Internet Use & Safety: How Safe Is Your Child?

INTERNET USE AND SAFETY:  HOW SAFE IS YOUR CHILD?

Dear parents and students,

        The internet is a growing technology that has been improving our methods of communication exponentially.  Our children are communicating with one another in ways we never dreamed of when we were teenagers.  Unfortunately, they are not only communicating with their friends and family, they are also communicating with strangers.  
        Blogging sites such as ‘My Space’ and ‘Friendster’ attract all ages, especially teenagers and young adults.  These sites allow individuals to post personal information along with pictures or videos of themselves for any visitor to view.  Even if you speak with your children about the safety of these sites, they still are at risk for providing information such as the state they live in or the school they attend.  
        Please check out the following sites.  One is a video on how a predator may gain knowledge of your child just by providing a screen name!  The second is a quiz that you and your child can take together to see how knowledgeable you are about internet safety.  After viewing the video and quiz, I realized how incorrect I was about identity safety on the internet.  Please talk with your child and view these links together, it may save your child’s identity along with yours.
http://www.netsmartz.org/

http://www.netsmartz.org/resources/reallife.htm

Sincerely,

Christel Driscoll
Blue 8 Science Teacher
Lincoln Middle School