From Child Exploitation to Bubble Wrapped Kids

Creative Commons images from Flickr

Larry MagidCo-Director

ConnectSafely.orgSafer Internet DayMoscow, February 2012

We’ve come a long way in some countries, but …

• There is such a thing as being “too protective”

• Risk is inevitable, the question is how to manage it

• We need to strike a balance between protection and freedom

• Teach critical thinking so that people learn to manage their own risks

As we think about how to protect children, we need to consider the rights of the child

"The child shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of the child's choice.”

Article 13 of the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child

We need to understand risk, not exaggerate it

• Of course there are risks online, but they are not anything new or special

• Pay attention to the research• Include children in the discussion• Understand the limits of regulation and

the benefits of education

In the U.S., the rise of the Web has not resulted in increased victimization of children

Blue line represents 58% decline in child sex abuse from 1992 to 2008.Source: Updated Trends in Child Maltreatment, 2008: Finkelhor, Jones and Shattuck: Crimes Against Children Research Center

Moving right alongThe Internet Safety Technical Task Force found that:

“Bullying and harassment, most often by peers, are the most salient threats that minors face, both online and offline.” Which lead to …

Cyberbullying Panic!

Cyberbullying is a problem, but most children are neither victims nor monsters

* EU Kids Online

• Not every interaction that makes kids uncomfortable is bullying

• While some are very vulnerable, most children are reasonably resilient

• Across Europe, 6% of 9-to-16-year-old Internet users have been bullied online. 3% confess to having bullied others

• Far more have been bullied offline, with 19% saying they have been bullied, and 12% saying them have bullied someone else*

Sexting Panic

A 2008 survey found that 20% of teens had sent or posted “nude or semi-nude images of themselves”

Which led to stories like this:

Source: Crimes Against Children Research Center, Dec , 2011

• 1.3% sent an image where they showed breasts, genitals or someone’s bottom

• 2.5% sent an image where they were nude or partially nude

But a 2011 U.S. study found

Ultimately, the best filter runs between the child’s ears, not on a

device or a network

Protection that lasts a lifetime

Training wheels for young kids

Talk with your children

• Parents should talk with their children. Ask the kids about what they do online, what they consider to be the risks and what strategies they’re already using

• Don’t overreact if your child tells you about problems online. You want them to feel comfortable bringing issues to your attention

Basic advice for kids & teensBe your own person. Don't let friends or strangers pressure you to be someone you aren't.

Be nice online. People who are nasty and aggressive online are at greater risk of being bullied or harassed themselves.

Think about what you post. Sharing provocative photos or intimate details online, even in private emails, can cause you problems later on.

Passwords are private. Don't share your password even with friends

Don't talk about sex with strangers. Don't lead them on - you don’t want to be the target of a predator's grooming

Avoid in-person meetings. The only way someone can physically harm you is if you're both in the same location

Be smart when using a cellphone. All the same tips apply with phones. Be careful who you give your number to and how you use you’re phone’s camera, location services, apps, and other features

Adapted from ConnectSafely’s Social Web Tips for Teens

Thank you!

Larry Magidlarry@connectsafely.org

For more see, OS3.ConnectSafely.org

These slides are online atConnectSafely.org/nobubble