concern is direct communication with your child that may be inappropriate and personal and that could, if mishandled, lead to your child revealing information that puts them or the family at personal risk.

6 3. Social Networking/ Chat Rooms These are the areas of greatest risk for exposure to unwanted exchanges. They are not set up for children and are not a good way to spend their time or your money. Most teens create at least a basic profile, with their name, age, status, photo and interests. The anonymity of some social networking sites makes it easy for unscrupulous people to target young teens and engage them in harmful conversations.

7 4. Sexual Solicitation/ Child Molesters A greater danger is that teens may become targets of pedophiles. Sex offenders start in non-threatening ways. They tend to lure children in to reveal personal details about themselves and their family.

8 4. Sexual Solicitation/ Child Molesters (Cont) 19% of children reported being approached for sex through internet media. 1 in 7 children say sex offenders attempted to contact them via the internet or mail. 34% of solicitations are made by adults 18 or older. 25% of all solicitations are made by females. Chat rooms are accountable for 2/3 of the solicitations.

9 5. Gaming A gaming console can simply be connected to high speed internet and you are able to play a game against any person around the world. This also allows one to communicate with any one person.

10 Gaming (Cont) Example: Kids these days, are up until 2 or 3 in the morning playing these games, being exposed to violence and inappropriate language. Example : Adults playing with these children, cussing them out, harassing them, or exposing these children to material that is inappropriate for their age.

11 Laws and Rules 1. Communications Decency Act (CDA) –Congress’s first attempt to regulate children’s access to sexually explicit material on the internet. 2. Child Online Protection Act (COPA) –Advancements in filtering technologies. 3. Child Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) –Gives parents control of what information websites can collect from their kids under 13 years old.

12 Laws and Rules (Cont) 4. Federal Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) –CIPA requires public libraries that participate in the LSTA and E-rate programs to certify that they are using computer filtering software to prevent the on- screen depiction of obscenity, child pornography, or other material harmful to minors. 5. Protect Act –Protects children from people who lure or ask for sexually explicit photo or acts.

13 Children Should Know Never give out your on-line password to anyone. No on-line staff will ever ask for your password. Never reveal personal information, your real name, where you live, your parents names, telephone number or where you go to school. Never send pictures of yourself or your family through the Internet. Never continue a conversation that makes you feel uncomfortable, that seems inappropriate or becomes personal. Just as with the telephone, you can hang up by going to another area of the Internet. Tell your parents about what happened. Always tell your parents about any communication that uses threatening or bad language. Never agree to meet someone. Tell your parents about anyone who makes that suggestion. Do not accept product offers or any other opportunities to send you information through the Internet without your parents specific approval. Never give your street address to have something mailed. Remember that people on the Internet can be anyone, anywhere. Take care of yourself and your family.

14 Suggestions Parents should talk to their children as soon as they develop interest in internet activities. Parental Control –Filter and Block to limit access to certain sites, words, or images which can be applied to and chats. –Block outgoing content and use software preventing kids from sharing personal information online in chat rooms or .

15 Suggestions (Cont) Manually or use software to limit children’s time online and time of day they can access the internet. Use kid-friendly browsers and search engines that limit material displayed. Monitoring tools/software that alert parents of online activity without blocking access; can also provide warning messages.

16 Video Game Suggestions Most video consoles have parental control that limit a number of things such as –Amount of time played in a day, week or month –Suspend play-time –Select family options which should reduce language and the amount of “trash talking.” –Listen in and or watch what is going on

17 Digital Citizenship Digital citizenship can be defined as the norms of appropriate, responsible behavior with regard to technology use.

18 Nine Themes of Digital Citizenship 1. Digital Etiquette - electronic standards of conduct or procedure 2. Digital Communication - electronic exchange of information 3. Digital Literacy - process of teaching and learning about technology and the use of technology 4. Digital Access - full electronic participation in society 5. Digital Commerce - electronic buying and selling of goods 6. Digital Law - electronic responsibility for actions and deeds 7. Digital Rights & Responsibilities - those freedoms extended to everyone in a digital world 8. Digital Health & Wellness - physical and psychological well- being in a digital technology world 9. Digital Security (self-protection) - electronic precautions to guarantee safety.

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