Fourth Topic Chosen
Safety and Student Use of the Internet

Description of Essence of the Issue (25 words) or less
Although the internet is an amazingly powerful tool that should be accessible by all, remember that it IS accessible to all...even those intending harm.

Five to Ten Main Issues or Ideas or Concerns
1. Be cautions about people who request personal information over the internet.
2. Meeting friends through the internet could prove to be a dangerous adventure
3. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has a form to fill complete if one ever feels uncomfortable or in danger called the CyberTipline.
4. Cyberbullying can occur and it can be a criminal offence.
5. Service providers can screen or block out inappropriate e-mails coming in.
6. Surfing the internet can easily bring one to inappropriate sites that hold inappropriate information.

What Can/Should Students Learn:

Students need to be taught:

• The internet is a very powerful tool and is mostly used for very educational uses, however, there are some who violate other's rights while on-line.

• Never to give out personal information such as name, address, phone numbers, SSN's, School name, common hang out locations.

• How to analyze and determine who is an appropriate "friend" and who is not

• Where to go and who to contact if one should ever feel scared or in danger through the internet.

• How to determine whether a site has appropriate material and what to do if it doesn't.
• How to create an appropriate username or login names.
• Never share passwords and usernames with anyone other than parents.
• Do not share personal information while on chat pages. Many stalkers use these sites to gain trust of individuals using chat rooms.
• Do not instantly trust that someone is who they say they are on-line. Teach appropriate techniques to help them determoine who they are in contact with.