EDAD 660 Technological Issues:

1. EDAD 660Technological Issues: Internet Safety Presented by: Larissa Damm April 28, 2003

2. Danger…What Danger? • There are over 100,000 child pornography web sites. • “Sex” is the most searched term on the Internet. • Over 60% of all web sites have sexual content. • About 30% of unsolicited email is sexual in nature. • One in two parents do not use Internet blocking devices. • One in five children have been approached by pedophiles in Internet chat rooms. • Thirteen million children use instant messaging.

3. Danger…What Danger? • Pornographers disguise their sites using common names such as… “Disney, Barbie, ESPN…” For example: www.whitehouse.com versus www.whitehouse.org • Majority of time spent on the computer is after school; the time when parents are still at work. • It is estimated that only 25% of youth have told adults when they have viewed a sexual web site. ProtectKids.com

4. Warning Signs for parents and educators… • Disks are disappearing or are being hidden. • The child is spending many hours on the Internet, especially at night. • Files are being used that end in .gif or .jpg. (often pornography pictures) • Unknown charges on your credit card or phone bill. • When entering the room or passing by the computer, the child quickly closes sites or windows.

5. Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 • This act protects children and all their personal information from being exploited on the computer. • All computer related activities needs a written letter of consent from the parent or guardian. For example: • Class or personal pictures on a website • Pen pals • Chat Rooms • Message Board • School email service • Any personal information (addresses, names, phone numbers)

6. How to protect students • Filtering Software – doesn’t allow searches for certain words. • Blocking Software – doesn’t allow access for certain websites. • Schools can hold an Internet Safety Class in the beginning of school. Offer this after school so parents can attend! • Have your students sign contracts to use the computer, explaining the rules in depth, with the consequences. • Supervise! When using computers, educators, parents, etc. should have a direct view of the computer. • Ask questions. If you see a student acting suspiciously, ask questions and get involved.

7. Create a Contract! • I will not give out personal information such as my address, telephone number, parents’ work address/telephone number, or the name and location of my school without my parents’ permission. • I will tell my parents right away if I come across any information that makes me feel uncomfortable. • I will never agree to get together with someone I "meet" online without first checking with my parents. If my parents agree to the meeting, I will be sure that it is in a public place and bring my mother or father along. • I will never send a person my picture or anything else without first checking with my parents. • I will not respond to any messages that are mean or in any way make me feel uncomfortable. It is not my fault if I get a message like that. If I do I will tell my parents right away so that they can contact the online service. • I will talk with my parents so that we can set up rules for going online. We will decide upon the time of day that I can be online, the length of time I can be online, and appropriate areas for me to visit. I will not access other areas or break these rules without their permission. 1998 National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

8. Helpful Websites • http://www.ou.edu/oupd/kidtool.htm#parents • http://www.safekids.com/contract_kid.htm • http://www.protectkids.org/solutions.htm • http://www.microweb.com/pepsite/Software/filters.html • http://www.getnetwise.org/tools/

9. Protect Yourselves and your students/children!