While the accessibility to information holds much promise in creating a global community and allow us to learn from each other, it also holds much danger. From on-line predators to cyberbullying, it has opened up a whole new landscape of digital peril.
Just what do our young people know? What do they need to know? What types of risky behavior are you seeing with our youth?
What roles do school administrations, teachers, parents and communities have to play in keeping our children and our communities safe??
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I think that adults need to be more aware of what children are doing on the internet on a daily basis. Children should always be monitored and told why they are being monitored, so you both can feel comfortable using the internet. Now that I have grandchildrenI am worried about the computer because there is so much on there,somany different things you can do without your knowledge. There is one thing our school did was block the chat rooms and some different sites so they cannot get into them. I think security measures should be taken even in your home.
I think that adults need to be more aware of what children are doing on the internet on a daily basis. Children should always be monitored and told why they are being monitored, so you both can feel comfortable using the internet. Now that I have grand children I am worried about the computer because there is so much on the computer and so much different things you can do on the computer without your knowledge. There is one thing our school did was blocked the chat rooms and some different sites so they couldn't get into them. But not everything can be blocked. I think that security measures need to be taken even at your homes.
Just what do our young people know? What do they need to know? What types of risky behavior are you seeing with our youth?
What roles do school administrations, teachers, parents and communities have to play in keeping our children and our communities safe??
I think a lot of the times we underestimate our children and their computer skills, not knowing what their capabilities are. Our children are constantly being put 'at risk' of sexual predators and bullying because they are at a vulnerable age where 'popularity' is at the top of their 'got to have' list, therefore, the attention they receive on msn, chat rooms, facebook, virtual sites, gives them a false sense of security, this puts them in a very unsafe position. Children need to know that their are 'weirdos', so to speak, that will take complete advantage of their insecurities, vulnerableness, and age. DO NOT SPEAK TO STRANGERS still applies when communicating on-line. Teach your children safety precautions!!!!!!!!
It takes a community to raise!
"Our kids, our communities and the "World Wild Web""
We have to teach our children the difference between right and wrong and the difference between appropriate and inappropriate chatting online or the appropriate sites that they can visit on the internet. I think that as long as we instill good values and morals in our children that they will make the right decisions. We have to trust them to make their own decisions. They may sometimes make mistakes, but who doesn't! Mistakes are there to be learned from. Schools may also teach them about dangers of the internet too.
They know a lot more on the web and about technology then we think but not enough about the dangers of it. They think because they live in small communities that online predators don’t affect them. I think some of the risky behavior on the World Wide Web is hackers, online predators, inappropriate websites, accepting unknown files which turn into virus and putting personal information out there. About a month ago I was watching a program that was telling the story of a young girl who committed suicide, at the age of 13, because of an online bulling and hoax. This affects a whole community; children need to be careful what they get into on the web.
Educating them about the dangers and bad thing out there on the World Wide Web is the best way we can keep them safe. We were discussing in class how easy it is for someone to hack into our computer and watch what we are doing without us knowing. Our kids need to be taught how easy it is to be sucked into a online predators, having someone hack into your computer, how virus are transmitted into your PC and what is the safe way of doing things. We as a community have to teach them and there is so many more dangerous things out there they need to be educated on.
some kids learn the dangers about the internet and the world wide web...and there will always be others who don't care at all weather it is safe or not. We as adults should make sure our children do learn how to play safe in using a computer.
I, myself work with Nursery children and I make sure these little children use the computer safely because I sit with them.
I dont think anything is safe on the computers nowadays.I monitor the msn chat logs and I've found some things on there which I did not approve of, like I seen a chat log of my son bullying another boy,I've spoken to him about it and said he wouldn't do it again but he has acces to computers anyywheres. I can't monitor him everwheres. My daughter has her own laptop that her uncle bought for her so she put in her own password and does not want me to go into it,To me I find she's hiding something from me. I talk to her about it and she insists that everything is good. My kids are teenagers. I'm going crazy trying to keep up with them .LOl but I dont want to be the nagging mom either.
Schools did block chatting but I've seen my kids friends online on school hrs .so they ain't being monitored that much by teachers. I don't know what other measures we can take. Do you?
