Our kids and the World "Wild" Web...
While the accessibility to information holds much promise in creating a global community and allow us to learn from each other, it also holds much danger. From on-line predators to cyberbullying, it has opened up a whole new landscape of digital peril.
Just what do our children know? What do they need to know? What types of risky behavior are you seeing with our youth?
What roles do school administrations, teachers and parents have to play in keeping our children safe??
posted by Jeff Whipple at 2:21 PM
30 Comments:
It seems that our children know more about computers then we give them credit for. They feel more open to search the web then we do and are not as scared to make mistakes. They do need to understand that computers can be very educational and beneficial but they also need to understand that the web can also be a dangerous place for them because of the child predators. They are releasing too much personal information on the internet and sharing too much information with total strangers. They need to know the safe websites they can visit. On NBC Primetime they are always doing shows labelled "To catch a Predator" which focuses on trying to catch adults who are trying to meet children and these adults actually get caught because they actually go to meet the children, who are really decoys. I know that it is hard to keep an eye on all the children and computers but parents, teachers and school administrators should try to supervise the children as much as possible while they are on the web, and they should also try to give them more educational sites that are a bit more safe. Children, before they are actually put on the computer should be educated about all the risks that come with surfing the web. Just like the way they are supposed to talk to them about talking to strangers on the street, it should be treated the same way. They should also be told that chatting and giving out personal information can have negative results. The children should be exposed to real life stories that other children lived through or the parents who lost children to the predators on the computers.
Wow, this is a good one. There are so many families messed up by chatting on line and meeting other people, some people are so insecure with themselves and so innocently atrracted by nice comments and what else they are hearing from other people. Some people just pick up and go just because these other people say that they care for them and even paying for their bus fare , airplane fare. etc, leaving their families behind only to find that the person they met weren't exactly as they were describing themselves. Women, I find are more easily lured. Bullying and Cyber bulling are no different, they both are hurting another person. We just have to identify which kids are being bullied and deal with it, in our school there are blocks so children can't get into
certain chatting or whatever. Teachers and parents need to keep a rapport if they know that a child is being bullied. There are always bad people and good people, we just have to look to see if children are being hurt through the use of computers. I certainly wouldn't want to learn if my child was being bullied anywhere.
There are child preditors, Bullies and all that every were,, not just online on the computer. What do we do? Do we keep the kids lock home, away from all it? No matter what, its out there, and I think the best way to keep our children safe, is INFORMATION. Talk to the kids, let them know what is out there, and what to look for, and what to be aware of. If your child does go online, There are always parental blocks, and restrictions, that you can put on the computer. For my boys at home, I have all the web sites that they are allowed to go on,, On my favorites link, and when they want to go there, they know how to access it. I have several pop up blocks also, and i dont have to worry about porn advertisments popping up on them. Thats how, as a parent i try to protect my kids. As a teacher, if they are allowing children to go on the internet, they should also have pop up blocks, retriction blocks and all that good stuff, enable on the computer. There are ways to keep our children safe, and i think the most important one is INFORMATION, and Supervision, talk to the kids, ask questions, let them know what to be aware of.!!
Gail says: Our children are not too aware of the dangers of on-line. They seem to be oblivious of the dangers of predators and other negative effects. They know a lot about the technology and are very quick at picking it up. As adults (parents, administrators, and teachers, we have a huge responsibility in making sure that controls are imposed whereby the child/teen doesn't get free and uncensored access. I am not aware of risky behavior because my 9 year old doesn't go on-line and I would probably be very guarded regarding her safety if and when she does. The technology doesn't have any built-in safeguards to protect them from predators so that this why the adults must play the role of monitors. This is a very serious issue in light of all the crimes against chidren in recent times (i.e. kidnappings, sexual assault, murders, etc.)
