Teen Checkup | Internet Safety

Teens Play it Safe Online

 

The MacArthur Foundation wants us parents to just ”chill out.”

According to their new study, most teenagers steer clear of dangerous sites and use the Internet for research or to chat with friends.

Oh ya. Tell that to the thousands of parents whose children spend hours each night on the Internet.

MacArthur’s digital media study found that many parents are hypersensitive about what they feel are dangers lurking online, although their children actually tend to stay within their already established circle. Parents are also tough critics of the notion that updating your Facebook wall or posting a video to YouTube is as necessary as looking up information for a history paper.

I did a little Internet research on this topic and came across this excerpt from LJWorld.com. I think it is poignant, but I’m not sure I’m buying it.

• Take, for instance, avid Harry Potter fans. Those looking to find out more about the author might research J.K. Rowling, stumble across a YouTube clip of Rowling reading from her latest book, then discover a site that encourages young people to start writing their own fiction. Although parents worry about who their children are talking to online, Ito said they might actually be posting their stories online, critiquing someone else’s prose and becoming engaged in a community focused on analyzing and appreciating their work. It’s not the traditional teacher-student method, but it may be what reaches teenagers ensconced in the digital age.

Personally, I think MacArthur is doing a disservice by conducting a study like this. While, yes, most teens play it safe online there is more than a handful who don’t. Let’s not give parents a bigger false sense of security.

We always need to stay mindful of our children’s online activity - even if they are harmlessly IM’ing friends.

This post was written by: Erin

Tags: dangerous sites, digital media, Internet Safety, macarthur foundation, teen safety

New Years Resolution #2: Read More Books

There are three things I love in life: my family, a hot bath, and a good book - in that order.

Unfortunately all I have time for is my family. No bathes. No books. Kids, you’ll know what I’m talking about in 20 years when you have children of your own.

I’ve already stated that I will publicly announce my new years resolutions on this blog in an effort to help me stick to them.

My first resolution is to be more vigilant about Internet safety. My second resolution: to read more books.

I am a reader - always have been, always will. In fact, I’m one of the few people who still reads the newspaper. But give me a book and I’ll read the first chapter and fall fast asleep. It’s sad.

And lack of books is not the issue here. I have a ton of novels just waiting for me in my office. I’m just too tired to read them.

Not in 2009. I vow - right here and now- to take more time to read a good book. Feeling tired? Well, Erin suck it up! Books should not fall off my radar - nor anyone else’s for that matter. Teens are especially prone to this, given their hectic social lives. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Adults and teens need to be enticed by a good book. They need to feel their books calling to them from the night stand.

That said, I’ve dug up some of the top book lists for young people in 2008 - and I’m not talking Sweet Valley High here. I’m talking about good stuff - the kind of stuff you won’t want to put down.

• American Library Association: Teens Top Ten in 2008
• Amazon’s Best of Books in 2008: Editors’ Top 10 for Teens
• Teenspoint: Top Teen Picks 2008

Parents who are reading this might be wondering about the top adult book lists for 2008. Well, I assume you already know where to find that (ie Amazon, Barnes and Noble).

Teens though, they need a little help sometimes.

Happy reading!

This post was written by: Erin

Tags: books for kids, Internet Safety, new years resolution, novels, teen book lists

Europe Gets Tough on Internet Safety

Europe is on the ball.

According to an article in the Earth Times, the European Union is getting ready to spend roughly $70 million over the next five years to make the Internet safer for children. Officials in Brussels say 75% of children (under age 17) in the EU have access to the Internet, and half of all 10-year-olds have a mobile phone, making it vital to protect them against cyber threats - like bullying and harassment.

Evidently, the funding will also be used to set up hotlines for reporting illegal Internet content or behavior.

I’m extremely happy to see Europe joining the emerging “Internet safety” cause. I’m even more happy to see that a governing body is taking such an active role. Unfortunately here in the U.S., the fight against inappropriate Internet behavior is only a grassroots effort, albeit a strong one.

Perhaps once Europe shows the world the great strides it has made in cracking down cyber threats- the rest of the world will follow suit.

More from around the sphere:

New Report Urges Obama to Focus on Internet Safety for Children … - New Report Urges Obama to Focus on Internet Safety for Children. Posted in: Child protection at 11/12/2008 13:07. Online safety advocates are pushing president-elect Barack Obama to put more resources toward protecting children from … Children’s Charities’ Coalition on Internet Safety: eNACSO, A … - eNACSO, A submission to EU Meeting of Family Ministers in Paris, September 2008. A submission to the meeting of EU Family Ministers in Paris, September 2008, raising several issues of on-going concern in relation to online child …

This post was written by: Erin

Tags: bullying and harassment, Cyber Threats, Internet Safety, protecting children, safety advocates

Teens Take Internet Safety Seriously

Internet safety. It’s no joke and, thankfully, teenagers feel the same way.

Researchers from the University at Buffalo and University of Maryland recently found that preteens and early teenagers who were taught about the importance of Internet privacy were more likely to practice online safety than those who weren’t.

What’s even more interesting - among teachers, friends and parents, the researchers found that parents were the most influential with their children.

Parents, there is hope for us yet!

The study also showed that girls tend to practice more protective behavior on the Web than boys. The researchers believe this is because girls consider online privacy more important than boys do.

So what happens when teens are actually confronted with an online privacy breach?

Well, the finding here is not so terrific.

Researchers say that experiencing a privacy breach online did not cause kids to improve their safety practices nor their protective behavior. This, experts say, will put them at risk for becoming victims in the future.

I find this news rather bitter sweet. It’s clear teens don’t take online security invasions seriously, however it is nice to hear that they know right from wrong as it pertains to Internet safety. This just goes to show how important it is to get Internet security in our schools. Make it part of their high school curriculum. Parents, make it part of your dinner table discussion. If we can all get through to just one child… well, at least that’s a start.

More from around the sphere:

Sex Offender Issues: Comparing Internet Safety Videos - 400 teens arrested for flirting · OFF TOPIC - Teen kills father with a crossbow, get… Comparing Internet Safety Videos · America’s forgotten freedoms · FL - Residency restrictions a challenge for police. … Sue Scheff (P.U.R.E.) - “Parent Empowerment!”: Sue Scheff: Love … - Sue Scheff - Teen Internet Addiction. Parents Universal Resource Experts - Sue Scheff - Teens and Internet Addiction · Sue Scheff - Cyberbullying · Sue Scheff: 10 Types of Teen Internet Users · Teens and Internet Safety … New Study Says: Internet = Good for Kids | Pandora’s Blog - New study says the Internet is an overwhelming positive for teens; we agree, but also recognize the need to monitor Internet activity with PC Pandora monitoring software…

This post was written by: Erin

Tags: Internet Safety, Internet Security, privacy breach, safety practices

Moms Think Internet is as Dangerous as Drunk Driving

I just found a really interesting article that claims that moms are beginning to think about Internet safety along the same lines as other dangers like drunk driving. Here’s a quote:

Nearly two-thirds (62%) of mothers surveyed were just as concerned about cyber dangers as they were about drunk driving or drug experimentation. While 44 percent worry about their children’s online safety, almost a quarter worry about that more than what they might be doing outside the house.

What do you think? Are parents over-reacting?

I certainly think its great that this many parents are aware of the need for Internet safety. These stats are pretty eye-opening and the article is full of more surprising information.

This post was written by: Joe Nolan

Tags: drunk driving, Internet Safety, moms

Book Makes Parents Cyber-Wise

Here’s a novel idea. Read a book.

It just hit me that there are aisles of books in stores and libraries about Internet safety. Parents don’t have to turn to the Internet (or themselves) for advice. Pick up a book!

“How to Keep Your Child Safe on the Internet” is especially a good one. The author, Wendy Davies, really hits home as she lays out “A Step-by-Step Guide for Parents.”

This book is simple, to the point, and written in language parents - many of whom don’t understand the Internet - can understand.

So what’s in it?

“How to Keep Your Child Safe on the Internet” covers the gamut of popular activities for kids. From Internet chatting to social networks to cyber-bullying, the book informs parents of the dangers associated with each and every activity on the Internet. Wendy Davies also offers tips on how to avoid those dangerous traps.

So parents, here’s your chance. Jump on the Internet safety bandwagon. Pick up this book and read it.

It just may be the best thing you do for your child - and your family.

This post was written by: Erin

Tags: Cyber-bullying, Internet Predators, Internet Safety

New Bill Requires Web Safety Curriculum

I’m elated.

The U.S. Senate and the House have passed federal legislation that will require some schools to educate their students about online safety, sexual predators, and cyber bullying.

The Broadband Data Improvement Act  would apply to schools that receive e-Rate discounts on their telecommunications services and Internet access. Which, by the way, is just about every school on the planet.

The bill will also require the Federal Trade Commission to launch a national public awareness program focused on educating kids on how to use the Internet responsibly. It also establishes an “Online Safety and Technology Working Group” which will evaluate online safety education, parental control technology, filtering and blocking software.

I applaud the government for taking these crucial steps towards protecting our children. Yet, why wasn’t this done sooner? The 2006 Deleting Online Predators Act, which would have required schools to block access to social networking sites and chat rooms, was shot down in the House and Senate. K-12 groups opposed the bill, citing federal intrusion on school districts’ rights to control content.

The 2006 bill should have passed with flying colors. This just goes to show how far behind our country is when it comes to protecting children on the Internet. At least this new bill has the potential to set the stage for some power new legislation down the road. Perhaps there will be an amendment, requiring ALL schools - not just the e-Rate recipients - to teach Internet safety.

President Bush is expected to sign the Broadband Data Improvement Act soon. Perhaps this will be the last bit of important work he gets done before leaving office.

Parents, there is hope yet.

 

This post was written by: Erin

Tags: Internet Safety, Legislation, sexual predators

NS Teens Animate Internet Safety

Ok…

If you’ve been following my recent posts - thank you - you may have noticed that I am falling in love with the site NetSmartz.org. This is a really cool site anyway, but then I discovered the NS Teens and realized that the good people at NS deserved to be recognized as a Gold Star Site!

The whole site is really great, full of fantastic info, presented in an interactive, multimedia meltdown that is way more interesting - to teens and parents alike - than most Internet safety sites.

The best part is the NS Teens: an animated program about the online - and offline - adventures of a diverse group of high school pals. Check out the NS Teens, and enjoy learning how to be safe online!

This post was written by: Joe Nolan

Tags: Internet Safety, Net Smartz, NS Teens

Cyber Bullying: It’s Not Always What You Think

Cyber bullying can be misunderstood - by teens and parents alike. Most people think of cyber bullying essentially as online intimidation through threatening emails and chat messages.

It’s not that simple.

In order to recognize cyber bullying, it’s important to understand that the term covers a variety of behaviors, from the aforementioned threats to stealing and sharing passwords, posting photos without permission, creating fake social networking profiles, and sharing private information on the Internet. In short, cyber bullying is limited only to the power of the Internet and the imagination of the bully. Clearly, the sky’s the limit when it comes to pushing someone around online.

This site hosts a great 3-part film that dramatizes cyber bullying. It also features a number of follow-up articles that explore the many facets of this unfortunate phenomenon.

This post was written by: Joe Nolan

Tags: anonymity, Cyber-bullying, Internet Safety

October is Cyber Safety Month

I know, I know…it seems liked every time you turn around there is another cause, individual or event that has claimed another day, month or color to celebrate, commemorate or illuminate their cause. Although much of this trend amounts to little more than increased profits for the Hallmark corporation, a month of focusing on cyber safety will save money, time and maybe even lives.

The month of October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month, and companies, schools, and governmental organizations are taking advantage of the next few weeks to brush up on Internet safety. This is as good a time as any to brush up on the fundamentals when it comes to staying safe online:

1. Protect personal information
2. Know who you are dealing with online
3. Use all of the proper security programs
4. Use strong passwords and authentication technology
5. Set-up and update operating system and browsers properly
6. Back up your files
7. Know what to do if something goes wrong
8. Protect kids online

Check out this informative site to get tons of details on each of these steps. Take Internet security seriously, and you won’t get taken for a ride.

This post was written by: Joe Nolan

Tags: Internet Safety, internet security basicsl, National Cyber Security Awareness Month, teen safety online