There are alot of things on the internet. some we know of and alot of things we don't. Parents go out and buy their children computers thinking that just because they are at home they will know what their children are going on,but in reality,parents dont always know what their children are doing.Children are smart with technology,smarter than we may think and they find things on the internet that shouldnt be there,and instead of telling the parents they keep it to themselves and share with friends instead. So even if parents block websites and schools, i think that there are too many thing out there that even if we tried we cant block everything because we dont know exactly what is always out there with the millions of sites going all the time...
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Internet should be approached with children just the same as everything else. Children are not wise enough to make much decisions in life, thats why they have their parents to guide them, or they'll have an adult. So children should be taught about the dangers of the web, and they should be monitored. A child should never be left alone at a computer, thats the only way I could think of to keep them safe. Let a child enjoy the web, just never leave them unattended.
I would think our young people know what we and others teach them. They should know the dangers of the internet. They need to know what information they can and cannot take from the internet. I would think that things like myspace, and facebook are pretty dangerous for our children because predators can easily get their information,like facebook you give out a lot of your personal information,and other people can easily see, children can add strangers as their friends, some kids could end up gettin abducted.
School administrations and teachers could put blocks on these sites, and if they can't do that at least let the kids know that talking to just anyone online is very dangerous, and they have a risk of gettin abducted. Maybe they could also set up some kind of presentation, where a child gets "abducted". just to let the children see that this is real and it could happen to anyone.
If you have kids have a talk with them and really be on the level with the. Let them know that there are people out there that are unsafe to talk to. Let them know no tto give their personal information out to anyone.
When i was a kid the teachers in school used to make us memorize our home adresses and phone numbers. These were safety pre-cautions they used to take back in the 90's. In this day of age it's a digital world. I think the schools should kind of make this into a manditory program that should be told to the kids. maybe just a 2 hour seminar that just educates them on all the different kinds of predators out there. Giving them some sort of safety tools to use if they do encounter peolple that use the net for inappropriate reasons.
For parents that don't have too much knowledge in computers and the web, Learn. This is a part of our world that has such a tremendous influence on young people. Get to know what your kids are doing because you do have a right even though they think other wise. Learn about the surroundings that your children are engaging in, in thier everyday lives.
Oh my!! It's a scary thing- our kids and the world wild web. Oh my stars,, kids younger are getting their own computers and lap tops. A person I know gave her lap top to her three year old daughter so she can have access to Dora at any time. I think that's nuts. I also heard a 9 year old was on youtube and she wanted to look up cats.. she got cats alright........getting killed. They were honestly showing horrific taping of cats being brutally killed and harmed. My daughter is not getting her own computer until her age is appropriate, and it's only for educational purposes.
I think that our youth's think "World Wild Web" is all about fun and game,which they need to know how dangerous it is out there.Communiting with different people can be risky.Us adults should talk to our youths more about all them predators out there it's not safe to chat to jus anyone at all you can't trust anyone.
It is safe for our children to be on the internet long as you know how to block some things that you don't want them to be using. Monitoring is the best way to be safe with your kids and also to develop an open relationship and also to explain why some of the sights are not good and also to explain that the internet is not safe at all times and also not to give out any personal information.. which is very important.... Cannot take away technology when it is being used everywhere...
Share the awareness to our kids about the pros and cons of the web, about the easy access of what predators or strangers whatever they are familiar with that are harmful, and that may hurt you. There is alot of things going online, with facebook, YouTube, all these things, where the kids are filling their information about themselves to sign up for the sites, that we should tell our children about what they may think its all harmless that putting personal information online, you may not know who is going to see it, there are alot of predators out there that prey on the innocent.
Well, I've seen alot of awful pictures and videos on Youtube, and facebook of kids from our community. They are not even hiding things that no one even dared to do when "we" were younger. They are smoking, drinking, making out, with anyone and everyone. I believe that children now and days have no respect of other people, even online they do not have any respect for people.
Some of the risky behaviors include not hiding their identity, where they live, phone numbers, and addresses. This stuff should not be posted on their facebooks etc unless they are for certain they have no strangers on their lists.
What anyone can do and I know it may be hard, is always try to mointor your children. Have parental blocks on your computers at home, and tell their friends parents to also put parental blocks on their home computers as well.
