Internet Safety Community Presentation

Community Partnerships

What Parents Need to Know?

• What can my child do on the Internet?

•How do I teach them to be critical of online information?

•What are the risks? How do I keep my child safe?

•How do I report suspicious activity immediately?

•Where do I get more information?

The Net Generation

Our Children are Digital Natives

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Marc Prensky • the Internet is a normal part of life • children use it seamlessly to quickly receive information • they are experts at multitasking • they prefer games to "serious" work

The Net Generation

Our Children are Digital Natives

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Marc Prensky • they use technology transparently, without thinking about it • they are the first generation that has ever mastered technology tools before the previous generation

The Net Generation

Many of Us are Digital Immigrants

• we only had one TV that was located in the living room.

•music was on vinyl •communications was basic e.g. telephone party lines •information was limited- e.g. few radio stations and even fewer TV channels.

•we adopt technology slowly e.g. print out digital papers to edit instead of on screen

What is going on?

As users, children are not bound by experience or limitations, making it easier for them to move seamlessly between real and virtual space without fixed consequences to their reality.

What is going on?

Some children freely construct new identities that allow them to role play with different personalities and characteristics. This is similar to when they used to play dress up. The only difference is that this play is anonymous and has varied unknown consequences.

What can children do on the Internet at school?

• all schools have internet connections •become critical users of online information • explore internet’s amazing possibilities •access information •publish their own work in innovative and creative ways

What can my children do on the Internet at home?

• keep in touch with friends – E-mail has gone from 26.3% in 1999 to 52.1% in 2003 (Stats Canada) •buy things like music, books or games •play games – 12.3% in 1999 to 27.9% in 2003 (Stats Canada) •obtain and down load music – went from 7.8% in 1999 to 20.6% in 2003

MSN-Microsoft Network

• a popular way for young people to communicate both on the computer and on the cell phone. • IM (instant messaging code) language which allows for quick, precise communication

Understanding IM Code Language

In order to protect your children from Internet predators and from receiving inappropriate messages, it helps to know the shorthand symbols.

Here are a few examples:

LOL laugh out loud 26Y4U too sexy for you PAW

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parents are watching WYGOWM will you go out with me F2T

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free to talk LV

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Love WAN2

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want to H8 Hate Translator Website http://transl8it.com/cgi-win/index.pl

Extensive list of shorthand codes.

http://members.aol.com/nigthomas/source.html

MSN-Microsoft Network

Dangers & Risks Benefits

• Your kids can let you know they got home from school okay • IM-equipped children can communicate anywhere, with anyone, at any time • IM a classmate to clarify the teacher’s homework instructions • A great tool for completing group work and class assignments • Keeps friends in touch if they move away.

• • • offers real-time contact with strangers your child’s personal profile requires information which is placed in an Internet directory others can search using your child’s name, date of birth, gender, and interests • be aware that your child may be internet savvy and at a young age may understand how to bypass certain safeguards

Blog (Web Log)

• a blog is a journal that is instantly published to the web •the activity of updating a blog is "blogging" and someone who keeps a blog is a "blogger.“ •blogs are typically updated daily using software that allows people with little or no technical background to update and maintain the blog

Blog (Web Log) Facts

• a new blog is created about every 5.8 seconds, 52% of all blogs belong to 13-19 year olds • MySpace (a blog website) is adding 1 million+ new registered users a week • more than 50 million registered users • • in the two years since it’s launch, “My Space” has received 2.5 times the traffic of Google http://www.blogsafety.com/

Do they know the Rules of Safe Surfing?

• never share personal information with anyone about yourself, family, location, school •never share passwords •personally know everyone within your contact list on instant messaging •never post pictures of yourself or your friends •don’t talk to your friends friends if you don’t know them personally •do not participate in unmonitored adult chat rooms

• never arrange a face-to-face meeting with another computer user without parental permission.

•never respond to messages or bulletin board items that are suggestive, obscene, belligerent, prejudice, threatening, or make you feel uncomfortable. •encourage your children to tell you if they encounter such messages

How do I keep them safe?

