Dorothy Stringer School

E Safety

Internet Usage - A Guide For Parents And Pupils

The Internet is an extraordinary resource that links our children to a world of information, experiences and ideas that might otherwise be unavailable to them. However, the Internet can also expose your children to numerous risks, and it is crucial to remember that when a child is online, his or her safety may also be on the line. Just as you have taught your child basic safety rules for the physical world, you should also teach your child basic safety rules for the virtual world. Here are a few basic rules to go by:

1. Place your computer in an area where you are best able to monitor his or her online activities
2. Take an active interest in your child's online activities
3. Warn your child never to reveal any identifying information such as: last name, ethnicity, age, address, phone number, school name, parents' names, parent' employers or work addresses. Caution your child that predators and con artist are expert at accumulating incremental amounts of personal data until thy eventually obtain enough information to locate a user
4. Warn your child never to arrange an in-person meeting with someone met online
5. Warn your child never to accept anything sent to him or her by a person met online
6. Warn your child never to post online a photo of any family member. Explain that online images may be altered or "morphed" and used on, for example pornographic sites
7. Not everything posted online is true. You must always consider the source. Remember that online, as in real life, you must evaluate the reliability of a source in determining the accuracy of the information it provides. Just because you are reading it on your computer screen does not mean that it is true
8. Don't accept everything that you read on the internet as true. Think about the source of the information when you evaluate its reliability

What to do about Cyber-Bullying

The first thing to do is to report any bullying to a trusted adult (teacher or parent). All pupils should feel confident in reporting bullying to an adult.

Bullying of all kinds can often be sorted out by the school. We are able to speak to those involved and work with them to sort out any problems. However, because Cyber-Bullying is happening outside of school, it may be more appropriate to get the police involved at an early stage.

Replying to any form of cyber-bullying is not a good idea. It can confuse the issue and can also be tracked and reported by the other person! Keep any evidence (either printed or stored electronically) and use this when reporting the incident.

Chat Room Use

A chat room is an online service that allows multiple users to communicate with each other about an agreed upon topic in "real time". The potential dangers are:

1. Never give out personal information
2. Never arrange an in-person meeting with someone you've met online
3. Never post pictures of yourself, your family or friends online
4. Never open files sent to you by anyone you have met online
5. Avoid people who ask too many personal questions
6. Treat those you encounter online respectfully
7. Remember that you do not have privacy online
8. Do not respond to e-mail when you do not know the sender
9. Do not respond to rude, threatening or harassing e-mail
10. Do not open e-mail with subjects you think sound inappropriate for your age
11. Trust your instincts! If something does not feel right, do not respond to e-mail, leave the chat room or exit the Website

You should immediately contact either the police or a trusted adult if you are:

threatened with harm
aware of any online threat to another
harassed online because of your race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation or disability
asked to participated in any kind of sexual activity by someone who knows or should know that you are under eighteen

Threats from use of the internet: Your child may:

encounter someone who targets him/her for victimization
encounter a predator that is searching online for victims
encounter offensive language and adult content
commit a crime, such as transmitting a threat of violence
accidentally or intentionally enter a pornographic site containing adult or child pornography or a site which promotes violence, hatred, bigotry, drug use or other harmful behaviours
be deceived into giving out personal information by falling for a crafty marketing scheme such as an innocuous sounding survey or a contest
be exposed to marketing of drugs and/or alcohol which is geared toward children as there are no restriction sin such advertising methods on the Internet
download games which are excessively violent and/or promote hatred
use the Web to commit a crime, such as using information learned from the Web to build illegal incendiary devices
Since anyone may post material on the Web, some sites will promote false or misleading information masquerading as fact

Useful Links

Remember - think safety.