SAFEKIDS A Guide to Internet Safety Parents

SAFEKIDSA Guide to Internet SafetyParents U.S. Naval Criminal Investigative Service SafeKids@ncis.navy.mil

SAFEKIDS SafeKids is a program that teaches kids how to be safe when using the Internet • It is an NCIS prevention initiative program that provides online safety tips for children and parents • SafeKids for Parents informs Navy and Marine families what your children will learn from SafeKids and how to ensure the safety of your children while online

Internet • The internet is a powerful tool that allows your children to explore endless possibilities - but it can also expose them to inappropriate and dangerous material and individuals • Sexual predators are increasingly using the Internet as a way to sexually exploit children • Children are curious individuals and are especially vulnerable to the deceptive tactics that predators use to target and lure them

Social Networking Websites • Social networking websites allow children to talk to one another, maintain relationships, post pictures, keep an online diary, listen to music, and meet new people. • MySpace • Facebook • Xanga • SecondLife • World of Warcraft • MySpace has accumulated an estimated 54 million users, with approximately 19% of users falling under the age of 17.

Personal Online Profile • Often these websites require you to create a personal online profile • Profiles include everything from name, • favorite movies, likes and dislikes to the • status of what you are currently doing • The danger of these personal online profiles is that children are giving out their personal information

Personal Information Personal information is any information that can identify you • Full name • Age/date of birth • Home Address • Telephone Number • Social Security Number • Name of your sport/club team This information should ALWAYS be kept private, especially online.

Personal Online Profile Name: Mary Smith Sex: Female Age: 15 Hometown: 57 Water Lane Apt. 1B School: High School Number: (123) 456-789 Likes: swimming, beaches, reality shows, traveling, singing, hanging out with friends, languages Dislikes: spiders, scary movies, bugs Music: Britney Spears, Jay-Z, Gwen Stefani, Kanye West Movies: Ocean’s Eleven, Dreamgirls, Shrek, Spiderman

Personal Online Profile • By creating online profiles, children are unintentionally giving out their personal information for everyone on the Internet to see. • Many create these profiles because “everyone else is doing it” or “because its fun.” • However, by creating an online profile and posting their personal information online, especially their name, age, address, and telephone number, they are allowing themselves to become a potential victim and target of a sexual predator.

Personal Online Profile • Sexual predators use social networking websites, chat rooms, blogs, and even text messaging to find potential victims. • They actively look for profiles that contain personal information so they can use the information to exploit the child or personally find the child. • Sexual predators are often willing to devote considerable amounts of time and energy into this process. They are aware of the latest news, trends, music, and language of children and teenagers. • The more information a child fills out on his/her profile, the more a sexual predator knows about them, • which gives the predator leverage to • manipulate the child.

In The News • In 2006, a man from New York found the work address on an online profile of a 16-year-old girl, lured her to a parking lot, and sexually assaulted her. • In July 2007, a 23-year-old man from Connecticut was sentenced to 20 years for sexually assaulting several females, ranging from 12 to 15 years old, all of whom he met on MySpace. • In July 2007, MySpace.com identified over 29,000 registered sex offenders with profiles on their website.

I May Not Be Who I Say I Am! • Sexual predators will also create their own personal online profile. • Some will create fake profiles. A 48-year-old man in order to minimize the risk of being identified, will present himself as a 14-year-old boy to an unsuspecting minor. • Others may have “real” profiles, but still target teenagers/children, especially those who are curious and whose profiles contain a lot of personal information. • Sexual predators are clever and manipulative individuals. They know how talk to children and ultimately seduce them.

Oh, did I forget to tell you I was a registered sex offender?

Personal Online Profile • This is not to say that all social networking websites and personal online profiles are dangerous. They provide an avenue for your children to stay connected and socially interact with others. • Your child can still have a profile and go on these social websites but with certain safety precautions.

Online Safety Tip • Never give out or post personal information online, especially your name, age, address, and telephone number. • Go over with your children the list of personal information items that should always be kept private. • Instead, use a nickname or leave those areas of the profile blank. Give brief and neutral responses rather than thoroughly filling out the profile. • The less information posted, the less chance your child has of becoming a potential target.

Photographs • Some of these photos are harmless while others may be sexually explicit or expose underage drinking • A current trend among teenagers is posting photos of themselves and friends online for other to view

Photographs • When teenagers post photos of themselves online, they provide another avenue for sexual predators to identify and find them. • Once an image is placed on the Internet, even if you delete it, the picture will remain on the web forever. • Anyone can take and use someone’s photo for bad intentions or change the image without their permission.

