Family and Child Online Safety Blog - SafetyClicks

Pockets of Potential

Francis Duncan — 2009-07-01T13:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Internet Dangers, Technology, Articles of Interest

Most people have any number of mobile devices that access the Internet and communicate in ways that Alexander Graham Bell NEVER imagined. To go along with all that new technology, there are many new worries about how the technology is being abused or misused. There are also a lot of people who would swear that all this technology is too much too fast. There are even people who are trying to convince parents to ban the technology from the house.

In 1969 'Sesame Street' refused to admit a common thought, that television was "bad for kids".Instead they created 'Sesame Street', an educational show that has survived as a pioneer of children's programming. Fast forward 40 years later and Pockets of Potential is born.

I love Pockets for Potential for two main reasons. First (and foremost), it looks like it would be a great program. It also shows something that I believe; technology is a good thing and can be used for great things.

If you know any of those parents who are so afraid of technology and the dangers it represents, remind them that if kids are not exposed to the current technology, when they are adults, they will be behind those who grew up with it.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Homework From the Courtroom?

Francis Duncan — 2009-06-29T15:16:00+00:00

Filed under: Internet Safety Tips, Articles of Interest, Sexting

In March of this year, a 14-year-old girl was charged with child pornography. This was not the only story; there were others, all with similar charges. Some teens were even forced to register as sex offenders for posting or sending nude pictures of themselves.

More recently, an Ohio judge sentenced a local teen for the same charges as the teens previously mentioned. The kicker? The punishment was writing a paper detailing the dangers of sexting.

What do you think about this punishment? Should it have been harsher? Was it the perfect punishment for the crime? Was it too much?

Not addressed at all in either punishment is the potential social stigma attached to this act. What happens when this teen wants to become a school teacher, politician or high level executive for a company? Since things are never actually deleted from the Internet, will these pictures come back to haunt what could have been a great President of the United States or President of the PTA?

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Is Your Teen Sexting?

Francis Duncan — 2009-06-25T15:28:00+00:00

Filed under: Internet Safety Tips, Social Networking, Internet Dangers, Sexting

Talking to your children about sex raises the anxiety level for many parents. Now add on how they are expressing themselves sexually online. Many parents say "my child wouldn't do that." The challenge is that according to a study done by The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, 20% of teens admit that they are. One way to look at it is that 80% of teens are not sexting. Since there is no easy way to tell which teen falls into the 20% bucket vs. the 80% bucket, here are some tips on broaching the topic:

Know that "sexting" is a term that the media has placed on the act of sending sexually explicit texts and photos via cell phones or online. Because it's been in the media so much, teens probably know what it means, but it probably isn't (or at least wasn't) the word they use. This might be a good way to bring it up with your teen. Ask him/her what students in their class call it. I have heard terms such as "hooking up", "phone sex", "booty call". Some don't have a name for it at all; they just know it when they see it.

Use articles or news stories to spark the conversation. In recent months, there have been many articles about teens who were arrested for sexting. Ask your teen his/her opinion about if it is actually child pornography? What should the punishment be? Should it even be a crime?

If your teen is going to start looking at colleges, let them know that schools (as well as employers) are looking online to find exactly who they are accepting/hiring. Without being accusatory, ask if there is anything on their profiles that they wouldn't want Grandma to know about. Normally the answer is yes, but normally the "embarrassing" thing is something benign such as a silly outfit or harsh language intended to be seen only by friends. Using these kinds of examples is an easy way to say "be careful what you post, it is not private" without directly asking if your child posted sexually explicit content.

Encourage your teen to respect him/herself and encourage them to have healthy relationships. No one expects a 16 year old to marry the person they are dating, but they are learning a lot about what they should expect out of future relationships. Everyone should expect to be listened to, cared for, never hurt (physically or emotionally) and never taunted to do things they know are wrong. A lot of teens who do post inappropriate images are doing it out of pressure from friends or significant others.

At the end of the day, you may not find out definitively if your teen has been sexting. Hopefully these tips will help you open communication lines and let them know the dangers if they are.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Parents, Are We Being Digitally Responsible?

