Internet Safety - Do you know how to protect yourself?The Internet can be a wonderful place full of information,
entertainment and communication. But it can also be an extremely
dangerous place to be if you do not know how to protect yourself.
Consider these statistics:
- 1 in 5 children are sexually solicited or approached over the
Internet in a one-year period of time. Online Victimization:A Report
on the Nation's Youth
- 20% of violent offenders serving time in state prisons reported having victimized a child. Source: U.S. Department of Justice
- The "ideal victim" is between 11-14 and has exclusive use of a computer in a private area.
Police departments now have special divisions to deal with internet
crime. Technophilia is a term used by police for "persons using the
computer to engage in sexual deviance." No one wants to be the next
victim or part of the statistics. Learn how you can protect yourself,
your family and your friends.
If you are a student,
-
- The Arlington Teen Portal has a section on Internet Safety.
-
View profiles of some offenders who have been caught by police
Want to learn more and help other teens?  Go to the training network at iSafe.
If you’re a teen, or a parent of a teenager, you might feel that you
don’t need the same restrictions and controls as younger kids. You may
be right, but just because you’re older doesn’t mean that you’re out of
danger. Teenagers are actually more likely to get into trouble online
than younger children. Check out Safe Teens
for more information.
If you are a parent or educator,
Check out the section for you on the NetSmartz Workshop homepage.
Download a powerpoint presentation
for adults on Internet Safety for Kids -Who is Most at Risk to Online
Predators, Online Victimization Techniques and How to Protect Your
Kids. You can also download an Internet Safety for Kids Book. (This
slide show was used in the presentation on Internet Safety given at H-B Woodlawn
in February 2007.) View profiles of some offenders who have been caught by police  Purchase The Missing Kit from Livewwwires, a game which teaches children how to surf
the Internet safely. The Web site also has information on internet
safety issues for parents, teachers and librarians.
Go to the iSafe training network for educators, teens and parents  A Parent's Guide to Internet Safety - get help from the FBIIf you’re a teen, or a parent of a teenager, you might feel that you
don’t need the same restrictions and controls as younger kids. You may
be right, but just because you’re older doesn’t mean that you’re out of
danger. Teenagers are actually more likely to get into trouble online
than younger children. Check out Safe Teens
for more information.  The Safe Side web site presents you with very important information
designed to teach, empower and entertain children as well as their
parents or guardians. It can also help answer the important question,
"What can parents do?"
Programs such as "Stop Bullying Now
!" aim to stifle the cyber bullying
trend. Administered by the Department of Health and Human Services'
Health Resources and Services Administration, "Stop Bullying Now!" is a
campaign to prevent bullying and youth violence in partnership with
more than 70 health, safety, education, and faith-based organizations. Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use - "provides guidance to
parents, educators, librarians, policy-makers, and others
regarding effective strategies to assist young people in gaining
the knowledge, skills, motivation, and self-control to use the
Internet and other information technologies in a safe and
responsible manner."
Additional Resources from APS
Arlington County recognizes that the Internet can provide our
students access to undesirable and inappropriate material. APS works
within State and Federal guidelines to ensure students are protected
from such material through the use of Internet filtering software,
limiting of features and the construction of a Website that provide as
safe an environment as possible. Students are taught to use the
facility sensibly and with proper consideration for others.
 It is recommended that parents using the Internet at home with
children to develop a similar set of rules and invest in appropriate
filtering software, e.g.: Netnanny, Cyberpatrol, ContentBarrier X or
Surfwatch.
Thanks to Tammy Mills (Jefferson ITC) and Terri Bratt (HB Woodlawn ITC) -
Most information is adapted from their websites.
|
Check out 
Other Netzmartz resources:
