Internet Safety

Internet Safety Basics

In a 1997-98 sampling of 12 newspapers, 2 out of 3 stories about the Internet focused on its negative aspects, primarily pornography, sex crimes and privacy invasion. We have recently seen that the Internet also provides easier access for those wishing to feed their violent or hateful urges. This obviously leads to concern of the safety of our children as they use the Internet as a resource for education, communication and recreation.

Statistics and popular belief show that the Internet is here to stay. In a May 1999, Annenburg Public Policy Center survey, it shows that 60% of households with children 8-17 have a computer and 61% of those have Internet access. Are parents aware of how their children use the Internet? If you ask the children, most say their parents have little or no knowledge about the sites the visit on the Internet. In the same Annenburg study, 59% of parents think children without Internet access are at a disadvantage.

One pratical method to combat the dangers of the Internet is to show your children how to use and evaluate the information they find on the Internet. This is often referred to as information literacy. Simply stated, information literacy is the act of viewing information regardless of its source with a critical, and slightly skeptical eye. For speeches, television, books and of course the Internet, asking yourself a few key questions as you interpret the information will go a long way. Things like: "is the source reputable?"; "why does this information exist?"; "are there other sources that can validate this information?"; "Is the information accurate?"

Best of all, don't overlook the value and advantage the Internet can provide. Try not to view the information contained on this site with fright or paranoia. If your eyes are opening to some of these pitfalls of the Internet for the first time, that might seem a normal response. You should however be reasonably concerned and informed.