Sangeetha Narasimhan — 2009-06-11T17:14:00+00:00

Filed under: Internet Safety Tips, Cyberbullying, Social Networking, Technology, Sexting

Some of you may wonder what it means to be "digitally responsible," and if it is really much different from parental responsibility as we know it. Raising responsible and well-behaved children in the real world is often similar to raising responsible and well-behaved children in the digital world. However, the difference in the digital world is that the potential for anonymity makes matters worse for tweens and teens in the digital world, and many kids these days are probably more Internet savvy than a lot of moms and dads out there. We didn't grow up with this technology that seems so natural to them - experts often refer to this generation of kids and teens as "digital natives" and their parents as "digital immigrants". Is that something to worry about? Not really, as there are a plethora of resources that parents can dig into to get updated on the latest trends that our children are faced with - Social Networking, Cyberbullying, and Sexting to name a few. There are many places on the Web that provide great information for parents to stay plugged-in to the latest online trends. This blog, SafetyClicks.com, is a great source for parents looking to learn more about what's going on with kids on the Internet, and arm themselves with the knowledge they need to strike the right chord with their kids when discussing online behavior.

As social media is gaining popularity. More teens are using social networking sites, such as Facebook as a means of communication. According to a study by Pew Internet and American Life Project, teens on social networks still outrank adults 2-1. This only goes to tell you that we, as parents, need to be more informed and aware of how teens interact on these sites so that we can more easily provide guidance to our kids just like we provide for them in the real world when interacting with people face-to-face.

The Federal Trade Commission suggests these talking points for you to use in your conversation with your tween or teen for socializing safely online:

1) Think about how different sites work before deciding to join a site. Some sites will allow only a defined community of users to access posted content; others allow anyone and everyone to view postings.

2) Think about keeping some control over the information you post. Consider restricting access to your page to a select group of people, for example, your friends from school, your club, your team, your community groups, or your family.

3) Keep your information to yourself. Don't post your full name, Social Security number, address, phone number, or bank and credit card account numbers - and don't post other people's information, either. Be cautious about posting information that could be used to identify you or locate you offline. This could include the name of your school, sports team, clubs, and where you work or hang out.

4) Make sure your screen name doesn't say too much about you. Don't use your name, your age, or your hometown. Even if you think your screen name makes you anonymous, it doesn't take a genius to combine clues to figure out who you are and where you can be found.

5) Post only information that you are comfortable with others seeing - and knowing - about you. Many people can see your page, including your parents, your teachers, the police, the college you might want to apply to next year, or the job you might want to apply for in five years.

6) Remember that once you post information online, you can't take it back. Even if you delete the information from a site, older versions exist on other people's computers.

7) Consider not posting your photo. It can be altered and broadcast in ways you may not be happy about. If you do post one, ask yourself whether it's one your mom would display in the living room.

8) Flirting with strangers online could have serious consequences. Because some people lie about who they really are, you never really know who you're dealing with.

9) Be wary if a new online friend wants to meet you in person. Before you decide to meet someone, do your research: Ask whether any of your friends know the person, and see what background you can dig up through online search engines. If you decide to meet them, be smart about it: Meet in a public place, during the day, with friends you trust. Tell an adult or a responsible sibling where you're going, and when you expect to be back.

10) Trust your gut if you have suspicions. If you feel threatened by someone or uncomfortable because of something online, tell an adult you trust and report it to the police and the social networking site. You could end up preventing someone else from becoming a victim.

I also found this PSA that is worth watching that discusses Sexting, Cyberbullying and Online Safety. The video does a nice job of explaining "Responsibility" in the Digital World and how the lives of people around us can be affected by poor digital judgment.

Sexting, Online Safety & Responsibility 2.1C PSA

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Are Your Kids Ready To Be Online This Summer?

Diana Pentecost — 2009-06-04T15:35:00+00:00

Filed under: Internet Safety Tips, Parental Controls

School is almost out and summer break is just around the corner. Do you know what your kids will be doing this summer? How will they be spending their spare free time for the next sixty or so days? Whatever you may or may not have lined up in terms of activities for your children, one thing is certain for most kids - free time offline means more time spent online.

