The Internet and Your Middle Schooler

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The Internet and Your Middle Schooler

• Presented by
• Julie Darling Monique Uzelac
• Media Specialists

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Overview

• What is this stuff? (Definitions and terms).
• Age relevant Internet behaviors.
• Some tools that could be helpful.
• Favorite sites.
• What I would do if I were you.
• Questions?

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What Is This Stuff?

• IM (Instant Messaging)
• VOIP
• Social Networks
• Blogs
• Chat Rooms
• Virtual Worlds

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Age Level Related Internet Behaviors
7-10(Adapted from http//kids.getnetwise.org/safe
tyguide/age/7-10)

• Psychologist Richard Toft Children begin to want
  independence at this age.
• Should be encouraged to explore the Internet
  independently within public space in home
  (kitchen, family room etc.).

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Safety Net for Ages 7-10

• Consider filtering program, child-safe search
  engines, child-safe Internet Service Provider
  (ISP).
• Consider limiting time online either through
  rules or time-limiting software.
• More on this in a minute.

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Age Level Related Internet Behaviors
10-12(Adapted from http//kids.getnetwise.org/saf
etyguide/age/10-12)

• A stronger push for independence and therefore
  stronger influence from peers.
• Developing abstract reasoning skills and ability
  to begin evaluating websites with quality info.
  vs. junk.

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Safety Net for Ages 10-12

• Encourage critical evaluation of online sites-is
  everything on the Internet true?
• Set concrete time limits for computer use, other
  activities are important too.

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Age Level Related Internet Behaviors
12-14(Adapted from http//kids.getnetwise.org/saf
etyguide/age/12-14)

• Big increase in social activity with peers,
  especially email and Instant Messaging (IMing).
• Budding interest in sexuality which may express
  itself through the exploration of Internet sites.

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Safety Net for Ages 12-14

• May want to use filtering and monitoring
  software-will most likely experience resistance
  to this from child.
• Open and honest discussions about safe online
  behaviors are critical.

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What are some of the real dangers?

• Instant Messaging with strangers.
• Meeting these strangers in person.
• Bullying one another digitally (emails, IMing,
  posting nasty blog entries, etc.).
• Accidentally (or purposely) sending out or
  displaying personal information about selves
  and/or friends.
• Downloading viruses.
• Accessing inappropriate sites.

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Solution 1 Filtering/Monitoring Software

• Restricts incoming information (and some
  outgoing).
• May filter entire websites, individual words,
  advertisements, emails and chat rooms.
• Two ways URL or keyword.
• Will not catch everything no matter what tools
  you use.

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Filtering Monitoring Software-some features

• Time-limiting capabilities.
• Filters.
• Monitoring, filtering and chat blocking features.
  
• Personal information transmission blocking.
• Internet activity reporting features.
• Stealth mode.
• Internet Filter Reviews

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Solution 2 Child Safe ISP (Internet Service
Provider) with Parental Controls

• AOL
• MSN
• Comcast

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Solution 3 Child Safe Search Engines

• Ask For Kids
• KidsClick!
• Yahooligans
• Google Safe Search (turn on optional filters in
  Preferences)

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Favorite Sites of Middle Schoolers

• Whyville (Virtual World)
• My Space (Social Network)
• Live Journal (Blog-Weblog-online journal)
• Xanga (Another Blog)
• Facebook (High school-Social Network)

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Helpful Ideas

• Monitor screen names on IMing Buddy List and
  ask who each person is.
• Confirm Buddy List screen names with other
  parents.
• Make a rule that all Instant Messaging programs
  and social networks will be open ONLY to friends
  not even to friends of friends.
• Do not use programs that do not have this white
  list feature.
• Put computer in a family space within the home
  and make a walk up rule.
• Learn IM language/slang.

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Helpful Ideas Continued

• Monitor the history of websites visited by child
  and create an account on the blogs/social
  networks that child is using.
• Have A LOT of conversations about why posting
  personal information on the Internet is NEVER a
  good idea.
• Encourage the use of safe search engines.
• Put all Internet Accounts in parent(s) names with
  parent(s) having the primary screenname, control
  of the passwords and control over
  blocking/filtering.

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Questions??