Recently the Greater Boston Police Council sponsored a workshop on "Internet Crime; Regional Town Meeting". It featured such experts as Detective James Mc Laughlin, Undercover Operations Regional Taskforce on Internet Crimes Against Children for Northern New England; Tammy Gillette, Board of Directors Safety Ed. International and Sergeant J.J. Mc Lean, North Eastern Mass. Law Enforcement Council.
This was an enlightening and frightnening
educational experience, and I would like to share some of the information with both students and parents. After reading some of this you may feel like throwing the computer out the window, or at least shut down internet access. All of the speakers agreed that this is not a realistic option in our computer age world, because it would also shut down the wonderful and marvelous education opportunities to be found on the World Wide Web. With some diligent and careful discussion among students and parents, the Web can be a safe place to enjoy and learn.
All of the speakers agreed that the most dangerous place for children on the internet is in "Chatrooms". They emphasized the importance of setting up the internet available computer in a public area in your home- not behind closed doors. Here are some Safety Rules for Youth Online:
* Never reveal identifying information- name, address,phone number, school name, etc.
* Remember that people can lie easily, a "13 year old girl" may be a 50 year old male
* Choose online names that won't attract dangerous attention-"nintendo-rules" is better than "pretty_brittney 13"
*NEVER meet a cyberspace friend offline without parent approval and an adult to go with you
* Don't phone an online acquaintance without adult permission(caller ID can trace a phone number and then address can be found from that)
* Don't reply to harassing, threatening or sexual messages, DO show parents or another adult
FOR INFORMATION CONCERNING COLLEGE PLANNING
www.thinkcollegeearly.org
www.massmentor.edu
* Understand safety rules children should follow.
* Write other rules such as when and how long they may be online, (for example, no internet while home alone)
* Decide which areas are allowable(example, email or messages with approved friends, but no chat rooms)
* Monitor Internet activity to ensure contract is followed
* Install computer in public area of home where continued traffic limits privacy
*Communicate regularly with child about what child does online, who friends are, what their favorite site is
* Insist child reports to you anything suspicious or upsetting, but promise you won't "pull the plug"
* Report illegal or suspicious contact with your child to appropriate law enforcement or Cybertipline
* use control features offered by the Internet Provider, such as AOL's Parental Controls
* Install and configure filtering software appropriately for age
REPORTING CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION
* If the child is in any immmediate danger, call the police!
* Report the following to Cybertipline (1-800-843-5678) www.cybertipline.org
-child pornography
- child sexual enticement or luring
-child molestation
-information pertaining to child prostitution
For information how to help your child deal with the horror of the terrorist attacks:ADVICE
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