In my opinion, I think the only thing we can do is to educate our kids what is out there, and how to be safe when they do go on line. These days they know more than the parents do. I wish I knew all this stuff about cyber bullies and on-line predators like 10 years ago. I have had problems with on line predators back then, and that's why I don't like my kids going on line. I know I can't stop them from going on line, I just tell them not to chat with anybody they don't know, and not to let out too much personal information on the internet. As for cyber bullies, I have heard a lot about them. I also tell my kids not to send nasty messages to other kids, because they can get into trouble. That's all we can do, we can only tell them what not to do, and what to watch out for. As teachers and parents, we can put blocks on the sites where kids are not supposed to go on, and just keep educating them on the do's and don'ts of the cyber world.
Mary
Our topic tonight was rather scary but interesting. I agree that children are not truly aware of the potential dangers and how easy they could be lured into such a situation. Oh yah, they know not to give out personal information but for instance, you take a sixteen years old going on twenty and know it all. Give them the benefit of the doubt. Tell them what they want to hear...and bang, they could get themselves in a whole lot of trouble.
Workshops concerning these matters should be stressed in our schools and parents should be involved as well. Better be safe than sorry!
Our children know way too much, if one of them comes to school with a pornographic image downloaded on to their IPod and showing this image to h/er classmates. Children are constantly being bombarded with inappropriate and unacceptable material through the internet, television, movies,videogames, and to the music that they listen to. They need to know the difference between what is acceptable and what is unacceptable. School administrators, teachers, and parents need to address these issues in the same manner at school and at home as they normally would when they talk to their children about predators, bullying, etc...and make the children aware that these dangers exists on-line as well. Limit a child's time on the internet and keep their computer in an area where the child can be closely monitored. Send parents tips for on-line safety through your local newsletter. Have presentations on cyber safety in school. The power point presentation on cyber-safety pretty much said it all. I would recommend that parents, teachers and school administrators take a look at it. I am certainly going to make them aware of it, if they are not already. Never stop talking to your children.
I agree that children do not know the dangers on the internet. Children will give out personal information without thinking of the consquences. Parents,teachers, and school administrators should put blocks on the computers so the children can not get on some sites. Parents should talk to their children about computer safety. The schools should educate the childrren on on-line safety.
Our children need to be aware, and they need to have security, to be able to feel confident enough in us to tell us when something is wrong. If they are feeling threatened by somebody on the internet, whether it is an adult or another peer bullying them, they need to have somebody to turn to for help immediately. Of course, most parents are indeed there for their children. But sometimes, unfortunately, some kids don't have allies to turn to. When this happens, when there is no support in the household, children are more prone to predators because they are feeling the comfort of a "friend". It's similar to the bullying, they are more of an attraction by bullies, because of the lack of support and sense of security they have. Bullies notice this, and they fall prey to victimization a lot easier,perhaps.
Being left alone without a sense of security also opens doors for children to become bullies themselves. They feel enraged at the adults who neglect their feelings, and take it out on their peers. Cyberspace is just an avenue for all of these nasties to be bred. We have to keep tabs, even silent tabs on what our children do, where they go on the internet, and who their friends are. I don't mean by invading every area of their space as children and teens...but be FULLY aware of what's going on in their lives. With young children on the internet, it's as simple as guiding them safely while they're on the internet. Open the websites for them, instead of them having to do searches, themselves. Have all their favorites placed in their own folder, when they're a bit older, so all they have to do is go to those websites and keep your internet ratings on safe, so that it reduces the amount of popups and indecent materials to be accidentally tread upon. And talk to them, telling them about predators, and cyber-bullying, and encourage them to make wise choices while they are using the internet. Reinforce all the time, that you love them, and even though sometimes it may seem like you are prying into their private lives, that it is only because you are worried about them, you love them and you don't want any harm to come to them. Chances are, they will take your advice, not crab you out so much, and be open to you checking in on their use of the internet. Make sure you know who ALL of their contacts are. Make a golden rule, no new contacts till you have screened them first. thank you, Melissa E.
It's not a cure-all, but it might save your child from harm.