This year add a new tradition to your usual end school year routine, along with graduation parties, summer camp registration and vacation preparations. Before this summer begins, talk to your children about staying safe online. A safety conversation is probably the last thing your kids want to have before they are set free for the lazy days summer, but it's important and it won't take long. Pick a day and put it on the calendar so you both stay committed. As a matter of fact, make it a complete safety briefing covering all their summer activities.

Along with reminding your kids about the importance of sun screen, wearing safety helmets and not talking to strangers take a few extra minutes and reiterate some of these computer use safety tips.

· Anything that makes you feel uncomfortable should be shared with a parent.

· Do not believe everything you read on the Internet.

· Children cannot meet people they meet online without a parent.

· Do not share passwords with anyone, including friends.

· Do not share any personal information such as address and phone number with strangers.

In addition to reviewing these tips with your kids, there are a few things you as a parent might want to consider in order help your child have a more safe and sound summer. These are suggestions and not necessarily appropriate for every age so use your judgment as aparent to determine which of these will be a good fit for your child and how they use the computer.

1. Consider adding a timer to your computer so you can limit the amount of time that your child can spend online when you are not around.

2. Set up a list of approved sites and limit your child's access to only those sites.

3. Set up a list of approved online friends that limit who your child can communicate with online.

4. Setup an activity report. This feature can log your child's online activities including sites they visited and people they communicated with. You can review these reports at anytime and discuss any concerns you have with your child.

Look for Parental Controls that offers all the features that are most important to you. AOL's Parental Controls happen to offer all of these features (online timer, activity report, web controls, and email and IM controls) plus a lot more as part of their free package. Having open communication about safety with your kids and putting in place the tools that can protect them is the best combination to ensuring a happy and healthy summer for the whole family.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Sexting: A Topic for the Last Day of School

Francis Duncan — 2009-05-20T16:06:00+00:00

Filed under: Internet Dangers, Social Networking, Articles of Interest, Sexting

While parents, law makers and law enforcers decide how to punish the offenders of sexting, teachers in a Milwaukee town spent the last day of school teaching an important lesson before summer break. They sparked a debate with students regarding all aspects of the topic of sexting. Several of the students admitted to sending nude pictures of themselves and at least one was the victim of that picture being sent to others. The debate continued with who should be punished, for what and what the punishment should be.

This sounds like a far better use of time compared to my last day of school every year -- usually spent watching the clock.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Internet Safety Education: Where Does It Come From?

Francis Duncan — 2009-05-18T15:58:00+00:00

Filed under: Internet Safety Tips, Social Networking, Articles of Interest

I recently overheard a conversation in which one parent was telling another that she wishes the schools would teach the parents about online safety, in addition to the students.

For students, all 50 states have Internet safety information available to them through the Boys and Girls Clubs and Netsmartz.org. There are also several states that are taking education to a much higher level, requiring cyber education as part of the schools' curriculum. Virginia was the first state to require Internet safety education as part of the school's curriculum. Since then, other states are pulling together similar programs such as New Jersey, Illinois, and Texas. Generally speaking, the education covers cyber bullying, general online safety, predators and what information should be shared online.

As for the parents' education, there are many resources available. Here are a few:

This blog, SafetyClicks.com
Parental Controls software (this is a search page leading to several options)
NetSmartz 411
Connect Safely
Enough Is Enough

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

What Is Your Perceived Parental Right?

Francis Duncan — 2009-05-07T15:06:00+00:00

Filed under: Internet Safety Tips, Sharing Info Online, Internet Dangers, Articles of Interest

Common Sense Media posted an article recently talking about if parents should read their kids' text messages.

While the article was interesting, I was intrigued by the comments. It is clear which comments are from teens and which are from worried parents.

When I was a teen, I was mortified when my parents violated my perceived divine right to privacy. In fairness to them, they didn't violate it often. And in hindsight, I was more protective of things they probably would not have cared about than I needed to be, but I still needed my sense of privacy.

The balance of what privacy and a parents' need to know debate will continue over dinner tables for many years to come. I think that most people would agree on the extremes. If their child is in danger, a parent will go through every text or email ever written if they think it will help. On the other hand, teens are learning about themselves and part of that is having a sense of privacy. The challenge is in the middle.

Where do you think the balance is? Do parents have the "right" to read every message their child/teen sends? What level of privacy do teens deserve?

