Internet Safety

The Internet can be a wonderful resource for kids. They can use it to research school reports, communicate with teachers and other kids, and play interactive games. Kids who are old enough to punch in a few letters on the keyboard can literally access the world.
But that access can also pose hazards. For example, an 8-year-old might do an online search for "Lego." But with just one missed keystroke, the word "Legs" is entered instead, and the child may be directed to a slew of websites with a focus on legs — some of which may contain pornographic material.
That's why it's important to be aware of what your kids see and hear on the Internet, who they meet, and what they share about themselves online.
Just like any safety issue, it's wise to talk with your kids about your concerns, take advantage of resources to protect them, and keep a close eye on their activities.

Internet Safety Laws

A federal law, the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), was created to help protect kids online. It's designed to keep anyone from obtaining a child's personal information without a parent knowing about it and agreeing to it first.
COPPA requires websites to explain their privacy policies on the site and get parental consent before collecting or using a child's personal information, such as a name, address, phone number, or Social Security number. The law also prohibits a site from requiring a child to provide more personal information than necessary to play a game or participate in a contest.
But even with this law, your kids' best online protection is you. By talking to them about potential online dangers and monitoring their computer use, you'll help them surf the Internet safely.

Internet Safety Tips For Teachers

Every day, schools across the country face the challenges and legalities of Internet use in the classroom. Issues such as illegal copying and file-sharing, freedom of speech and privacy concerns, Web site usefulness and appropriateness, as well as network security and virus contamination all require policies that can be implemented in the school. These concerns all must be addressed while looking out for the educational interests of students. How can we keep our students safe and our networks secure as entire school communities venture into cyberspace?

 
A Safe and Secure Environment?
Due to its very nature, the Internet is NOT a safe or secure environment. It is an ever-changing medium where anyone and everyone can voice their opinions, share their ideas, demonstrate new technologies, publish software applications, and connect with others. To this end, it represents great potential in education as a means to the free exchange of ideas and learning tools. However, there is also plenty of room for mischief, obscenity, vulgarity, and even danger. School administrators and technology managers know that to balance the opportunities the Internet provides with the risks its poses requires a formal and decisive plan for technology use in the school. The following methods describe the various ways administrators attempt to keep a handle on the risks of Internet usage.

 

Acceptable Use Policies
One starting point is the now common practice of signed statements called Acceptable Use Policies, or AUPs. Typically, the AUP describes the privilege (not the right) of computer use and/or Internet access for students and teachers in the school, as well as some guidelines and penalties for violations of the agreement. Most AUPs also include both a definition of what is and is not acceptable use and a disclaimer releasing the school from certain liabilities.

An AUP will often begin with a statement about the district's philosophy regarding technology in education and perhaps the value of using the Internet in a school setting. There may be a statement addressing how and when students will have access to the Internet.

Outlined next are specific provisions of what is not allowable (copyright violations, commercial uses, violating other's rights, abusing resources, etc.) as well as behavioral expectations (treating the equipment with care, using good "netiquette").

Most schools include a provision in their AUPs that allows them to monitor network transmissions, such as e-mail. This helps ensure that equipment will not fall prey to viruses or other destructive situations. It also means that certain privacy rights are superseded in the interest of maintenance and safety. This is something for all users to keep in mind.

Finally, the AUP will have a signature section. It is to be reviewed and completed by the student, parent/guardian, and a district representative. By signing, all parties are showing that they understand their obligations and that usage rights can be revoked upon misuse.

 
Firewalls and Network Security
Network security administrators in schools install software programs that monitor the information that is transmitted to and from the school servers (computers that act as the central "gateway" to the Internet and often the connector of computers on the local area network or LAN). This is commonly known as a firewall, as it prevents certain types of information, files, and programs from crossing into or out of the school's computer environment. This is a preventive form of network security.

Firewalls are often used to prohibit teachers or students from downloading free software, submitting certain information online, or opening e-mail attachments. Downloads and e-mail attachments can deliver viruses that can debilitate computer systems. They can also compromise the security of a school network, leaving students' and teachers' personal information like grades, names, addresses, and other private information open to hackers and other illegal entities. So, the next time you get blocked from saving or viewing an attachment, remember that it is for safety's sake.

 

Filtering Software
A next step that many schools employ to keep students safe from inappropriate information is the use of filtering software. This restricts access to certain sites, based on keywords or phrases that are deemed unacceptable. This offers protection from some sites. However, the owners of these sites are now wise to blocking efforts and sometimes create innocuous sounding URLs that in fact promote material that is not appropriate for the school setting.

There are other limitations to the effectiveness of filters. They may keep students from visiting legitimate sites that contain sensitive keywords. If students in a health class are researching cancer, they may be unable to view pages relating to breast cancer because of the filtering of the word "breast." Some filters prohibit the use of chat or even message boards and blogs due to inappropriate content and safety risks for students. Unfortunately, this also makes class participation in legitimate educational interactive sites virtually impossible.

 

Web Publishing Restrictions
Internet safety goes beyond the scope of what you can access online. It also concerns what you can post or publish on a Web site. For example, school Web pages are certainly affected by security concerns. Some schools restrict the use of student photos on their pages. Others use photos, but no names. Still others may allow photos with first names only, but require parental permission. If you have questions about what you can publish on your class Web page, be sure to ask your school technology coordinator what the policy is in your district.

 

Teachers as Technology Role Models
The most important rule to remember is that teachers are role models for students. It is a teacher’s job, along with parents, to teach students about responsible Internet use. Modeling and class discussions about these issues are worth the time. A little work today will reap great rewards in the future as our students continue to become more technology literate and the curriculum changes to reflect that fact.

