Internet Safety

Our last blog, focused 9 general areas of behavior that make up digital citizenship. Definitions, examples, and strategies for education are on our previous blog.

1. Etiquette
2. Communication
3. Education
4. Access
5. Commerce
6. Responsibility
7. Rights
8. Safety
9. Security

Internet safety strategies apply to browsing the web, social networking (Facebook, Twitter), communicating via the web (email, chatting, blogging), and online fraud.

Browsing the Web:

Remember that the Internet is interactive -- students can interact with anyone else online from home, school, or the library.  It allows any user, anywhere, to post any information, including materials that are inaccurate, misleading and inappropriate for teenagers. Although it may feel that way, the Internet is not always anonymous.  Remember:

• Not all sites are secure
• Be aware of sites with sexually explicit images and text
• Be aware of sites promoting hatred, bigotry, violence, drugs, cults, and other inappropriate content
• Be aware of marketing schemes that deceptively collect personal information from kids in order to sell products to them or their parents
• Be aware of requests for personal information for contests, surveys, etc., that are used in unauthorized ways

Social Networking:

Social networking includes a far broader range of websites that are constantly expanding and providing opportunities for people around the world to keep in touch. “Social Networking" is an umbrella term that includes any medium of online communities where people can share information. Remember:

• Never meet anyone in person who they just met online
• Communicate with people you already know
• Don’t use full names
• Be wary of identifiable information on you profile
• Consider using a site that is not very public
• Be smart about details in photographs
• Be cautious of photographs that you post
• Be cautious when expressing emotions to strangers
• Be aware of Cyber bullying

Communication Via the Web:

Remember:

• Email
  • Strangers, at times pretending to be someone else, can communicate with your student
  • Unsolicited email (spam), usually about sites with sexually explicit materials, products for sale, or moneymaking schemes
• Chatting
  • Offensive language and adult conversation
  • People aren’t always who they say they are
  • Because of its interactive nature, students are more likely to encounter people who want to harm them
• Blogging
  • Never offer any personal information-last name, contact information, home address, phone numbers, school name, email address, last names of friends or relatives, instant message names, age, or birth date
  • Never post provocative pictures of yourself or others
  • Assume what you publish on the Internet is permanent
  • Use blogging provider sites with clearly stated terms of use-make sure actual blogs are protected
  • Avoid trying to “outdo” or compete with other bloggers
  • Keep blogs positive and don’t use them to attack others

Online Fraud:

Remember:

• Never share personal information
• Log off in public locations
• Create secure password
• Use only secure sites
• Recognize and report fraud

For more information on this topic, check out the sources for this blog:

http://www.theteachersguide.com/Internetsafety.html

http://palyvoice.com/node/22528

http://www.microsoft.com/security/family-safety/childsafety-internet.aspx