I forgot also, the risky behaviors I've seen, are only several, but they were enough for concern. I have a little cousin, and of course I have my family on my messenger, so one evening, I was chatting with my little cousin, and she was wanting to know who I was talking to on my messenger. I told her that I was talking to her and my adult friends and she insisted on talking to my friends. Of course, I told her NO. Then came the lecture. I was SERIOUSLY disturbed about this, because here was a little one, the same age as my son, obviously an experienced little chatter-bug on the internet, wanting to speak to adults she knew nothing about. I asked her if she talks to strangers frequently on the internet and she replied no, so I also asked her if she adds contacts of new friends she doesn't know, she replied yes. And replied yes to me asking her about her chatting in rooms, and if her mom knows about this. She replied No immediately and said she had to go, so I took that response as her dodging my question, and I spoke to her mom immediately afterwards about this. There are many dangerous places that children who are not watched over, especially to the 7-8 yr old ages, where they are curious and not too cautious about everything, they will go, and they can seriously get themselves into trouble. I do not allow my son to go to websites by himself, when he does choose to go on the internet, which is very infrequently, he's not too much of a cybernut... he has his favorites folder and he just tells me where he wants to go, either i type it in myself, or show it to him in his faves folder.
Schools also have a responsbility of course, to keep computers on safe secure ratings, locked out sites and such, and they usually do a good job of locking out bad sites, it's the good sites that can also become victim, to bullying. Children make their own little websites, or blogs, and other children post them threats and things, or as simple as emailing each other. Messengers can become another breeding ground. Talk to them, and tell them to tell RIGHT AWAY, thanks again Melissa E.
I feel we have the responsibility to teach our kids from right from wrong. If we do that then they will know what is wrong. we gotta keep an eye on them as well. There are people that can put young children in danger or be a part of bullying but if we teach our children that it isn't riight then they will learn to tell. school should only allow certain web sites to be looked at and they should be monitered as well. Some of the children do try to go out explicit sites. Again it's what the children know and what is taught to them. So we talked to our kids as many times as possible and things like that are less likely to happen.
mellisa e comments are true. They need to be aware of safety. Our children know more than parents on the net, They know chats, downloads, searching on nets,etc. But i know they don't really know what can happen on cyberworld. They think it won't happen to them and they think they are cautions on internet. i do not see to much risky business in shool, kids are aware we we have a main server and kids have their own passwords so we know where they go and what site they are on and lots of site are blocked. For outside the school kids can cyberbully and this can cause alot of probelms in school. we would seriously deal with them and report it to rcmp if its serious.
The roles teachers,parents and school should keep educating our kids re internet saftey. Like mona mentioned we need to play the power point cyber safety to our children and watch it together and have discussions. Teachers cannot do it all, we need parents to take 3 times a week to look at history and monitor where they go and what they do. Communication and education is the key to good relationship with children.
I have to agree with all the ladies. We as parents have to teach our children the potential dangers online. We are responsible for our children's safety. Always have to remind them not to get to personal online. Not to mention to get caught up with the cyberworld. As for school administrators I don't see it to much as they are being supervised. Not to say it won't happen but the children are reminded not to use the computers at school for personal use. I have to say that the children know much more than we do. I also have to say pizco to me is dangerous the kids give out way to much information on themselves, and show a lot of pictures of themselves with their friends. The parents of these kids should be aware of what their children are publishing about themselves. We are living in a world that is full of strange people who will hurt our children for their own personal sick reasons.
The kids today know more than most people would like to believe. They have been connected to the global world far longer and far more often than parents would like to admit. Often times, the use of the internet begins before they have even started gradeschool. One would be surprised how much danger that they are aware of, but are enticed rather than put off by it.
We do not need to tell them anything more than what has already been told them time and again, not by just ourselves and our educators, but by television, internet campaigns, advertisements, radio, music, etc. They are aware of dangers. With the exceptions of the very young, it's just that sometimes, they are ignorant to the warnings because they are either manipulated, looking to belong, feel wanted/desired, or worse, just really dont' care.