Monitoring children while they’re on the internet can be a job that requires too much time and very stressful. Nowadays, children are much more computer savvy than their parents. They are many programs that you can use to protect children when surfing such as parental control. You can’t sit behind your child and watch they’re every move, but it wise to teach them the dangers of the World Wide Web. Teach them how to be aware of different signs when talking to new people. Ask them to never give out their personal information. Limit their usage on the internet. Explain to them the different dangers that are out there. Make them aware. As for schools, only allow websites needed for each classroom. Block all others, and you can make a difference.
I know that I am trying to monitor my childeren on the computer. I've gone as far as saving thier chat's online. They have knowledge of this. As for them getting on sites such as Stardoll there is a chat room that they have access to as well. We all know that we as parents have to protect our children and be able to know what they are up to. Knowing that others can try and get into touch with your children such as child preditors can be really scary. Just educating them and blocking certain sites on your computer is nice to know.
I've read all the comments on this segment of the class blog and much of the others. I've become more convinced now that in spite of the existing positive aspects of the World Wide Web it is increasingly becoming more difficult to police when it concernds our children. Parents must now include new protective measure to insure safty for their children above the normal standards. Don't talk to strangers for example.But now these strangers are in your home via internet.Keep some form of identification on you in case you get lost . Now its don't disclose any information so predators can't find you on the net. So look both ways and be sure to wear clean underware is not so easy anymore. Younger childern from 5yrs - to possibly 11 may be easier. At this age parents and other authority figures in their circle can use most if not all the measures availabe to them like parental control systems on the computer. Teens on the other hand function to a different psychie.Nothing can ever happen to them, they thrive on becoming independent and as was mentioned last evening becoming more creative in this new era of cyber exploration. Inventing a new language so adults can't snoop. I mentioned last evening the scope of external infulences that shape the development of teens today is much larger thanks to the internet. My opinion and it is just that is; although I agree parents are the foundation of instilling values and positive neurturing and if we are more involved this will shape how they make good choices it will not be enough as we're facing a far greater task than 25 years ago to say.Companys and Governments are in constant conflict on how to contol the internet.At home you can pull the plug but who pulls the plug at their friends, cafe's, libary's, schools and the list will go on. In the end all one can do is their best.
In this day and age. Kids are the future and teaching is our responisiblity. Kids are the digital and nothing scares them. They now the techo lingo.. and understand things we are just learning. Its is important that parents take part of updating their education to understand what is coming our way.
We need to talk with our children about what program they are installing, we need to bug them about being open and honest so always asking who they are talking too is not too bad (I think)
Its a new world out there.. we are more involved with our children, children are more open with parents!
Well I think that you had said it best Jeff, we need to educate our childeren. It is soo dangerous out there on the world wide web, not just for youth, but for the adults also. Let me give you an example: Chat rooms, lets suppose u begin talking to someone, and in about 10mins, the only thing they are interested in is know if you got a web cam, and if you can send them some pics, its unbelieveble. The internet is loaded with pretidtors, some lees harmless then others, but preditors none the less, and we surely can't cut our kids off of having access to the web. So it is important to let them be aware of what is out there, what kinds of things go on, even if there things that you are not comfortable with or even talking about, tell them anyway-- we need to make them aware of EVERYTHING, good and bad, and hope that they will be well armed for such a situation, should it arrive.
As a mother of four children ranging from seven to sixteen I felt that having the computer in a room out in the open apposed to our office up stairs. Having the children in a room frequently used helped keep any questions, they might have and us able to see what sites they are on and who they are chatting with. We give them the speech about safety and what not information to give. There is the option of Letting into your computer what you want to block, limited , open, and so forth. this feature is important even for adults. I typed in Sneaker one day and I seen more than I wanted to!
I agree as parents we need to control and supervise our kids just like we would with different asspects in their lifes. It is abit harder since our youth seem to know alot more of the computer world then some of us parents do, but we can control and talk to our children about the dangers that lurk in the computer world and the real world, so this way they could be aware that giving out too much information can be dangerous as with talking to strangers. We need to educate our youth with the problems that can arise from both worlds.
There are a lot of dangers facing our kids today. Not only as they are walking to school, hanging out at the Mall, but more so on the internet. They have the opportunity (or it just comes at them!) to see and hear many things for which we have no control ~ well maybe we have some control but not total.
As a parent, the best I can do is teach my children right from wrong, how to be responsible individuals, not only when they are adults but even as children and young adults. Teaching our kids is an endless job, there are always lessons to be taught and lessons to be learned.