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Social Networking: Good, Bad, or Indifferent?

Francis Duncan — 2009-04-30T16:02:00+00:00

Filed under: Social Networking, Articles of Interest

Social Networking has been in the news for a while, and I am sure it will be in the news a while longer. One observation is how diverse opinions can be about all things related to social networks and social networking.

This article from CNN warns about the "dangers" of Twitter, saying that it could numb your sense of morality.

LiveScience reports that Facebook users are getting worse grades than those who don't participate.

Immoral students who are failing sound pretty bad.

On the other hand, there are many suggestions the Social Networks are being used for good.

For all those students who are getting their letters of acceptance or denial out there, there are several colleges that are looking to Facebook to recruit students.CNN suggests actively participating online, especially social networking sites, can help you land a job.

There is even a study done at the University of Melbourne in Australia suggests that using the Internet for personal use (including social networking) can increase your productivity at work by up to 9%.

Getting into college, finding a job and being more productive sounds like a pretty good use of time.

We need to treat the Internet and social networks as we do with everything else; there are pros and cons to young people using them. There are a lot of teens getting in trouble over online mistakes, but there are a lot of young people getting in trouble having nothing to do with a computer. I think our job as parents and educators is to teach them right from wrong, regardless of the tool they are using.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Why Do Parents Have to Approve Their Kid's Use of Certain Sites?

Francis Duncan — 2009-04-09T13:07:00+00:00

Filed under: Social Networking

Its history lesson time. In 1998, Congress passed a law called the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). This law prohibits Web sites from collecting personally identifiable information from children (defined as those people aged 12 and younger) without explicit permission from their parents. Personally Identifiable Information encompasses many things, including a child's full name, e-mail address, and physical address.

You may have noticed that most social networking sites have a minimum age requirement of 13 and COPPA is one of the big reasons why; the social networking sites collect personally identifiable information. There are, however, many sites made for kids, even though they require personal information to be shared in order for them to participate in the site. These sites require your permission as a parent for your child to participate, and this permission is normally easily granted via e-mail. You always want to take take normal precautions before sharing your credit card number, but there are some sites that require parents to prove their age by entering credit card information as verification. Some of the sites with good reputations include KOL, Disney, and Club Penguin. While these sites do have good reputations, nothing takes your place as a parent knowing what your kids are doing online.

How do you know if a site is safe for your kids?Ask around. Talk to other parents to see if they have heard about the site and if they let their kids participate. See if they have any feedback, positive or negative.

Review the site yourself. Create a login and familiarize yourself with what your child's experience is going to be. Be wary of sites that encourage you to share too much information (such as school name, full name, etc.). Can you find a way to do something that you would be uncomfortable letting your child do?

Check the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy to make sure you are comfortable with them. Reputable sites will always have these readily available for you to review. Look especially for what ages are allowed. If it is a site designed for ages 13+, and your child is 12, don't let your child participate until he/she is old enough.

Periodically ask your children to show you around the sites they frequent. Doing this gives you an opportunity to not only see what they do online, but lets them teach you something you might not know about the site, and it opens the door to talk about online safety.

Open communication between parents and their kids is important for many reasons. Online safety is a hot topic and will likely continue to be as technologies evolve. Keeping up with safety ideas will continue to be equally as important. OnGuard Online is another resource for you, providing quick facts regarding kids' privacy.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

How Far Is Too Far?

Francis Duncan — 2009-04-03T14:31:00+00:00

Filed under: Internet Safety Tips, Social Networking, Sexting

Every day I get a dozen or so articles that talk about someone who was charged or convicted for possession or distribution of child pornography. Reading these articles gives me hope that these people are being punished for their crimes. It also sheds a sad light on how big the problem is.

Thankfully we have laws that promote public awareness regarding the location of these people when, and if, the convicted are let out of jail. Generally the offenders are labeled as sex offenders. Each state has different versions of this law, but New York 's is called Sex Offender Registration Act (SORA). It dictates that while on the sex offender list, the offender cannot live within a certain proximity to schools or other places children assemble (a.k.a., most good neighborhoods), they are not eligible for many jobs, and they are to register with the state every time they move or get a new job. The information they give the state is public and is posted on this watch dog site, www.familywatchdog.com. This site gives the public an easy to use tool to find out where sex offenders are on a map.