We are responsible for our childrens' safety and can go to measures such as parental controls, limited time on the internet, monitoring of websites and personal websites visited/made. We can do all the things in the world we want to do to make the internet safer, but the risk is still there if we let them go through it. The only way to keep them safer is to not allow it altogether. But who is really going to do that?
Even then, they value a degree of privacy from the adults, so they can have one homepage they show you,and another completely different for their peers (I've seen this one done before). And I agree, sometimes those webpages are super personal with a lot of pictures and detailed information from where they are that they put themselves out there as easy targets. And permissions aside to view, even a 40 year old man can pass for a 12 year old girl on the internet.
This is a great topic but one that has both it's idealistic explanations and solutions and it's hypocritical aspect as well. We want them to be safe, but we still allow them on the internet. IT's enough that we have the creeps in real life to attend to, but the virtual creeps are even that much more a danger.
Our children know more than they need to know. I, for one learn a lot from them about on-line messages or on-line codes. There are a lot of risky behavior on-line.
What parents and school administration should do is try to keep couple of steps ahead of our children about on-line predators or cyberbullying.
Administrators, teachers and parents need to be playing a bigger role. First of all they(we) need to know how to use the computer and internet. Because I know of a lot who do not know how to use this technology. Another thing is to keep an eye on the children while they are online, chatting and playing games. One way to do this is following the safety tips most websites give out, for example placing the computer in a high traffic area , not in their bedrooms. As for in schools, same thing, monitoring them while online, if any suspicious activity goes on, the teacher needs to know how to check the history if anything was downloaded or said to another child.
Children who go on-line should be taught about on-line safety and it is our job as teachers and parents. There are so many risky behaviors happening when it comes to children/teens using the internet, for example giving out private information,cyber bullying, and going to inappropriate web sites. I feel that teenagers and children should always be monitored when they are on-line because it is better to be safe than sorry.
In today's world, children have easy access to the world via computers. They know alot more about computers than many adults do. Their knowledge of the negatives and positives of online activities are profound, in that they know and have propably seen way too much for their age while on line. I strongly believe that they should not have access to many chat rooms, information on line, and other inappropriate areas online. However, that is beyond our control. I find that when a child is young and don't know any better, they can accidently get themselves into serious trouble. We, as professionals, along with parents, are responsible to protect our children from the hazards of online activity. I wish i could have the solutions to how we can do this but unfortunately, i don't. However, there are little things that one can to do to minimize the likelihood of our children encountering negative experiences. For example, at home the computer could be placed in a public area, such as the living room, were parents can see what the child is doing, parents can educate themselves on how to access files such as, history records of computers or files that can tell you what sites the child has been on, or even finding a why to program the computer to store the child's conversations.(i believe that you can) Teachers at school can also do these type of things in their classrooms. From personal experience, i dont think it is a great idea to allow students to be on a computer unattended for even the least bit of time. You will be suprised to see that there are some students who can maniputate computers to access sites that are district restricted, and they can do this quickly too. Another major point that i would like to emphasize is educating children about the hazards of being online. When doing this you should be bold, blunt, and to the point, and use words that are being used online so that they will recognize them when confronted with those situations on line.
Our children need to know the dangers of internet surfing. They need to be educated on the good uses and bad uses of the internet. Children can have access to so much information, just by typing in the wrong spelling, you never know what will come up. I remember when I was first experiencing the internet, I was looking for the website for “Crystal Palace” in Moncton…. I was amazed at what came up….it was not the crystal palace I was looking for…..there were many pornographic sites, especially with the word crystal….so it goes to show that you never know what will pop up. It is a good idea to talk to your kids about your concerns, take advantage of some of the software to block certain sites and keep a close eye on their activities. You can do this by checking the History of the computer. Talk to your child about potential online dangers and monitoring their use. Some of the risky behavior the youth are doing are giving out their real names, they should be using screen names, as well as meeting other people on-line.
