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Internet Safety

Keeping your child safe online

The Internet is a wonderful research, homework and communication tool for students. It also presents a host of risks for our youth including online predators and bullies.

You can help protect your child by keeping the lines of communication open and creating a set of Internet house rules.

Did you know that:

    •   1 out of every 5 cases of cyber stalking becomes an off-line real-world stalking
         case.
    •   50% of Canada’s young people use the Internet for instant messaging and 27% of 
         this group use the Internet for instant messaging every day or almost every day.
    •   Only 28% of parents are aware that their children use instant messaging.
    •   More than 50% of youth using instant messaging chat with people they’ve only met
         online.
    •   2/3 of Canadian youth say their parents never sit with them, never use blocking, and
         never check the history of sites visited.  

         (Source: www.media-awareness.ca and www.safety-council.org)
 

Tips to keep kids safe online

Here are some tips from the Government of Ontario to help promote safe, responsible online behavior:

• Encourage your teen to let you know if they come across material or receive messages that make them feel uncomfortable or threatened

• Report threatening or inappropriate messages to the police and your Internet service provider

• Get to know which websites your teenager visits the most and visit them yourself to ensure there is no offensive or questionable content

• Make sure your teenager has adjusted the privacy settings on their social networking accounts so that only friends can see their photos, comments or any information they post

• Remind your teenager that anything posted on a social networking site can be seen by anyone -- parents, teachers or future bosses

• Remind your child to get permission from others, including friends, before posting pictures of them on social networking sites

• Remind them to be safe and responsible online: they should not use the Internet to spread gossip, bully or threaten others. When teens stay safe and treat each other respectfully online, they contribute to a more positive school climate.

Click here to read more about the Ministry of Education's safe and accepting school initiatives.


Related Web Sites

    •   www.reallifeonline.ca
    •   http://www.BeWebAware.ca
    •   www.media-awareness.ca   (Click on English then Special Initiatives)
    •   http://www.netsmartz.org/