Why am I talking about this?

The definition of child pornography is simply pornography that involves children. Most agree that this is a horrible crime that deserves punishment that should include being on a sex offender list. Recently, with the introduction of "sexting", teens are now taking nude pictures of themselves and sending them to each other. By the law's definition, this is child pornography. The courts are beginning to see it this way too. There have been several articles recently talking about this, Holly mentioned a few in her recent post.

My question to you is what is a reasonable punishment for these teens? Does grounding the child take care of it? Just take away the cell phone? Jail time? Sex offender classes with other sex offenders who were in jail for molesting kids?

Something to consider: A report done by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy said that 20 % of teens have posted online, or sent with their cell phones, a nude or semi-nude picture of themselves. This means that on average, 1 in 5 teens that you know would need this punishment.

The question in many people's minds, how do you know if your kids are participating in dangerous behavior? Common Sense Media had a good article and video in this week's newsletter that you may find helpful if you have teens.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Our World Recorded & Revealed

Holly Hawkins — 2009-04-02T14:52:00+00:00

Filed under: Sharing Info Online, Social Networking

Can you imagine a world where everything we say and share - thoughts, opinions, images - is 'recorded' for others to snag and use at will? Can you imagine your mistakes captured and played back over and over again for you to relive and anyone else to see?

Most of us would probably say that we couldn't imagine it and certainly wouldn't want to live in a world like that, but we do and so do our kids. The Internet is that world and our kids are growing up there. They are exploring, pushing limits, and taking risks on the Internet - all behaviors associated with gaining independence.

This road to independence gets complicated and often results in devastating consequences when teens use the Internet to explore sexual experiences. Today's teens are increasingly using the Internet to share sexually suggestive text messages and/or risqué photos and videos of themselves. This activity is occurring more and more over cell phones (known as 'sexting') - cell phones are mobile and can be used spontaneously.

The consequences of this behavior have been played out in recent headlines and range from child pornography charges, to registering as a sex offender, to taunting by peers and to suicide (see below for recent news stories).

What do we do as parents?

Answering the question of what we can do as parents to stop this behavior is difficult and goes well beyond suggesting that teens not post personal information on the Internet.

A colleague asked me just the other day what I was going to say to my oldest daughter about 'sexting' (she's twelve). I took a moment and thought about her as she is today and responded fairly quickly with, "my daughter would never do that" (yes, I actually said it). I laughed at how quickly that statement came out and spent the rest of the day thinking about it ....but, what if she was in love...but, what if she succumbed to pressure.....but, what if she put her trust in the wrong person? There are so many factors that are out my control, so what can I do or say that will resonate with her if the idea of 'sexting' ever comes up?

I've decided to start using the headlines, as disturbing as they are, as teachable moments (just like I have done recently with celebrity teenage pregnancy and instances of domestic violence). I also came up with some questions that I believe will help break through the layers of complexity:

- Would you want to share your most personal, intimate moments through a medium that is permanent, irreversible, reproducible and potentially global in reach?

- If someone asked you to share intimate content, do you think they would really keep it private and confidential? What if you had a disagreement with them and/or you both stopped talking to each other, do you have trust they would not disclose the information?

- If someone sent you intimate content would you share it with at least your best friend?

- Do you believe the person asking you to participate in this activity respects you?

- Do you understand that, in some instances, this behavior it is illegal?

- Do you want to risk a stranger viewing and then determining who can see you most personal, intimate moments? How about your parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters? What if everyone in your school saw it? This has happened to others and can happen to you. Once you share content with just one person over the Internet, you no longer have control over who they share it with and where they post it.

These are all questions that I am going to bring into my discussion about 'sexting'. I would love to hear your ideas.

Aware, Not Scared

Sangeetha Narasimhan — 2009-03-06T17:06:00+00:00

Filed under: Internet Dangers, Social Networking

In our effort to bring you the latest information on hot topics related to Internet Safety, we have invited guest bloggers to post relevant articles on our site. This blog is provided by one of our friends of SafetyClicks, Netsmartz Workshop, written by Amani Rushing.