School administrators, teachers and parents need to become computer literate and learn how to block certain material on their computers. Keep a computer in a common area so that you may monitor it’s use. Bookmark child’s favorite sites. Spend time with your child on the internet and teach him/her appropriate online behavior. Do not let your child enter chat rooms and give their real name. Like the saying is...Education is the Key and it definitely applies to the INTERNET.
We need to teach our children about these serious matters, we need to block access to certain sites, and we need to keep a open relationship with our children in order to keep them safe. I get extremly scared when I think that any one of our children could become a victim of cyberspace weidos or cyber-bullying. We have to teach our children at a young age, what is tolerable and what is wrong with the internet. With all these teachings, then I know that it will cut the chances. Schools should also make sure to continue the teachings of safe surfing.
the children now know alot about the web. they know how to get from this and to that. but the thing that they dont know is about those bullies and rapests, i dont really notice any thing in the youth right at this moment. i think that its the teachers and parents to keep an eye on the children because if only the teacher does it then the child can get into some bad at home, but if they both do it and talk about it to them then maybe nothing will happen.
Each and every adult plays a role in the safey of a child. Some of these roles are positive some are negative.It is those adults who play the negative role who make it hard for all those who try to play a positive role.The adults have to make a even stonger effort to the children safe sence the computer has gotten so strong.With the computer we have to work more on awarness the actuall phycial protection.When our children are old enough to start using the computer on thier own we have to maike sure they stay as street smart as they would if they were walking down the street.We cannot always protect our children, from those who make it a job finding ways to hurt them,But with a little hope and a prayer we can work toward a stronger future for our YOUTH.
I believe our students know too much about things online that they shouldn't know, not only about dangerous things but also about topics that are unappropriate for children in that particular age group and so on. They need to know limits and boundaries and how far is too far, how hurtful things can be to others and such. Our job as teachers and foremost as parents, is to guide our children, talk to them, and keep on talking to them about these things. Parents often do not realize that these lessons come from themselves and they tend to depend on the school system to teach their children the difference between right and wrong. That should begin in the home at a very young age. If a student is bullying another, very rarely does the parent of the bully know what is going on or how to fix the problem.
Children need supervision in all aspects of their lives including on-line activities.
Our youth have to be informed about the perils that exist when surfing the Internet. The fact is that the Internet is a tool for sexual predators, cyber bullies and information thieves. In my family and by that I mean extended family I don't see alot of our children and early youth having unlimited access to computers. I hear my neice talking about pbs.kids and child based websites but she's too young for myspace, thankfully. I don't think that children should be informed to the point of being fearful of the internet but they should know that there are risks and that they should take steps to protect themselves. Informing children is the joint responsibility of the parents, teachers and administraitors.
The children that are online I find pretty much know what their doing and enjoy todays technology, but unfournitly there very sick people out their,dateline has a serous off shows called internet preditors that show how sick somepeople can be. It's up to us as parents and teacher to teach our children the safety of the net, monitoring and comunication is the best way to protect our children.
Its been awhile since I have been in high school but I took a course called Media Studies. This class taught us about the way people use media to make us think and see thing differently. And also the dangers media has on the way we think and judge things we see. I think there should be a course that includes the dangers of the internet. Just to educate our students on how to handle situations that can put them at risk. This can help parents who are not computer illiterate and that may not be informed of what kind of dangers there are. Information sessions for parents are also a good idea to help decrease potential dangers. I think there are lots of ways to educate our students and our communities of the risks of the internet.
