D&E Helps i-SAFE Build Cyber-Safe Communities
Today’s children have grown up with the Internet as an integral part of their lives, and many are much more Internet savvy than their parents. Unfortunately, this proliferation of Internet use among kids and teens has exposed them to a dark side of the World Wide Web. The anonymity of the Internet, combined with the ease of creating different identities, has created new avenues for cyber bullies and predators, identity thieves, hackers and scammers.
A recent survey conducted by the i-SAFE National Assessment Center (NAC)* reveals the following:
- More than half of students prefer to be alone when online.
- 41% of 5-12 graders would classify someone they first met on the Internet as at least a “friend.”
- More than half (53%) of 5-12 grade students say they would meet face to face with someone they first met online. 20% actually did meet with an Internet friend.
- 52% of high school students have been bullied online and the same percentage say they have bullied others online.
Clearly, the Internet can pose serious threats to children. Parents need the help of the community in order to provide adequate protection. To request Internet safety training at your location, visit www.decommunications.com/onlinesafety.
Internet Safety Tips for Parents
Online predators are out there! To help parents teach safe online behavior to their children, we share this list of tips and reminders:
- Keep your computer in an open, common room of the house and monitor their Internet use.
- Check your kids’ online profiles and what they post online.
- Teach your kids NOT to give out identifying information to people they meet online, including name, address, age and school name. Even details like a school mascot or concert your child is attending can help identify your child and where they live.
- Teach your children that people online may not be who they seem. Online predators will trick children into believing they are a friend. Because your child cannot see or hear the person, it would be easy for them to misrepresent themselves.
- Keep the lines of communication open. Let your child know that they can come to you if they are ever in an uncomfortable situation. Rather than policing your child’s online behavior, educate them about online risks and empower them to communicate to you if they ever feel like they are at risk online.
- Immediately report inappropriate activity to the website involved or to law enforcement.
*2006-07 NAC survey of 12,000 3-12 grade students across the U.S.