January 2008

Virginia Adds Internet Safety to the Curriculum

NPR recently reported that Virginia has become the first state to require public schools to educate students about safe Internet use. The mandate comes as a response to concerns about sex offenders and other adults preying on young people they meet through social networking sites like MySpace, Facebook, and Xanga.

“Kids don’t see how they could possibly get hurt at a computer in their own home,” says Virginia Attorney General Bob McDonnell. “Parents don’t know enough about the Internet to have the conversations they need to have with their have with their kids. The key now is education.”

North Carolina, Connecticut, and Georgia legislatures have all considered proposals that would require minors using social networking sites to obtain parental permission first. So far, the proposed pieces of legislation have died amid opposition from Internet privacy advocates and the networking sites.

Compiling tips from such sources as the National Cyber Security Alliance’s StaySafeOnline, GetNetWise, NetSmartz Workshop, and SafeTeens, NPR assembled guidelines that educators can share with parents and students.

For parents:

• Keep your computer in a central and accessible location in your home and be aware of other computers your children may use.

• Use the Internet with your children. Let them show you what they can do online, visit their favorite sites, and maintain a dialog about what applications they are using.

• Teach your children never to give out personal information (name, address, phone number, school, hometown) to people they meet in chat rooms or on bulletin boards.

• Know who children’s online friends are and oversee chat areas.

• If your children use chat or e-mail, advise them not to meet in person with anyone they first “met” online. Remind them that not everything they read or see on the Internet is true. If you feel it is OK for them to meet their online friends, insist they bring you or trusted friends along and meet in a public place.

• Talk to children about not responding to offensive or dangerous e-mail, chat, or other communications. Do not delete offensive or dangerous e-mail; turn off the monitor, and contact local law enforcement.

• Talk to children about what to do if they see something that makes them feel scared, uncomfortable, or confused. Show them how to turn off the monitor and emphasize that it’s not their fault if they see something upsetting. Remind children to tell a trusted adult.

• If you suspect online “stalking” or sexual exploitation of a child, report it to your local law enforcement agency.

• Internet accounts should be in the parent’s name with parents having the primary screen name, controlling passwords, and using blocking and/or filtering devices.

• Implement parental-control tools provided by some Internet service providers and available for purchase as separate software packages.

For students:

• Don’t give out information about yourself like your last name, phone number, address or school without asking your parents first.

• Never e-mail a picture of yourself to a stranger.

• Be suspicious of those who want to know too much. There’s no rule that says you have to tell them where you live or anything else personal. Trust your instincts.

• Avoid chat rooms or discussion areas that look sketchy or provocative, and don’t let people online trick you into thinking of them as real-life friends if you’ve never met them in person.

• If somebody says something to you that makes you uncomfortable, or if somebody sends you something or you see something that makes you uncomfortable, don’t look around or explore. Get your parents instead—they know what to do.

• Making plans to meet your Internet buddies in real life is usually a bad idea. If you decide to do it anyway, have your parents help make the plans and go with you.

• Don’t open up e-mails, files, or Web pages that you get from people you don’t know or trust. The same goes for links or URLs that look suspicious.

• Don’t give out your password, except to responsible adults in your family.

• Be honest about your age. Membership rules are there to protect people. If you are too young to sign up, do not lie about your age. Talk with your parents about alternative sites that may be appropriate for you.