School administrations, teachers, and parents need to play a key role in youths protection against on-line predators and other dagerous areas that children and teens can come across. The first step to protecting our children it to put safe guards on the computers available to them. I just learned the other day about limiting the time of use on the internet. I had no idea that this service was available to parents. A parent can set access to the internet hook up with in a time frame. For example, from 12:00pm to 9:30pm. It basically automatically shuts off the connection to the internet, unless a password is entered. I think that this is a especially wonderful feature for parents as well as school officials. Although it may be much harder for school officaials to utilize this feature. But I know that they use their own form of protection but having restricted access to certain websites, so that information cannot be viewed or programs cannot be downloaded, like instant messaging programs. Kids know a lot more than parents and teachers think they do. Its actually kind of scary, because I know quite a few 'back doors' myself to get around restricted access, but younger people have shown me things I would have never thought of. And I'm sure that these things are just a small example of what they know. Although they should be taught more about being safe on the internet, everyday we have kids chatting to some person and meeting strangers in a remote, or even busy place, where they end up getting abducted and hurt or even killed in the end. Children do not understand the severity of the issue and dont really see the dangers as they should. Its not a reality to them unless it actually happens.
While the accessibility to information holds much promise in creating a global community and allow us to learn from each other, it also holds much danger.
Before this course I was always afraid of the internet. Until having seen the wonders what that can be achieved. The learning and sharing that our schools can do with other schools from the other side of the world. I want to believe that there is hope for more positive for this technology and not so much destruction and hurt.
Just what do our children know? I can’t really answer that question, Jeff. I believe that children know more now b/c of the internet. They probably know more than you and me.
What do they need to know? That we as parents and educators care about them and that if they need to talk to us, and that we are there for them. They need to believe that they matter and that what they have to say is important!! Open communication is the key.
What types of risky behavior are you seeing with our youth? For myself; I don’t see too much. When I have a chance to go in the computer lab I talk to the kids and share what I have learned in our class.
What roles do school administrations, teachers and parents have to play in keeping our children safe?? I believe that the school administration AND the computer teacher should have a big part in keeping our children safe! Our teachers just this year got their laptops and most of them never went on the computer; so how can you expect them to monitor these children who have had years of experience in the virtual world. It is up to the school administration but it is the responsibility to educate the staff. I am learning so much on what more we can do to keep our kids safe. I believe that the RCMP should come and do a presentation to the staff and parents about the safety of the internet; not just the luring of children but about cyber-bullying. The school should impose rules such as “ZERO TOLERENCE” for cyber-bullying. I think our school can do more to protect our kids, one example is the part about them logging on and off when using the computer. There should be someone to monitor where the students have been when they have been on the computer. Sometimes what is allowed at home is definitely not allowed in schools. It all depends on the parents. I can go on and on about this but now I am going to enjoy my March Break; everyone have a safe and good Break!!
Our kids and the World 'Wide" Web...well that right! that is our children today. They are on computers in schools but mostly i believe they spend more time on computers at home! i think we all share the same common goal, is that we want our children safe, no matter where they are, we teach our children not to talk to strangers but when it comes down to the world "wide" web. our roles as administrators, teachers and parents, is to help educate our children about the pro's and con's,about the web. especially about the con's the danger's like preditors and bullyies, and how to report such things.we as educators can monitor where our children visit on the web by blocking certain sites like they do in schools, but for those parents at home that may not really know how ..i feel they should put a coarse on for those parents so they can. By Educating our parents on how to secure certain sites,and by Educating our children on what is out there
and the dangers as well, will be a big start to help keep our children safe! but to have good open communication with our children and to monitor what they do will also help keep our children safe too
The children of today's generation are more adavanced and updated with the latest technology than we older people are. There are some things that we can do to monitor what our children are doing online, such keep track of latest webites visited and keep comp in open area where they can't hide what they are doing. Also we can give them time limits for use of the computer. When at home parents should especially do this. If children have webcams at home then parents should be aware of who they are talking to so that predators dont "reel them in". Parents can also ban certain websites that advertise child pornography. Now a days we hear about awful stuff like that all the time and it is our responsilbilty as parents and teachers to protect our children from any kind of evil.
Post a Comment
<< Home