Scare tactics, blocking sites can be bad for kids
(Credit:
Online Safety and Technology Working Group)
Scaring children about the dangers of the Internet and blocking access to social-networking sites can do more harm than good, according to a report released Friday by a committee tasked by the U.S. government to explore online safety.
Parents, teachers, government agencies, and other organizations should promote online citizenship and media-literacy education, and actively encourage the participation of children in the process, concludes the report entitled "Youth Safety on a Living Internet." It was produced by the Online Safety and Technology Working Group, which was created by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration.
The report addresses some misperceptions about the dangers children face using the Internet. For instance, sexual predation exists "but not nearly in the prevalence once believed," according to the 148-page report. The report cites studies, including research funded by the U.S. Department of Justice, that show there is a very low statistical probability that a young person will be physically assaulted by an adult whom they first encountered online. Research from the Crimes Against Children Research Center at the University of New Hampshire found that use of MySpace and Facebook by adolescents did not appear to increase their risk of being victimized by online predators.
"Other risks, such as cyberbullying, are actually much more common than thought--starting as early as second grade for some children," the report says. "Bullying and harassment, most often by peers, are the most frequent threats that minors face, both online and offline."
Nine percent to 35 percent of young people report being the victim of "electronic aggression," according to a survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control. An Iowa State University study found that 54 percent of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth had been victims of cyberbullying within the past 30 days, according to the report.
"Meanwhile, 'new' issues such as 'sexting' garner a great deal of media attention, though recent studies suggest it is not quite as common as initially believed," the report says.
The research mentioned other, less obvious risks, such as: identity theft (children and teens are valuable targets because of their typically clean credit histories); over-use or obsessive use of technology; and loss of reputation from posting photos and written records that could be embarrassing later.
Teaching children civil, respectful behavior online and offline is the key to fostering a safe Internet environment, the report says. It urges the government to promote nationwide education in digital citizenship and media literacy and specifically recommends that the government create a Web-based clearinghouse for youth-risk and social-media research.
The report also recommends that the government avoid "scare tactics" and rather promote an approach to risk prevention based on social norms. Dangerous online behavior mirrors unsafe offline behavior and similar notions of etiquette and safety should apply, the report says.
Schools often filter sites or block social networks, believing it is in the best interest of the students. But students can get around the firewalls and filtering technology, while blocking the sites can have a negative effect on student safety, the report warns.
"There is some evidence that social networks can be protective in helping to shape and reinforce positive norms," the report says.
Elinor Mills covers Internet security and privacy. She joined CNET News in 2005 after working as a foreign correspondent for Reuters in Portugal and writing for The Industry Standard, the IDG News Service, and the Associated Press. E-mail Elinor. 
News at 11.
Yeah, because "not letting your kid watch porn" and "internet Nazi" go hand in hand.
He is advocating a solution that avoids the extremes. Certainly block known bad sites, but being a parent means allowing your children an increasing measure of freedom and responsibility (which are curtailed if abused) as they mature. Loving guidance is vital as the kids are maturing, but heavy handed measures always backfire (ask any teen parent).
Real life is lived in the shades of grey, not in either black or white.
I have always trusted my children. Never have had any reasons to not think they will make wise choices. Certainly didn't feel the need to watch their every move, read their ever post or read every text message sent or received. But once my 2 daughters became teenagers, it was all too clear that today's technology opens up far too many dangers, we as children never had to face. I think we need to STOP and remember that its not always OUR children we need to be concerned about, but the high potential of online predators, the so called 'friends' they meet, and the chances of sites such as formspring.me reflecting so poorly on a child that they become depressed, turn to drugs, or commit suicide. Obviously, porn sites need to be BLOCKED. Other sites should not but they need MONITORING. I choose to allow my children on Facebook and other social media sites in HOPES they will make wise decisions.... but in the case they have not yet developed the skills to handle a potential 'life' or 'death' situation, I have installed software on both their cell phone and their computer. It INSTANTLY ALERTS me if there is any conversation regarding anything related to sex, drugs, suicide, cyber-bullying or possible contact with an online predator. With SCREEN SHOTS sent directly to my cell phone, I AM ALLOWED TO DETERMINE if it is a situation my daughter is capable of handling or determine if I need to intervene. Being PROACTIVE is a responsibility we have as parents!! Besides, it still allows "children to learn how to be civil and respectful online and offline " while continuing to allow them access to those "social networks" which according to this article "can be protective in helping to shape and reinforce positive norms" without willingly and BLINDLY risking my child's life.