I like that schools are taking a proactive approach to the use of the internet. Young kids are taught the dangers, how to be safe, what is appropriate and not, and also how to get the best experience out of the internet. I know this for sure because my ten year daughter was smart about how she set up her facebook account. Rather than put her picture on her profile, she used an image. We then increased security features to provide added safety. We had picked this information up at the high school.
I think everyone has a role to play in teaching about internet safety: school admnistrators, teachers, parents and the community as well.
I feel that as a parent I need to take the time to talk to my daughter about the importance of being save on the internet just like you would talk to your kids about strangers.
The internet can harm children and teenagers in many ways not just from predators but from peers and classmates as well.
The digital world is a whole new landscape. I heard on the radio the other day that youth are spending about 35% of their day in cyberspace. True, not the kind of childhood many of us experienced. Growing up in a changing world however is not a new experience, as the world has been changing from time immemorial.
The sudden onset of the digital age however, has left many unprepared to respond to the technological benefits and/or the dangers that surf this new landscape known as the world-wide-web.
This new landscape is being influenced in large part
by what is happening in the world landscape, which is also changing very rapidly. Lots to be said there.
Our young people know that the world is changing. What they need to know is that there is danger and beyond that, to know that good judgement will be necessary. Human nature being what it is, the ability to exercise good judgement does not always come easily for some.
Nurturing good judgement is everyone’s responsibility.
The question is not who should take responsibility but who will take responsibility?
Presently, there are large gaps that exist in the safety network that puts every child at risk. I do not think it is in anyone’s best interest to make parents or caregivers feel that they alone are responsible. The reality is that there are many more mothers and fathers that are computer illiterate, and from my perspective not enough has been done in our communities to close that gap. My thoughts for the day.
it is amazing what our young people know these days and the knowledge increases it seems younger and younger as time passes. As parents, teachers, school administrators, and community members we need to provide our children with tools to stay safe, Online or otherwise. Children need to know how to keep themselves safe from predators on or off line. Children need to know we care for them and care what happens to them. Many children get into trouble in the pursuit of wanting to belong, to feel loved, and may seek attention by any means necessary. It is up to everyone one to notice at risk behaviors and to take action before the problem escalates. We all have a role in the future of our children.
OMG! I can't believe some of the things I have read on some peoples blogs here today!!!!I strongly believe that any child not old enough to pocess a licence to drive a car should not own their own computer or laptop. I know this sounds a bit overbearing but I have a point! We make our kids get licenced at a certain age because obviously they don't have enough responsibility when they are younger to drive a car in a way that they don't hurt themselves or any one else. Now this should be the same for our kids and the internet because like the roads of our community the internet is a place where we all go to "cruz" and like some of the blogs metioned, bullying and passwords, just run us parents and gardians into a brick wall, do you want the same thing to happen to our youth. Anyway lol!I cant seem to get my questionmark key to work soooo thats all I have to say about that!
I thinks it's great that most homes have computers that children can go on to get imformation to help them with assignments,essays etc...but parents definitly need to know what and where their children are going when surfing the net. I think all parents should explain to their children of the dangers that are on the internet, the internet is a good tool but needs to be used in the proper way.
Being a vigilant parent is important. I'm always checking up on my sons when they are online. Last year my niece was getting on different sites that her older cousins were on. Her mom didn't know until I told her. She is at an age where pretending to be more grown up is something fun to do and this is a risk that I wouldn't and couldn't stand by and let happen.
I'm not aware of what the school and teachers are doing about computer safety. This is something I will look into.
When there are kids out and about in the community doing something wrong or in trouble, I get involved. It is up to us to do the same for the cyber world.
My boys are on the computer maybe an hour or two, sometimes more each day, my oldest son is 16 in June and my second son is 13 next month. I explain to them what type of sick people are out there and I explain to them how they lure kids out into the open, just so they might be a little wiser to the world. When stories air on the news I invite my sons to watch, in fact I insist. No I don't monitor them all the time because I would not want such scrutiny so I will not impose it on my sons. Yes my sons have cell phones so I can call them anytime, but I don't, all I ask is that they check in. I'm more worried about the pedophile that moved in next door to me than the sick freak in cyberspace. I also explained who my new neighbor was to all my kids and to leave the area every time IT comes out. Thats how I refer to my pedophile neighbor, IT or THING, "don't talk to it", "make sure that thing doesn't come in the yard" I explained to my sons, I was working as a jailer the night my neighbor was in jail for molesting his nephew.