Internet Safety to Protect Children

According to a recent study from Knowledge Networks/Statistical Research (KN/SI), one-third of children ages 8 to 17 say the Internet is the medium they would choose if they could only have one, with the demand exceeding that for television, telephone and radio.



That said, nearly 500 new Internet sites containing sexually explicit material are added to the Web every day. 

In 2000, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children released the results of its survey of 1,500 kids who regularly use the Internet. This survey reported the following disturbing statistics:

1. 1 in 4 children is exposed to unwanted sexual material on the Internet.
    
2. 1 in 5 children is approached or solicited for sex through e-mail or chat.
3. 1 in 33 children is telephoned; receives letters, money or gifts; or is asked to meet for sex.
    

With these statistics, America's recent shocking news headlines, and the amount of adult-oriented material available online constantly increasing, it has become even more important for parents to protect and supervise their kids on the Internet. What can you do to make sure your kids are surfing safely and taking advantage of the valuable content that is available on the Web?

Children's Technology Group (CTG) is a small company based in Golden, Colo., that is committed to providing today's kids with a safer Internet experience. "The Internet is an incredible educational resource, but parents have not been able to feel secure about what their child sees there. This is the problem we are addressing, and solving, as a company," said Greg Writer, CEO of Children's Technology Group.

CTG is a leading provider in kid-safe software and offers the following basic safety guidelines for parents to discuss with their kids.

Basic Cyberspace Rules:

-- Don't talk to strangers.

-- Never give out your address or other personal information.

-- Always check with a parent before ordering anything online.

-- Surf and learn with your child; make a list of favorite Web sites that you both enjoy visiting.

-- Know with whom your child is interacting when using e-mail and chat rooms. Get acquainted with you child's online buddies.

-- Use the parental controls available through your online service, such as filters, to control surfing and e-mail usage. If such a service isn't available, demand it or subscribe to an Internet safety tool.

Visitors to the Children's Technology Group Web site can find a host of useful Internet safety resources to combat these dangers, including Garfield Island, a one-of-a-kind online kid-safe Web browser suite developed by CTG in collaboration with Garfield's creator, Jim Davis. This Internet safety tool is a community software suite of Internet-safe applications complete with a Web browser, closed e-mail and instant messaging, secure chat rooms, games, and other fun content for kids.

Garfield Island gives parents total control over the features needed to protect their whole family, with a customized separate account from www.momsanddads.com. Here parents can set filter levels, program personalized encouraging messages, and add their own preapproved sites to CTG's exclusive "include list" of authorized family-safe sites.

The dangers of the Internet are far from being eliminated, but you can protect your family easily by being a knowledgeable parent. Educating yourself and your children about the harsh realities of the Internet and the security tools and resources available to you are one great defense. Arming yourself with software such as Garfield Island lets you take charge of your family's safety when surfing the Internet.

   

Internet Safety Tips for Parents

Millions of students head to the nearest computer to conduct school research online. With the Internet’s help, they can create everything from detailed projects on rainforests to slide presentations about how a hurricane forms without setting foot in a library.
“There’s a wealth of information on the Internet, and it’s a great tool,” says Ross Ellis, founder and CEO of Love our Children USA, a child abuse prevention organization that is active in Internet safety. “You can’t keep kids off the Internet.”
Yet the Internet is not the place for an all-access pass. Kids of all ages need parental supervision. A few common-sense tips can help keep your child safe online.

1. The computer should be in an open area, not in a child’s room. “You don’t want to spy on your kids or peer over their shoulder,” Ellis says, “but you want them to know you’re in the room.”
2. Assure your children that you know you can count on them to use the Internet responsibly. “Kids need to feel they’re trusted,” Ellis says.
3. Set clear expectations for your child, based on age and maturity. Does your child have a list of websites she needs to stick with when doing her research? Is she allowed to use a search engine to find appropriate sites? Is your child allowed to visit social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace? What sites is she allowed to visit just for fun? Write down the rules and place them next to the computer. Your child’s teacher should be able to advise you on which sites are appropriate for schoolwork and educational fun.
4. Use filtering software designed to help parents limit the websites children can access. Some programs have monitoring features that can tell you which sites your child visits and can even send you a message letting you know your child is online. (While such programs have come a long way since the early bug-ridden days, they are not a substitute for supervision and communication.)
5. Tell your child if you are using software to track her online activity. Remind him that you are not spying; you are keeping him safe. Tell him that protecting him is your job as a parent.
6. Stay involved with your child’s school by remaining in close contact with your child’s teachers and counselors. If trouble is brewing among students online, it probably started at school. Knowing what’s going on at school will increase the chances that you’ll hear about what’s happening online.
7. A growing concern with kids and the Internet is online bullying. Ask your child specific questions about whether he is being bullied at school or online. Talk about your own experiences in school with bullying, letting him know you know it goes on. Assure him that you won’t try to fix the problem, if it is happening, without talking to him first.
8. Parents often worry about their child being bullied, but they don’t readily consider that their child could be a bully. Talk to your child about why it is not OK to bully other children, online or in person. “Teach compassion and kindness,” Ellis says. “From the get-go, they will know that being a bully...doesn’t feel good.”
9. Tell your child that people who introduce themselves on the Internet are often not who they say they are. Show your child how easy it is to assume another identity online. Don’t assume your child knows everything about the Internet. Kids are naturally trusting.
10. Instruct your child to never give out personal information online, including her full name, gender, age, school, address, or teams. Teach your child to be generic and anonymous on the Internet.

“The Internet offers incredible benefits to families, and people are becoming more connected at a younger age every day,” says Amber Lindsay, director of program development and outreach for the Internet Keep Safe Coalition. “From the moment youth start using technology, parents should take an active role in communicating and keeping current on what their child is doing....Open communication creates a relationship of trust that will make this process easier.”