When social networking site MySpace announced the removal of 90,000 registered sex offenders from its websites many heard the word "pedophile" instead. For any concerned parents or guardians, hearing this may have prompted them to get their children off of these sites right away. After all, if 90,000 pedophiles were removed from the site, how many might still be on? But before pulling the social networking plug, parents should take a minute to recognize the distinctions between the words "sex offender" and "pedophile." Understanding the differences may help parents and guardians better understand the risks their children may encounter online.

o. Sex Offender - Any person convicted of a sex crime. These crimes may vary from public urination or indecent exposure to sexual assault against a person of any age.

o. Pedophile - An adult sexually attracted to a pubescent or prepubescent child or children.

The distinction between these terms is critical. When they are used interchangeably, they may strike fear among parents and guardians, possibly skewing their perceptions about potential online risks. For example, if parents or guardians believe that 90,000 pedophiles were discovered on MySpace, they may (understandably) spend all of their time focusing on social networking risks and pay less attention to other online risks, such as cyberbullies, scammers, and children revealing inappropriate information.

This is not meant to downplay the importance of keeping children safer online. Instead, it helps everyone stay grounded and more aware of the potential risks in order to take the appropriate steps to keep the children in our lives safer, whether six or sixteen. So the next time you come across a headline that reads something like this, "Social Networking Sites Overrun with Sex Offenders" you'll know to be ready to act-without overreacting.

Amani Rushing, NetSmartz Workshop
Amani Rushing graduated from Stanford University in 2003. She volunteered with a university student group before joining the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) as a Project Coordinator. Working on projects like the AAAS Family Science Days helped Amani discover a passion for education which led her to the NetSmartz Workshop. As a member of the Content Team, Amani puts her creative writing background to good use by brainstorming fun, new ways for children to learn about Internet and real world safety.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Sharing The Knowledge

Diana Pentecost — 2009-03-03T12:17:00+00:00

Filed under: Articles of Interest

SafetyClicks strives to bring our readers as much information and points of view as possible so that you can determine the best approach to Internet safety for your family. In that effort, we will from time to time invite guest bloggers to share their points of view with you in addition to the information we bring you. In return, we are offered that same opportunity and are privileged to be able to share our input on safety topics on some of our friends of SafetyClicks blogs. See NetSmartz.org for a post I recently contributed regarding Parents taking a Facebook course.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

The Facebook Takeaway

Holly Hawkins — 2009-02-27T12:18:00+00:00

Filed under: Sharing Info Online

The media blitz and ensuing consumer outcry over Facebook's recent attempt to change their Terms of Service indicating complete ownership of anything its users post even after they are long gone has, if nothing else, raised awareness of the privacy (or perceived privacy) of content we post on the Internet.

Whether you believe that Facebook really wanted to own and use everything that you ever posted at any time in the foreseeable future or if they were attempting to legally capture what actually happens to the content we post, or if you're somewhere in between, you should realize the potential consequences of posting and sharing content online.

As a social media user or a parent of a child who use social networking sites such as Facebook, MySpace and Bebo, here is the takeaway:

Be cautious of what you post and share with others. Once you share content - pictures, videos, stories, artwork or any other originally created work - with just one person online, you relinquish control over its potential distribution and use.

This is not a new phenomenon brought about by social networks, it has been around since the advent of e-mail, however, the volume of content has grown and become much more personal today. Social networks have become an extension of our lives - they're our family photo albums, our high school reunions, our workplace meeting ground, our venting platform and much more. So, the thought of this information circulating and used in a manner that we didn't intend can be disconcerting.

Just remember the Internet is a medium of sharing as demonstrated with features such as copy and snag it. You can remove the content from your site and decide not to share it any longer, but it doesn't always take it out of circulation - those with whom you shared and with whom they shared may still have a copy or may have posted it to another site.

The best rule of thumb is to post and share content with the understanding that it could be further shared, posted and remain on the Internet permanently. If you are not comfortable with that, the content probably shouldn't be posted. I'm not suggesting that you shouldn't use social networking sites. I use them on a daily basis and will continue to do so. However, I do want to raise awareness and suggest that you and your family take caution when posting and sharing. Young people especially tend not to understand the far reaching consequences of what they share. The Internet has a permanent memory.

