Internet Safety

1. Close this window at any time to return to the Internet Safety page. Internet Safety Information is the best defense. Share it with everyone you know.

2. Good Questions! • Should I let my child use the Internet? • What can I do if my child is looking at inappropriate material? • Why are children more susceptible to online predators? • What are the risks children face online? • How can parents keep children safer?

3. 37% of students say their parents would disapprove if they knew what they did, where they go, or with whom they chat on the Internet

4. Should I let my child use the Internet? • Yes, but make sure they know the rules for safe surfing. • Yes, but guide their use and place the computer in a public part of the house • Great resource for facts, research, games, music, communication with friends and family.

5. What are the risks children face online? • Exposed to adult material of sexual, racial, or extremely bias in nature • email or correspondence that contains viruses, worms, scams, hoaxes, and pranks • Meeting a sexual predator • Supply account numbers or personal information to the wrong people. • Bullying

6. Keep the computer in a public area of the house. Young children should not use chatrooms. Period. Young children should also share your e-mail address until they are old enough to have their own. Teach children never to give out personal information over the Internet without your permission. Do not respond to or open mail from strangers. Monitor your child’s chatroom activity. Talk to your children about sexual predators and potential online dangers. Never download anything from an unknown source Choose a gender-neutral screen name. Never go to private area of chatroom. Encourage communication if something happens that makes them scared or uncomfortable. Rules for Safe Surfing

7. What can I do if my child is looking at inappropriate material? • Filtering and monitoring software • Methods: whitelisting, blacklisting, monitoring activity, keyword recognition, blocking specific functions like e-mail or IM. • Talk to your children • Explain the dangers

8. Norton Internet Security Net Nanny Cybersitter CyberPatrol ContentProtect #1 ranked ($35) Eblaster Childsafe Filters and Monitors

9. 70% of America’s 15 to 17 year olds have viewed pornography online • Parents are the first, last and only defense between a child and inappropriate online material or people.

10. Why are Children more susceptible to online predators? Young adolescents are the most vulnerable age group and are at high risk of being approached by online predators • Exploring their sexuality • Moving away from parental control • Looking for new relationships beyond the family unit • They feel invisible and are likely to take more risks online without understanding the implications. • They can be easily tricked by adults (girls 11 to 14/ 15 min to several weeks)

11. There are 125 sexual and violent offenders living in Johnson County. http://www.nationalalertregistry.com http://www.indianasheriffs.org

12. One in five children/teens under the age of 17 have received unwanted sexual solicitations online.

13. How Do Predators Work? • Frequent chatrooms, instant messanging, e-mail or discussion boards looking for children • May spend months “Grooming” the child. Building emotional reliance, finding child’s interests and relating to them. • May offer material goods to attract children offline • May send money to travel to meet • Give attention, affection, kindness • Gradually introduce sexual content • Learn name, address, school, age, sports, etc.

14. CyberBullying50% of kids say they are alone online most of the time • For some students home is no longer a refuge from pressure at school • Students feel invisible online and so will sometimes bullly and say things they would never say face-to-face. • Students don’t have to own their actions, they can always say that someone else used their password or screen name. Fear of punishment is reduced. • Lack of feedback from technology minimizes feelings of empathy or remorse

15. 58% of kids admit that someone has said mean or hurtful things to them online. • 53% of kids admit to having said something mean or hurtful to another online • 42% of kids have been bullied while online

16. What does it look like? • A threatening e-mail • Nasty instant messaging session • Repeated notes sent to cell phone • A website set up to mock others • Forwarding private messages, pictures, or video to others • Pretending to be someone else and posting harmful messages

17. Action Steps • Watch for signs that your child is being bullied. (reluctance to use computer or to go to school.) • Report online harassment and physical threats to your Internet Service Provider and local police • Be aware that mobile phones now can also present an opportunity to bully. • Save any harassing messages and teach kids never to reply to them. • Always encourage kids to tell you if anything that makes them uncomfortable happens on the Internet.

18. Action Steps con’t. • Don’t give out private information or your password to anyone • Don’t exchange pictures without asking permission from parents • Don’t send messages when you are angry • Online conversations are not private. Others can copy, print and share what you say or any pictures you post.

19. Blogging • Blogs or weblogs are journals posted on the Internet. They are free and can be about anything and everything. • Over 4 million bloggers • Makes the writer feel like they are anonymous. • Social event: way to reach out and connect and share ideas • Readers can post replies and thoughts

20. Promise and Danger of Blogging • Nurtures important social skills • Fills a need for self expression • Builds writing ability • DANGERS: • Online sexual predators can obtain personal info from children which might very well draw a roadmap to your house. • www.xanga.com • www.myspace.com

21. Internet sites for Parents • www.cox.com/TakeCharge • www.isafe.org *** • www.netsmartz.org

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