• know who their online friends are • trust your instincts as children may become very secretive about their online activities • look at computer history log and temp files • Google search your child’s name on the web • if concerned disconnect the internet-you’re kids are worth it • report offences

immediately

police to capture offender’s IP addresses which are time sensitive. in order for Children need protection and guidance

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Key Facts

Offenders are intelligent and likeable • • • Offenders have families of their own, lead normal lives and come from all walks of life Offenders may victimize boys, girls or both often girls being at greater risks • Offenders usually offend more than once and may take a long period of time to stage the offense Offenders often make first online contact as a person of the same age and may later reveal the truth about their own age • Offenders will travel a great distant to meet their victims

O ffenders choose to involve children for several reasons…

• Children are accessible online • Children offer little resistance • Children are unaware of the possible dangers of being lured into a false friendship • Children are sexually appealing

Possible signs of Child’s involvement in an Internet based relationship.

• Behaviour changes, lose outside interests

No Interest

• Withdrawal/reluctance from regular activity • Excessive use of online activities • Unwilling to identify online friends in their contact lists • Difficulties at school/leaves early for school, stays late • Secretive behaviour e.g. minimizes screen when you approach the computer

Unlocking the Criminal Code of Canada

Sexual Interference (Section 151 C.C.) Invitation to Sexual Touching (Section 152 C.C.) Sexual Exploitation (Section 153 C.C.) Child Pornography (Section 163 C.C.) Internet Luring (Section 172.1 C.C.) Sexual Assault (Section 271 C.C.)

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Luring is committed when…

a perpetrator grooms their victim by showing/sending explicit sexual content • a person in a position of trust or authority exploits a young person • or in a relationship of dependency • has the intent to commit sexual invitation/exploitation online

This is done in secret and may or may not be stored on the computer (e.g. peer to peer sharing on a chat line provides no traces of an image once shut down.

Age of Consent for Sexual Activity

14 Years

Exception: Child is 12-13 and Perpetrator between 12-16 years AND Less than 2 years older than the child AND Not in a position of trust or authority

Most Common Characteristics of Victims Higher risk children fall in these categories however all children on the internet can face these risks and must be aware of the risks.

• A passive nature-quiet, withdrawn, compliant • A troubled, lonely existence, perhaps arising from living in a broken home • Lack of parental guidance/interest in the child’s life • An overwhelming need for love and affection, not displayed in the child’s home

What are my responsibilities as a parent?

• talk to your children • have your computer located in a common visible place • supervise, monitor your families use of the internet • set time limits for use • sign a family agreement about safe surfing and post it by the computer

What are my responsibilities as a parent?

• encourage your children to tell you if something is unacceptable • talk to other parents • attend workshops, research and become well informed

Reporting Suspicious Information

• To protect your child and to assist police investigators any suspicious activity or information needs to be reported immediately. •Make this report to your local police service and/or Cybertip www.cybertip.ca

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This report can be anonymous.

DIRECT LINK to CYBERTIP Form .

Some “ red flags" for potentially risky behaviour include the following: •Almost one-third of 9 -10 year olds use chat rooms.

•Of those children who visit chat rooms, 26% visit private and adult chat areas.

•Two out of ten children in this age category have been asked for their photo, phone number, street address or school by someone they have only met online.

•Nine per cent of kids this age have been asked by someone they've met on the Net to meet in person. •(7%), two out of ten went to meet that person with a friend and one out of ten went on their own.

More “red” flags!

•Over half the children in this age category have e-mail accounts. Of those children, two out of ten use their e-mail accounts to correspond with people they have only met on the Internet.

•One out of ten children in this age category has received pornography from someone they have met on the Internet.

Where do I get more information?

• Classroom Teacher • Police Services • Internet Sites • Safe Schools Policies • Ministry Guidelines • Internet safety Websites (see below) • Media Awareness Network http://www.ldcsb.on.ca/board/learning/safeschools/WebSafety/index.htm