CYBER-SAFETYThings to think about when raising a
“Digital Native”
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
SOCIALIZING ONLINE – A WONDERFUL WAY TO CONNECT
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.
Guidelines What You Can Do
COMMUNICATING – T2U L8R…POS
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
Guidelines What You Can Do
PHONES, PHONES, EVERYWHERE
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
Guidelines What You Can Do
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
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
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
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.
RESOURCES
Net Cetera – OnGuard Online
Net Smartz.org
Isafe.org
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