Products such as Websafety or CellSafety serve as a backup to notify moms and dads of potentially dangerous emergency situations. Not to mention, this same software will also keep teens from being able to text and drive. Personally, I sleep much better at night knowing I have taken the steps to assure they are safer rather than ASSUMING they are perfectly fine.
Parents can find more information on sites such as: helpkidsbesafe.org http://bit.ly/ad4lbz
cellsafetyadvocates.com http://bit.ly/csB5gn
There's an interesting part in the report that talks about how Facebook is an "EXAMPLE OF INDUSTRY-PROVIDED NET SAFETY PROGRAM" (it was capitalized in the report) and it talks about how Facebook is helping people to be more aware of privacy. Sure, it's definitely made people more aware if it, but not for a good reason...
And while blocking sites in school IS pretty ineffective, the fact remains that most things blocked are also pretty useless in a school setting. Sometimes I'll come across a site that's blocked during lunch, and I'll say to myself, nevermind, I'm too lazy to find a bypass for this. I've never encountered a blocked site when I was doing any WORK in school.
"Other risks, such as cyberbullying, are actually much more common than thought--starting as early as second grade for some children," the report says
Cyberbullying as early as second grade? Why exactly are these second graders even getting involved online with people who could bully them??
There's very little use for the internet for people not yet in middle school. Learning the internet and how to behave does not take long. However, I think a larger factor in behavior has to do with maturity level. No matter how much a child in elementary school knows how to behave on the internet, they're always going to be limited by their level of maturity OFFline.
Throwing a bunch of kindergarteners on Facebook and saying "we're educating them for the future and improving their social skills" is not going to do anything.
Kids these days will have grown up their entire lives with the internet and an abundance of technologies to access it. That doesn't mean they have use for it early on in life. Once they become mature enough to use it effectively, they'll know quite well how to deal with it.
Limited use of the internet for certain things for children also doesn't do much harm, but when we're talking about second graders getting cyberbullied, you've got to ask the question how would any reasonable person put a kid into a situation in which it could even happen?
I have always trusted my children. Never have had any reasons to not think they will make wise choices. Certainly didn't feel the need to watch their every move, read their ever post or read every text message sent or received. But once my 2 daughters became teenagers, it was all too clear that today's technology opens up far too many dangers, we as children never had to face. I think we need to STOP and remember that its not always OUR children we need to be concerned about, but the high potential of online predators, the so called 'friends' they meet, and the chances of sites such as formspring.me reflecting so poorly on a child that they become depressed, turn to drugs, or commit suicide. Obviously, porn sites need to be BLOCKED. Other sites should not but they need MONITORING. I choose to allow my children on Facebook and other social media sites in HOPES they will make wise decisions.... but in the case they have not yet developed the skills to handle a potential 'life' or 'death' situation, I have installed software on both their cell phone and their computer. It INSTANTLY ALERTS me if there is any conversation regarding anything related to sex, drugs, suicide, cyber-bullying or possible contact with an online predator. With SCREEN SHOTS sent directly to my cell phone, I AM ALLOWED TO DETERMINE if it is a situation my daughter is capable of handling or determine if I need to intervene. Being PROACTIVE is a responsibility we have as parents!! Besides, it still allows "children to learn how to be civil and respectful online and offline " while continuing to allow them access to those "social networks" which according to this article "can be protective in helping to shape and reinforce positive norms" without willingly and BLINDLY risking my child's life.
Not to mention, it also keeps them from being able to text and drive. I'll sleep much better at night knowing I have taken the steps to assure they are safer rather than assuming they are perfectly fine.
Products such as Websafety or CellSafety serve as a backup to notify moms and dads of potentially dangerous emergency situations. Parents can find more information on sites such as:
cellsafetyadvocates.com http://bit.ly/csB5gn
helpkidsbesafe.org http://bit.ly/ad4lbz
- by C_G_K June 5, 2010 3:56 PM PDT
- My approach is to keep my kids computers where they have zero privacy.
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- by Ferretkeeper June 7, 2010 11:12 AM PDT
- What ! Do you stand behind them ? That sounds like a good way to engender resentment and possibly hatred. Apart from that they will only do most of their internet access outside home, or do you spy on them everywhere they go.
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(20 Comments)When they are adults and I'm not around , they'll be able to do whatever they want online. Until then, everyone is going to know what their web surfing habits are.