Internet Safety: Information for Parents, Students, and Educators

1
Internet Safety Information for Parents,
Students, and Educators

• The Citadels Counselor Education Graduate
  Program
• EDUC 521 Project, May 2007

2
The Internet and Children

• The Internet can be a wonderful resource for
  kids. They can use it to research school
  reports, communicate with teachers and others,
  and play interactive games. Any child who is old
  enough to type on the keyboard can potentially
  access the world.

3
EducatorsEducating Yourself

• 45 of children in the U.S., more than 30 million
  of those younger than 18, use the internet. (The
  Pew Internet American Life Project, 2001)
• Be aware of internet safety issues within your
  school
• Online bullying
• Child predators
• Inappropriate use/display of students private
  information
• For more information
• www.cybersmartcurriculum.org
• www.isafe.org
• www.netsmartz.org
• www.cyberbullying.us
• www.cyberbullying.com
• www.schoolcounselor.com/safetynetlinks.asp

4
EducatorsEducating Students

• Conduct classroom guidance activities defining
  internet safety and providing prevention
  techniques.
• Emphasize
• importance of reporting inappropriate internet
  use.
• respecting others rights and privacy.
• importance of keeping private information
  private.
• possible dangers of meeting strangers online.

5
Parents Internet Safety

• The Internet offers kids many opportunities for
  learning, constructive entertainment, and
  personal growth. At the same time, parents are
  concerned about the risks kids face online. The
  challenge for parents is to educate themselves
  and their children about how to use the Internet
  safely. GetNetWise
• It is imperative to consider the developmental
  stage of the child. If you do not know, conduct
  research talk to their teachers and to other
  parents.
• Set boundaries parents have the right to say
  yes and no.
• Remember, parents are childrens primary teacher
  of values, morals and ethics.

6
Parents Rules for Internet Safety

• Keep the computer in a common room in the house
  and position the monitor so it is available for
  public viewing.
• Use blocking software and filtering programs to
  assist in monitoring and managing sites your
  child visits.
• Encourage your children to show you what they can
  do online and visit and explore their favorite
  websites.
• Set up guidelines and rules for your children to
  follow when using the Internet. Also, follow any
  rules set by your internet service provider.
• If your child has a new friend, insist on being
  introduced online to that friend.

7
ParentsWarning Signs of Inappropriate Internet
Use

• Your child spending long hours online, especially
  at night.
• Phone calls from people you dont know or
  unsolicited gifts arriving in the mail.
• Your child suddenly turns off the computer when
  you walk into the room.
• Withdrawal from family life or reluctance to
  discuss online activities.

8
Resources for Parents

• coe.fgcu.edu/faculty/sabella/safety.pdf
• www.benetsafe.com
• www.mindoh.com/Cyberbullying.aspx

9
Elementary School Students Tips for Online
Safety

• Never give out personal information such as your
  address, phone number or school name and
  location.
• Tell your parents or teacher if you receive
  information that makes you feel uncomfortable.
• Never agree to meet someone in person who you met
  online.
• Always ask your parents, teacher or guardian for
  permission prior to using the internet.

10
Secondary School Students Guide to Safe Blogging

• Blog interactive web journal or diary, the
  contents of which are posted online and viewable
  by some or all individuals (Hinduja, 2005)
• When online, remember that you are in public and
  millions of people may have access to your blog.
• Check to see what privacy features are available
  so you can access who sees your blog.
• Remember that anything that you put on the
  internet can be copied, manipulated and stored.
• Be careful about the type of relationship you
  establish or information you give to people
  through your own or other peoples blogs.
• Be wary of your blogging services rules or
  terms of service.
• Be mindful of what you choose to put on a blog,
  such as pictures and personal information.
• ABC News on Teens and Online Privacy
• http//abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id3091911
  

11
Secondary School Students Cyberbullying

• Cyberbullying intentional harm inflicted through
  electronic mediums (Hinduja, 2005)
• Cyberthreats can be direct or indirect.
• Anonymity can greatly increase the level of
  threats made by the bully.
• Vicious rumors can grow and spread throughout the
  internet.
• Cyberbullying can arise from bias or hate.
• ABC News on Internet Bullying
• http//abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id2870337
  

12
All Students Be Wary of Grooming

• Grooming is a way that sexual predators go from
  bad intentions to sexual exploitation. It is a
  form of manipulation.
• How to recognize Grooming
• Involves flattery, sympathy, offers of gifts,
  money or modeling jobs
• The predators tries to manipulate the victim
  because he or she wants the victims to feel loved
  and comfortable enough to meet him or her in
  person
• Warning Signs
• Wheres your computer in the house?
• I know someone who can get you a modeling job.
• Resources Available
• www.2-smrt-4u.com

13
References

• More Online, Doing More. Washington, DC The Pew
  Internet American Life Project, 2001, page 2.
• Hinduja, Sameer (2005, November). Retrieved May
  20, 2007, from www.cyberbullying.us Web site
  http//www.cyberbullying.us/
• cyberbullying_glossary.pdf
• Kids rules for online safety. (n.d.). Retrieved
  May 14, 2007, from http//safekids.com/
• kids-rules-for-online-safety/
• Aftab, Parry (n.d.) Parenting on Line, Retrieved
  May 17, 2007 from http//www.wiredkids.org