Children and Families

1. Children and Families

2. Children & Families • Focus on the Internet • Children’s Needs • Education • Entertainment • Families’ Needs • Education • Protection

3. Sample Websites • Playhouse Disney • International Children's Digital Library

4. National School Boards Foundation Study • The main reason families buy computers and connect their children to the Internet at home is for education • The Internet does not disrupt children's everyday habits and typical, healthy activities • Contrary to conventional wisdom, the Internet does not appear to isolate children from their families, peers or communities • Girls use the Internet as much as boys, but in different ways • Schools have the opportunity to help narrow the gap between the haves and have-nots • Parents trust their children's use of the Internet; however, they do have some concerns

5. NSBF Guidelines • Take a balanced approach to policies and practices for children's use of the Internet • Pay as much attention to highlighting good content as to restricting bad content • Develop a plan to help schools, teachers and parents educate children about safe, responsible uses of the Internet • Foster appropriate use of the Internet among preschoolers and other young children • Help teachers, parents and children use the Internet more effectively for learning • Use the Internet to communicate more effectively with parents and students • Engage the community

6. Dangers • Support for self-destructive behavior • E. g http://forum.proanamia.com/ • Solicitation

7. Children’s Internet Protection Act • Schools and libraries must have internet safety policies • Must include technology protection measures to block or filter Internet access to pictures that: (a) are obscene, (b) are child pornography, or (c) are harmful to minors, for computers that are accessed by minors. • Required to adopt and enforce a policy to monitor online activities of minors; and • Required to adopt and implement a policy addressing: (a) access by minors to inappropriate matter on the Internet; (b) the safety and security of minors when using electronic mail, chat rooms, and other forms of direct electronic communications; (c) unauthorized access, including so-called “hacking,” and other unlawful activities by minors online; (d) unauthorized disclosure, use, and dissemination of personal information regarding minors; and (e) restricting minors’ access to materials harmful to them.

8. Deleting Online Predators Act of 2006 • Bill (not approved) that would block access to social networks and chat rooms for minors in all public libraries and schools that receive E-Rate funding • Definition: FCC must determine, and consider • is offered by a commercial entity; • permits registered users to create an on-line profile that includes detailed personal information; • permits registered users to create an on-line journal and share such a journal with other users; • elicits highly-personalized information from users; and • enables communication among users.

9. State Social Networking Laws • Georgia, North Carolina Protect Children From Sexual Predators Act: Social networks must require parental approval for minors to create profiles, and provide parents with full access to kid’s profiles • Oklahoma's HB 1715: libraries must block access to email and social networks, or block internet access totally for minors • Illinois Social Networking Prohibition Act: public libraries and schools must block all access to social networking sites for all users • None passed yet