Safety on the Information Highway Joyce Wong

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Safety on the Information Highway
Presented by Joyce WongÉcole Churchill High
SchoolMarch 5, 2002
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The Internet

• A global network connecting millions of computers
  together
• Through phone and cable lines
• Includes WWW (World Wide Web), Email and chat
  rooms

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Chat Rooms

• Chat is probably the most dangerous area on the
  Internet because you dont know who is in the
  chat room with you.

The Winnipeg School Division No. 1
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Chat Rooms

• Chat rooms are virtual rooms where people from
  anywhere in the world can exchange information
  and ideas
• People type messages back and forth to someone
  else with instant responses
• People log into a chat room and see what others
  are saying
• You cant see them and you dont know who they
  are

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Chat Room Safety

• http//www.chatdanger.com
• http//www.bytescanada.com
• http//www.bluekestrel.com
• http//www.chatmag.com

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The Benefits

• Communication
• Opportunities for Learning
• Constructive Entertainment

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The Risks

• Meeting Someone Online
• Loss of Privacy
• Inappropriate Material
• Hate Sites
• Pornography
• Pedophiles
• Violence

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Teenagers are particularly at risk because they
are more likely to participate in online
discussions regarding companionship
National Center for Missing and
ExploitedChildren
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WSD1 Policy

• All students using division computers require
  written parental permission
• The division has a filtering system to block out
  inappropriate web sites and chat rooms
• All communication is logged

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Safety in the Home

• The best way to assure that your children are
  having positive online experiences is to stay in
  touch with what they are doing.

Lawrence J. MagidNational Center for Missing and
Exploited Children
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Advise for Parents

• Educate yourself
• Centralize location of computers
• Monitor your childs use
• Install filtering software
• Establish ground rules and age appropriate
  consequences

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Ground Rules

• Explain to children that talking to someone on
  the Internet is like talking to a stranger
• Never give out personal information about
  themselves
• Ask them to inform you immediately if anyone asks
  them for personal information
• Never meet with someone they have received
  e-mails from

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Parent Websites

• www.cyberangels.org
• www.getnetwise.org
• www.safekids.com
• http//www.fbi.gov/kids/crimepre/crimeprev.htm
• http//www.smartparent.com/

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Internet Filters

• Cyber Patrol - http//www.cyberpatrol.com
• A utility that allows parents to manage computer
  use in their household.
• Net Nanny - http//www.netnanny.com
• A utility that allows parents to see and control
  access to websites and block sites they deem
  inappropriate.
• Cyber Sitter http//www.cybersitter.com
• Gives parents the ability to limit their
  children's access to objectionable material on
  the Internet.