Online Safety Tip • Avoid posting photos that easily allow others to identify you. • Tell your children that although it may seem fun right now to post pictures of themselves and friends online, these pictures can cause them trouble in the future when they apply to college or a job. • Go over with your children which photos are suitable to be placed online. • Ask your child “If I/sports coach/college admissions counselor/future employer saw this photo, what would they think?”

Online Safety Tip • All social networking websites have a privacy feature. • This feature enables your child to deny anyone access from viewing their profile and photos. • Only those individuals whom the user has given permission can view your child’s profile. • If the privacy settings are not activated, anyone may gain access to the profile and photos. • Your child should ALWAYS use these privacy settings to control who can view their profile.

“Friends” • Social networking websites have a “friends” feature where you can request from someone, even a stranger, to be your friend. • Many teenagers are eager to amass friends and willingly accept any friend requests, thereby giving access to complete strangers to view their profiles. • Your child should only add someone as their “friend” if they know and trust them in real life. • Sexual predators create false profiles so they can present themselves as a young teenager, making it more likely for someone to accept their friend request.

Screen Name • A screen name is a computer username your child uses to identify themselves while online • Choose a screen name that does NOT give away your name, age, gender, and hometown a) John14NY c) Main123 b) Gymnstgrl17 d) TerraVdn • Just by looking at screen names A and B, a stranger can tell whether you are a boy or girl, how old you are, and where you live • However, screen names C and D don’t reveal any personal information about the user

Chatroom/IM • Chatrooms are forums where people can “meet” online to talk • IM stands for instant messenger, which is a conversation only between two people A/S/L? • When initiating a conversation with a stranger, most people say A/S/L, which stands for age/sex/location • If someone online asks A/S/L or any other personal information from your child, never give it to them

Online Safety Tip • Don’t say anything in a chatroom/IM that you wouldn’t say in public. • Even if the person says you can trust them or that they won’t tell anyone, keep your information private. • Tell your child not to lie, especially about their age.

Meetings NEVER agree to let your child meet someone from online in person • The person your child is talking to may not be who they say they really are. • Sexual predators will say and do anything to make someone believe them.

Pictures If someone online wants to send your child photos, say NO. • The person could send your child a virus or inappropriate and sexually explicit pictures. • If the person still sends your child pictures, do not delete anything. It could be used as evidence. • Immediately contact your base police and/or local law enforcement.

Pictures If someone online wants your child to send them photos, say NO. • The person online may have bad intentions, change the image, or give the photo to other people without your permission.

Rules for Online Safety • Never give out personal information • Choose a screen name that does not give away your name, age, gender, and hometown • Don’t say anything in a chatroom/IM that you wouldn’t say in public • Never agree to get together with someone you meet online • Don’t accept photos from others or send photos of yourself

Rules for Online Safety 6) Think before you post pictures on the Internet 7) Don’t give out your password, even to friends 8) Don’t respond to any messages that are inappropriate, threatening, or make you feel uncomfortable 9) Immediately tell your parents, adult, or teacher if you think something is wrong or you receive inappropriate messages/pictures 10) Always ask your parents for permission before doing anything online

Warning Signs • Your child spends large amounts of time online • Apparent “addiction” to the computer, causing your child to withdraw from social activities, friends, events, etc. • Late night phone calls, numbers and names of people you don’t recognize • Appearance of gifts, packages, and mail to your child from someone you don’t know • Your child quickly turns the computer monitor off or changes the screen on the monitor when someone enters the room

Online Safety Tip • Get involved. Show your children you are interested in what they are doing. Learn about websites, games, and other interests of your child. • Keep the computer in a common area of your home. • You control access to the Internet in your home.

Online Safety Tip • If your child is under the age of 10, don’t let them use the computer by themselves. Stay next to them. • Make sure your children are aware of your rules for going online. • Trust your child. Respect their privacy until you have a reason not to. If there is an issue, openly discuss your concerns with them.

Safekids at NCIS If you have any questions or concerns or If you believe your child has received inappropriate, threatening, or sexually explicit material Send us an email safekids@ncis.navy.mil Be sure to include your name, location, and what the problem is

SAFEKIDS A Guide to Internet Safety Parents