I NTERNET 101 T HE I NTERNET

Vast Network of Computers World Wide Web Internet Relay Chat (IRC) Usenet Internet 101 — 3 Components

Online Internet "buddy" locators AOL ® Instant Messenger™ Service, ICQ ® Instant Messenger, Yahoo! ® Messenger, MSN Messenger Allow file transfer, chat, and messaging Voice and video chat Messengers

A A A A AB I U : sometimes. they are nice to me here : well your a sweet young girl : thnks : have you ever met men from instant messenger? sometimes. they are nice to me here well your a sweet young girlthnkshave you ever met men from instant messenger?

Cellular Telephones Access to the Internet often without parental supervision Share and post digital photographs Send and receive text messages

Usually run through an Internet Service Provider (ISP) Instant communication with many people Online identities are easily changed Web-Based Chat

Internet Relay Chat Real-time chat worldwide Allows for private one-on-one conversations Allows for private exchange of files without the use of

Naturally curious Easily led by adults Need for attention and affection Need to defy parents Kenneth Lanning. Child Molesters: A Behavioral Analysis. Alexandria, Virginia: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, 2001, pages Children — “Ideal” Victims

Unique Characteristics of Online Victimization Unique Characteristics of Online Victimization Physical contact not necessary (e.g., chat, digitally-morphed images) Image may remain on Internet forever Jurisdictional issues Many victims do not disclose

Reporting About 25% of the youth who encountered a sexual solicitation or approach told a parent Less than 10% of sexual solicitations were reported to authorities such as a law-enforcement agency, an Internet Service Provider, or a hotline David Finkelhor, Kimberly J. Mitchell, and Janis Wolak. Online Victimization: A Report on the Nation's Youth. Alexandria, Virginia: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, 2000, page ix.

C HARACTERISTICS O F A N O NLINE P REDATOR T HE I NTERNET

Nature of the Problem Actual or perceived anonymity Pool of information to educate themselves about law enforcement practices and avoid prosecution A target-rich environment for offenders Contact with other offenders to validate their own beliefs

Offline Online Time-consuming Inefficient Probability of detection Automated search engines High-speed access Notification programs Perceived anonymity/less fear of detection Finding Victims

Offenders Arrests Internet Sex Crimes Against Minors Internet Sex Crimes Against Minors 99% male 86% older than 25 97% acted alone 39% Internet Crimes Against Identified Victims 25% Internet Solicitations to Undercover Law Enforcement 36% Internet Child Pornography

O NLINE S AFETY T IPS T HE I NTERNET

Parents and Children 61% of parents say they have rules about Internet use 37% of teens reported being subject to them Teenage Life Online: The rise of the instant-message generation and the Internet's impact on friendships and family relationships. Washington, DC: Pew Internet & American Life Project, 2001, page 4.

1. Establish rules for Internet use Internet Safety Tips What sites can your child visit? Who can they talk to? How long will they be online? Where can they use a computer? Keep house rules posted near the computer

2. Keep the computer in a common room (not a child's bedroom) Internet Safety Tips

3. Discuss the importance of telling you or a trusted adult if something ever makes your child or teen feel scared, uncomfortable, or confused while online Internet Safety Tips

4. Communicate Internet Safety Tips Prepare yourself beforehand Talk and be open with your kids and teens Keep your cool. Be cool. Encourage them to confide in you

5. Be Informed Internet Safety Tips Learn everything you can about the Internet Ask your kids to show you places they go Learn chatroom lingo by going to for a list of acronyms like POS = Parent Over Shoulder Know what other access your child may have including text messaging

6. Consider safeguarding options Internet Safety Tips Check out blocking, filtering, and rating applications Learn about filtering and monitoring software and WHEN TO USE THEM But remember, education is a key part of prevention.

7. CyberTipline Internet Safety Tips Report incidents of child sexual exploitation to the CyberTipline by calling or at

Always read a web site's privacy policy Know who your children talk to online Check your children's addresses for appropriateness Don't post your child's address in any directory More Tips for Parents Don't "unsubscribe" to unwanted Don't sign up for "free" things

Talk to your children about what personal information is and why they should never give it out Don't forward to "everyone" in your address book Make sure children only exchange with people they know and let them use chat areas you supervise More Tips for Parents

Show your children how to turn off the monitor when something makes them feel scared, uncomfortable, or confused Make sure you are aware of any other places your child may be using the Internet such as a friend's house or the library Access more tips on the "Parents & Educators" section of More Tips for Parents

Know how to More Tips for Parents Set parental controls Check history files

Read news articles Learn Internet definitions Study Internet risks and dangers Review safety tips What You Can Do To Protect Your Family What You Can Do To Protect Your Family Educate yourself at the "Parents & Educators " section of

Play the NetSmartz online activities together What You Can Do To Protect Your Family What You Can Do To Protect Your Family Make Internet safety a family concern Discuss the concepts using the NetSmartz activity cards Set family rules and guidelines Sign the NetSmartz Internet safety pledges

Send your children to Send your teenagers to the "Teens" section of Bookmark the site for easy access Encourage your children to return to the site often Real-life stories told by teens What You Can Do To Protect Your Family What You Can Do To Protect Your Family

Tips for Do not respond to mean, offensive, threatening, or unwanted or Instant Messages Don't give out or post online any personal information such as name, age, address, telephone number, parent/guardian's name, and school name/address

Tips for Remember, people online may or MAY NOT be who they say they are Choose a screen name that doesn't identify you as a young boy or girl Don't share your password with anyone (except a parent/guardian) --- not even your best friend

Resources Microsoft NCSA Getnetwise Netsmartz FTC Firewall McAfee Techguard Security