So yes I do warn my sons about the predators in cyberspace, but for now I have to worry about the predator 40 feet away from my house and about 300 feet away from the school. Thank You Chief and Council
I strongly believe that parents should monitor their children when they are on the internet, you hear so much stories in the news about child pornography, they shouldn't be on the net if they are too young, they dont realize who they are accepting on their msn, we have a filter on our computers at work and they should be installed at home so children dont have access to certain sites...
Maybe our young people know more and do more on the internet than we actually think. The content of the net has no limit, but parental setting can be set by the parents without having our youth or children finding out or knowing how it was set and/or how to remove it. Our youth are born into the generation with exposure to violence, sexual content in computers, movies, radio, etc. and think that it's an everyday thing, as if it was nothing new to them. The types of risky behaviour we are seeing in our youth are experimenting into heavier drugs, having sexual relations and leaving their homes at an early, early age. The role that the parents and teachers and communities have to continue to play role in is guidance, unconditional love, understanding, and a "look out" for abnormal behaviours in our youth and children and to communicate with each other as parents and teachers. Also to be persistent with our children and youth to watch what they are being exposed to. It's important, also, to shape our children from correcting them from what is right or wrong instead of laughing it off, or not saying anything about it. So, speaking to them about their day would be helpful to them too and we parents would know if we're keeping up with them...although single parenting is different from double parenting.
It would be nice to always know what your child is viewing. If not well make sure that the parental setting's are on and that they don't know the password to get in elsewhere.
I guess it is difficult to completely restrict them from the dirt because you don't know what they go on when they're not in your presence. I guess that's when a serious role of trust has to take place.
I mean, do what you can while they're at home, and then you have to teach them right from wrong and trust them when they're not. Curiousity is normal, and if they're getting into trouble on-line, I'm sure that's not where it end's, if that's the case.
Make their availablity to the net strict or if you have to cut it off. Limit their use. Monitor definetely and try to always be aware of what they go on for.
I know the benefit of internet resources, but the more I hear about things that go on in cyberspace, the more it bothers me. We most certainly do have a responsibility to our children. We need to make sure we as parents educate ourselves on the ways of this cybernet world. I will admit I was ignorant of many of the things that are going on in this virtual jungle. Through our class, my eyes have been opened to the risks. We are opening ourselves up to more and more danger with these sites like face book, my space and others without even realizing it. There are so many other sites that can be a potential threat to anyone we hold dear. Schools should also be accountable for how the students use the internet. I know at our school, msning or any kind of cyber talk has been banned. There are blocks in place and students are always monitored when in the computer lab. As for internet bullying, isn’t there any kind of policing in place? The real world is hard enough for some kids, now we have to worry about these people coming into our homes and attacking us via the internet.
Children at school while on the internet should always be monitered and should not be allowed to get on certain sites and no students should be allowed to chat during school hours. All students should be aware of online predators and what to look for while chatting with people and they should know that if they think that they are in danger of something on the internet or someone on the internet they sould have the confidence to tell someone, a teacher, a parent or any other adult.
OUr kids Need to be monitored on the net! i know my little causin was being a bully on the net and was punshed for it! She was threatning a younger girl at her school, and the mother called and complined to my little causins mother. i think she made the right move by calling us so we can limit my causis acess to the computer and monitor her on what shes saying. I think its really hard when your being threatned by someone on the internet and it feels like theres not much you can do! BUt when it comes to kids! parents need to step in and control their children when comes to online bullying beause its happening more and more in today world!!
I have 5 children, from 22-6yrs of age, everyone uses the computer including me.
I post the computer in a high traffic area, where everyone can see what others are doing from chatting to watching movies, listening to music and reading mail. No computer is private in our home, at anytime I can ask questions as to who they are conversing with.
Our computer sits open, where it can be viewed from every room with the exception of the bathroom.
We are 6 living at home so the traffic is there. So far so good (crossing fingers).
es24In order to keep our children and communities safe, we have to collectively work together as parents and as teachers and administrators. It is important that we inform our youth the risks that are involved in surfing the net. It is also very important to inform the youth what is cyberbullying, because they might not know that they are being victimized or the victimizers.