Read more about Sharing Information Online.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

What Parents should know about Twittering?

Sangeetha Narasimhan — 2009-02-23T17:02:00+00:00

Filed under: Technology

As parents, you probably are familiar with using social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook but have you heard about Twitter? Twitter is a relatively new free social network that allows family, friends, and co-workers stay connected via mobile texting, instant messages, or on the web.

Twitter offers an easy way to stay connected with the people in your life, by asking the simple question, "What are you doing?" People can respond with short messages or "tweets" that are under 140 characters to keep their friends and family updated on their latest interests or everyday happenings. By default, your Twitter profile is public and all your updates can be seen by anyone. However, you can control who sees your Twitter messages by selecting the "Protect my Updates" box in the Settings area.

By doing so, your profile becomes private and only approved followers can see your updates. Otherwise, anyone can read your updates, without your permission.

Source:Twitter.com

You can find your friends or make new friends on Twitter by using people search (find people by their first name, last name or username), Twitter search (find people using keywords, location, interests, and more), Address Book import (find people on your other networks like Gmail, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail, MSN). To "follow" someone means that you can see their updates on your Twitter homepage. You can control whose updates you receive, when you receive them, and on what device you see these updates (cell phone or on the web).

To get started with Twitter:
1. Go to Twitter.com. Click on the "Join the Conversation" button.
2. Create an Account. Provide your full name, preferred username, password and e-mail address. Remember that the user name is what people will see with an "@" symbol in front of it.
3. See if your friends are on Twitter. After you create an account, you will be prompted to look for friends in your Gmail, Yahoo, MSN, Hotmail or AOL accounts so you can begin following them if they're already using Twitter.
4. Setting up your profile. Click on "Settings" in the upper right hand corner of your Twitter home page. You will be brought to a tab-based menu that helps you build your profile and modify your settings, including setting up your mobile phone to use Twitter.
5. Start looking for followers. Regardless of your immediate circle of friends that you have added through e-mail search or using people search, start looking around for people who may have similar interests using search.twitter.com.

As far as another thing to worry about regarding your teens' online existence, you're probably ahead of the curve as these sites aren't nearly as popular with teens as MySpace and Facebook. Even though Twitter says that the site is not directed towards persons under the age of 18, it doesn't ask for the user's age when creating the account. So, your teens could be using this service without understanding the site's policy.

As with any other social networking site, prudent judgment is needed when posting updates and be aware that what you post stays there forever (even when you are offline). Other articles on SafetyClicks that talk more about sharing information online are Serious Consequences of Posting Pictures and Who's Looking at You.

Related Articles:
Twitter & Plurk - what parents should know
Interview with Jack Dorsey, CEO of Twitter

Check out the following video from Twitter.com....

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Decoding Teen Technology

Sangeetha Narasimhan — 2009-02-17T11:25:00+00:00

Filed under: TV & Video

Take a look at AOL Consumer Advisor Regina Lewis's interview on "The View" where she discusses technology that today's teens are using, including tips for parents to help them understand settings and red flags on social networks like MySpace and Facebook. She also talks about a new term you may have heard about in the news called "sexting" -- Sex +Texting = Sexting.

Read more about sexting in the article, Today's Vocabulary Word: "Sexting"

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Sony PlayStation 3 and the Sony PlayStation Portable

Holly Hawkins — 2009-01-16T12:55:00+00:00

The Sony PlayStation 3 gaming console, or PS3 as it is commonly referred to, along with the PlayStation Portable, or PSP, Sony's handheld gaming device, offer features well beyond individual gaming and movie watching through the PlayStation Network. The PlayStation Network is an online service which opens the systems to features like multiplayer game playing, chat, and movie downloading just to name a few. To learn more about the features offered on these systems, visit: PS3 Features and
PSP Features.

Parental Controls

The PlayStation 3 (PS3) and the PlayStation Portable (PSP) come with parental controls options to help parents establish an age-appropriate gaming, communication, and multimedia experience for their children

PlayStation 3 (PS3)

Parents should be aware of three separate parental control settings:

1. Parental Controls for the PS3 Entertainment System: Parents can determine the age-appropriate level of games and movies that can be played locally, without use of the PlayStation Network. Game and movie settings are based on number-based levels so, when determining the appropriate setting for your children, play close attention to the level you select as they do not directly correspond to ratings established by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board or the Motion Picture Association of America.

