CYBER-SAFETY

1. CYBER-SAFETY Things to think about when raising a “Digital Native”

2. What is a digital native? • A digital native is a person for whom digital technologies already existed when they were born, and hence has grown up with digital technology such as computers, the Internet, mobile phones and MP3s. • A digital immigrant is an individual who grew up without digital technology and adopted it later.

3. The Research Says… (the Good) Online Behavior: • Teens have established significant presence on social networking web pages: 61% of 13- to 17-year-olds have a personal profile on a site such as MySpace, Friendster, or Xanga. Half have also posted pictures of themselves online. • Older teens (16-17s) and girls especially use the Internet for social interaction, meeting friends, and networking.

4. The Research Says…(The Bad) However, many have also been exposed to the Internet’s accompanying potential risks. • 71% reported receiving messages online from someone they don’t know. • 45% have been asked for personal information by someone they don’t know. • 30% have considered meeting someone that they’ve only talked to online • 14% have actually met a person face-to-face they they’ve only spoken to over the Internet (9% of 13-15s; 22% of 16-17s).

5. The Bothersome…. • When teens receive messages online from someone they don’t know, 40% reported that they’ll usually reply and chat with that person. • Only 18% said they’ll tell an adult.

6. What Can You Do? • Start Early-If your child is using a device, you should be having regular (age appropriate) conversations about cyber-safety. You are their first teachers. • Create an Honest Environment- You may not know all the answers, but be willing to learn along with your children. • Talk to Your Children-Start having open and honest conversations from a young age. • Be Patient- Kids learn in small chunks. Small doses of repeated information is best.

7. Socializing Online – a wonderful way to connect Guidelines What You Can Do • You Can’t Take It Back! Children don’t understand the permanence of their online actions. Once it’s out there… it’s out there. • Careful Sharing – Only share, online, what you’re comfortable sharing in person. • Words, Pictures, & Videos can have offline consequences. • Be Honest • NEVER Impersonate Someone Else • Investigate & Use Privacy settings • Review their “Friends List” • Remind Kids to Keep Private Information Private.

8. Communicating – T2U L8R…POS Guidelines What You Can Do • Manners Matter • Text Only what you would be willing to say to the person’s face. • Not everyone needs that message. • Occasionally peruse their Contacts List • House phones don’t have to ring anymore • Talk to Your kids about number-sharing • Talk about “safe” topics • Set guidelines for who they communicate with

9. Phones, Phones, EVERYWHERE Guidelines What You Can Do • Share Photos Carefully • Send it out only if your comfortable with the world seeing it • Don’t share your number with just anyone • Ignore calls & messages from people you don’t know • Be aware of who has your child’s phone number • Set parameters for when the phone will be turned off • Dinner Time • Bed Time • Set the Example • Disconnect & spend some quality time with your family

10. Cyber-Bullying • Bullying is no longer about the strong picking on the weak in the schoolyard. The physical assault has been replaced by a 24 hour per day, seven days a week online bashing. • Savvy students are using Instant Messaging, e-mails, chat rooms and websites they create to humiliate a peer. • No longer can parents count on seeing the tell-tale physical signs of bullying—a black eye, bloody lip, torn clothes. But the damage done by cyber bullies is no less real, and can be infinitely more painful. http://www.isafe.org/channels/sub.php?ch=op&sub_id=media_cyber_bullying

11. Cyber-Bullying Statistics • Cyber Bullying Statistics 42% of kids have been bullied while online. 1 in 4 have had it happen more than once. • 35% of kids have been threatened online. Nearly 1 in 5 have had it happen more than once. • 21% of kids have received mean or threatening e-mail or other messages. • 58% of kids admit someone has said mean or hurtful things to them online. More than 4 out of 10 say it has happened more than once. • 53% of kids admit having said something mean or hurtful to another person online. More than 1 in 3 have done it more than once. • 58% have not told their parents or an adult about something mean or hurtful that happened to them online.Based on 2004 i-SAFE survey of 1,500 students grades 4-8

12. What You Can Do If your child has complained of being bullied online OR if you suspect it… • Stay calm • Reassure your child they are safe • If it is a peer, school or class mate, make the school aware of the incident • Block or de-friend the Bully • Follow-up with appropriate school and/or police officials

13. The Reality • Technology is a vital part of the world we live in. • Children NEED these tools to grow up to be successful contributing adults. • We are their guides. • We cannot be afraid to learn along with them. • They NEED us to be open, patient, loving, examples of how to live a technologically rich AND safe life. • No one person has all the answers, but together we can find them.

14. Resources • Net Cetera – OnGuard Online • Net Smartz.org • Isafe.org