It is endless the information that our youths have access to through the net. We should inform them of the dangers and risk to giving personal information over the internet. Children could be a little naïve, and take risky behavior when it comes to communicating and disclosing who they are over the net. Children are not always supervised but they are having more access to the net from school and at home, youth centers. There are ways to protect the youth, by creating awareness of the harms and dangers of the internet.
It is critical that children are watched while surfing the net. Just the same as we may warn children not to talk to strangers. There time should also be limited so that they dont become couch potatoes like I have become since I have had a PC. I would highly recomend that children are not able to access certain questionable sites on the net through the application of a program to deter children from potentially harmful information or people.
While the accessibility to information holds much promise in creating a global community and allow us to learn from each other, it also holds much danger. From on-line predators to cyberbullying, it has opened up a whole new landscape of digital peril.
Just what do our young people know?
I think the youth know more then we give them credit for. They can hook up computers faster then we can as adults. Well majoriy of the youth can. however there are youth that are not up to pace as others. Then there is the group that just follows and does not really know what they are playing with.
What do they need to know? What types of risky behavior are you seeing with our youth?
They need to know the consequences, laws and who is out there. I think in the beginning it was a free for all. but then alot of scary stories and bad things happened to enocent people. Also Youth at first were saying what ever they wanted and then relized quickly that what ever they said was not taken as a joke and Youth were getting charged for something they didnt realize was a crime.( in there mind)
What roles do school administrations, teachers, parents and communities have to play in keeping our children and our communities safe??
We need to teach the youth safety habits. Also place safe guards in place where we can. We need to get educated on all the issues out there. But most of all we need to teach the youth to make the right decisions and know of all the consequences.
Our youth today are more aware than ever these days, thanks to the internet. With the touch of a mouse they can find anything they want online, all they have to do is goggle it. Although what they should be more aware of is the dangers of being online and the cyber world. There is much dangerous behaviour that is happening online from cyberbullying to online stalkers and predators. Parents and teachers have an obligation to teach the youth about such behaviours and how/what to do to stop them. Or where to go for help.
Our kids believe; like we believed at that age, that nothing can hurt us. Most of us think that we are safe on the computer because we are at home. Well this is not true just listen to the new. It is a sad fact that many people; adult and kids, are being harmed in some manner online. Teens as well as adults are have conversations with total strangers and giving out person information and meeting these people in person; if this isn't risky behavior I don't know what is. As educators and parents we have a responsibility to educate ourselves on the hidden dangers of the internet and insure that we teach our children/students about these dangers to help keep them safe
these days the interenet has so many different places for people to be, it like a freeway that never ends. if we educate ourselves and our children on how to porperly use this tool then maybe kids can understand what not to and what to do on the web. there are to many people out there in cyber space that know how to lure people in to giving information and the only way to counteract this is to teach the children at an early age so they can properly manuver around the wenb safely
I am not a parent, but I am around children and students everyday. Since I was a kid not to long ago lol I know that there are many dangers on the net. I also know that its easy to stumble apon non- appropriate materials. Chatlines are a very scary for place for everybody when you think of the sick people who are or could be on there. Its very very important to monitor children when they are using the computer. Children may think we are being nosebags and mean but the truth is we only want them to be safe from the negative the internet has to offer. I continue to believe that schools should keep blocks on chatting as well as facebook.. in the past few days I realized by reading peoples' blogs and pages just how cruel facebook can be and how its being used for hurting people. These blocks should be used at home as well for children.
Last year we had over 20,000 different types of spyware and viruses on our computer. My niece said when she's looking for something she just kept on clicking okay and when a virus protector come on she just closed it. So we took off limewire and told her to slow down on just clicking and to read through the information before she agreed to any terms. It did work for awhile, but she did download limewire again, but was more careful on just clicking on anything. So I say just talk with your child and how the effects can be and I'm sure they will get the message.
Our young people certainly know more than we did at their age. The Internet plays a big role in this access to information. As with anything, our children need to know the benefits and dangers of this technology. They need to know how to be and keep safe.
I have not witnessed any risky behaviors, but have heard about some of the misfortunes on the news and on talk shows. Things like the choking game and instruction on how to do it. Lives have been lost. Without proper supervision, education, etc., the young and vulnerable will fall victim to such tragedies. This is the case with everything. The Internet is just one more source added to the many existing others that we have to educate ourselves and our children about.
Everyone has a role in teaching our children on how to be safe. As parents, we are the primary teachers. Educators and community resources reinforce safety precautions through sharing of valuable information.
I personally believe that this is about the parents should help teach the kids about the safety of computer use . There is alot of info. on the computer. I have a 16yr old son he doesn,t know it but I check on what he does on the computer but I think as his parent I have the right to this. what I have found is that he seems to be alright and not getting into troube. He just seems to be chatting with his friends.
My children are so young right now that the only access they have with a computer is when they play games on sesamestreet.com. I am not even that familiar with computers, so for me to help my children i would need to know more about computers.
As parents we should be able to monitor our children in what ever they do but also as a parent you don't know everything they do.
I think school administrators.etc.. need to play a huge role in keeping our children safe in our communities, we need to montior what our children are doing because of all the dangers and predators that are out there and not just in technology and what to do if ever in that situation.
Audrey Mitchell
OUR KIDS, OUR COMMUNITIES AND THE WWW:
My daughter has been using computers and the inter-net for years for her studies (homework and research and to find information and contact professors, academic and financial departments etc), entertainment ( i -tunes, music, books, etc.) and social interaction (Face book and MSN). She has been taught to use this tool wisely.
I am lucky she is trustworthy. As a parent we have tried to stay in touch with her interests, friends, boyfriends and social activities. It is her first year away and I think she is handling the new freedom well. I hope our parental lessons on respect, for herself and others, values, self-control, social, work and personal responsibilities, - years of parental nagging, - have prepared her for life, cyber as well as real.
In our community, I see a lot of risky behavior, cyber-bullying, racy face Book and My Space postings, accessing sleazy and violent sites, inter-net communication with much older children, and one of the most dangerous, actually meeting unknown people in real life.
One of the most prevalent problems is not the action of the children but of the parents – lack of restrictions on the amount of time on the net or on what sites they are investigating. Too many underage children are actually allowed to visit adult sites, play adult games, and watch adult videos.
Parents and schools have a duty to inform children of safety risks, privacy, and the short and long-term consequences of on line activity. Although it is hard to control inter-net activity outside the home or school, teachers and parents have to control what they do, how often they are on line, and who they are doing it with at home and in the classroom.
The answer to this problem is to deal with it the same way as with other problems such as drugs, sex, peers, etc. and that is to talk and listen, then talk some more and listen some more, again and again. Be there.
I feel that parents, teachers and upper school management should keep a closer eye on their students/children. This is because there are a lot of different ways students/children can see or do stuff on the web they should not be doing or seeing at a such a yound age. By keeping an eye on the students/children a little more we can prevent them from doing anything really bad net.
Take a look at FACEBOOK for an example, the photos are horrendous to say the least. People pose themselves is what looks like...hmmm...questionable! there is always a story behind it and it not be necessarily what we think it is. There as a friend of mine who posted himself playing a guitar on his bed. No problem right, whats questionable about that. Its questionable when its taken in a dorm room, without a shirt, cannot see if he is wearing pants, or underwear for that matter, oh yea, his guys friends are in the background as well...topless. The picture is quite sensitive to say the least. Now, I have no objections as to what he does behind closed doors, but can you call it closed door when its open to public debate such as FACEBOOK?
I believe the web has it's pros and cons,young kids should be watched when it comes to them surfing the web because there is lots of inappropriate things you can find yourself in even if you never ment for it to show up,there are times when i'll search for pics,songs,etc and something sexual will show up.There are so many weirdos who go on chat lines and lie about there age and try and seduce young teens,I read about lots of older men who try and get young girls to meet them somewhere,from there anything can happen,rape,death,kidnapping,etc.There was this one girl in the area who taken pictures of herself for a guy who told her he would give her money,he ended posting her inapproppriate pictures on this web site for everyone to see.She was so embarassed and even tryed to get them off herself.I felt bad for her because she was only 16 but then again it was her fault for sending him those pics,i asked her what made her believe he had money,she said he let her look in his bank account and she seen the money.So thats why you cant trust anyone on the net.
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