2. Parental Controls for the PS3 Internet Browser: Parents can block access to the Internet browser, but it is an all or nothing option. There is no filter option and individual Web sites cannot be blocked.

3. Parental Controls for the PlayStation Network: Parents can create a Master (18+) account and then setup sub accounts for their children. Parental control settings can be established for each sub account to control access to content based on age, restrict audio and video chat capabilities (sub accounts can still send and receive text messages), and set monthly spending limits at the PlayStation store for the purchase of games, game add-ons, and movies.

These are great links to learn more about the PS3's parental control features:

PS3 Parental Controls
Knowledge Center | Support | Playstation.com

PlayStation Portable (PSP)

The PSP's parental controls are very similar to those of the PS3. Parents can determine the appropriate level of game or video content to be played on the device. Additionally, the PSP also offers the same browser and network controls. To learn more visit: PSP Parental Controls.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Nintendo DS and Nintendo DS Lite

Holly Hawkins — 2009-01-09T09:44:00+00:00

Filed under: Video Gaming

Nintendo DS and Nintendo DS Lite (a redesign of the original DS) are handheld gaming devices that, in addition to individual game play, offer multiplayer online gaming and chat through a wireless local area network (LAN) or over Nintendo's Wi-Fi service.

Online Gaming (via Nintendo Wi-Fi)
Nintendo DS and DS Lite have over 60 games that can be played online using the Nintendo Wi-Fi service.
To play online with others, users need to exchange friend codes, unique twelve digit numbers generated by playing Internet-enabled games. Each Internet-enabled game generates a different friend code. To become "friends" and play online, users must manually exchange friend codes. Often times, users publically post their friend codes online in message boards and blog posts to find others to play against.

Multiplayer Gaming (via LAN)
Nintendo DS and DS Lite enable users to play multiplayer games with other DS users that are within 65 feet of them using a LAN.

PictoChat
PictoChat is a picture drawing and text chat application built into Nintendo DS and DS Lite that utilizes a LAN. PictoChat enables users to send picture drawings and text messages to other DS users within approximately 65 feet of each other. There is no requirement to exchange friend codes to communicate using PictoChat.

Nintendo Browser
Nintendo offers web browser applications for both the Nintendo DS and DS Lite that can be purchased separately. Web filtering technology has been integrated into the browser that provides parents with the option of blocking inappropriate content. You can learn more about the browser including the filtering technology by visiting: http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/systems/dslite/browser.jsp.

Beyond the filtering technology in the optional web browser, the Nintendo DS and DS Lite have no built-in parental controls and parents should consider the following:
- Parental oversight is needed to ensure age appropriate game play and communication.
- Communication on the DS and DS Lite is not private.
- Parents should share the same general online safety tips with their children that they would for Internets chat environments including no sharing of personal information and no speaking to people they do not know.

To learn more about what Nintendo suggests to parents, visit: http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/systems/ds/dsprivacy.jsp.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

New Year, New Resolutions

Sangeetha Narasimhan — 2009-01-07T13:50:00+00:00

Filed under: Internet Safety Tips, Online Safety Tips, Technology

The New Year is here and by now many of you have probably got a kick start on your resolutions or are still trying to find that right day to start working on them! Either way, this year, if you haven't already talked about online safety with your children, how about making a New Year resolution to do so? A good start would be to come to the SafetyClicks site on a regular basis to check Internet safety updates, specifically on hot topics like cyberbullying or social networking. You could also subscribe to RSS feeds from the SafetyClicks site to get the latest updates. On a more serious note, you could sign the NetSmartz Internet and Real World Safety Pledges, designed for different age groups, with your child and post them in your home, near their computer. These are signed contracts between you and your child that can help them understand the rules and learn how to protect themselves on the Internet and in the real world. Even if you have had the conversation with your children about how to be safe online, the Internet Safety Pledge is a good way to review (with your kids and teens) some of the key points to keep in mind when they go online. Happy New Year!

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments