Internet Safety
Moms View Message Board: Parenting Discussion: Internet Safety
This was sent to a blogger friend of mine and she was encouraged to get the word out on this. The letter I'm copying is promoting Dateline but I really posted this to remind all of us to really watch over our children's shoulders while they are on the internet. So many of us let our kids online and assume that the safety measures we've put in place are enough to keep them safe. Nothing can keep them as safe as our vigilance can.
Dear Bloggers,
NBC would like your help in raising awareness about the dangers to children on the Internet. On Friday, Feb. 3 at 9 p.m., NBC will broadcast part 3 in a Dateline investigative series called "To Catch A Predator."
Earlier this month Dateline wired a house with hidden cameras and watched as members of an Internet watchdog group, Perverted Justice, pretend to be 12 to 13 year old children chatting online. Within hours, adults solicited the undercover operatives for sex. Some sent graphic sexual images to what they believed were minors. Soon, many of those same men actually show up at the house for a rendezvous with the child. In just three days, this hidden camera investigation exposed 51 men, giving viewers a frightening glimpse at how widespread this problem is.
NBC is also adding an interactive element to this broadcast. Dateline correspondent Chris Hansen will participate in a live blog during the show, offering anecdotes, behind-the-scenes information and answers to viewer questions. In addition to the live blog, NBC has prepared an information page that including online safety tips, links and an Internet safety contract for parents and kids. Click here and scroll to the bottom.
If your blog's subject matter is in any way related to technology, family or the Internet, NBC would like to encourage you to start a conversation with your readers about the dangers of the Internet for children. Please don't feel obligated to promote Dateline. All we ask is that you help raise awareness around this issue. And if you have any comments you think NBC or other viewers will find useful, please participate in the live on-air blog.
Thank you.
Jon Accarino
jonathan.accarrino@nbc.com
I know... I am terrified of the Internet. It's an amazing information tool but really really dangerous. Our ds is 7 and he doesn't go on his own to the Internet, and i don't think i will ever allow a computer in his own bedroom (Never! actually...), but i am worried when he goes to someone else's house. This is something to think about and teach them.
Thanks Cori for sharing that.
IMO I feel one of the worse thing on the net right now is My Space. I have read some of the local kids blogs on their and its just terrible! I wish more parents would pay attention to what their kids are doing on the net.
Don't be terrified of it Maria (good lord, your man is HOT!!!  ). It's only dangerous when parents don't exercise some common sense, like you already have. We don't allow the internet into bedrooms either...It's in the kitchen and soon to be in the living room where I'm always able to look over shoulders.
I'm mixed about these internet safety reports. Yes, parents need to be careful but the amount of paranoia and fear they inspire is crazy.
My 16yo said she has never been approached by any kooks. She is quick to block anybody who might be weird. She doesn't go to chat rooms at all.
Why, thanks Dawn! I think so myself !
I agree that is about common sense, but some of the things i have seen in google when trying to search for other things are really scary, especially adult material. I just don't want my son to see any of that rubish, i can't barely stand it myself (I am a bit of a prude... can you tell? ).
Actually, that is another topic i want to post about but i haven't got the time these days, and i am sure you Dawn and many of the other mums will have great advice about that (talking about sex and nudity to my ds).
I saw the first part of that show, a couple months ago. I HIGHLY recommend it, especially to those who have teens. The people they caught we're horrible.
A local tv station here in WI, did the same thing, and the cretins came to a house, expecting to have a rondevouz with some young girl. Very creepy.
Sarah has a myspace, but only friends can comment. Hers is decent, too. She is not trying to advertise anything she shouldn't.
Thats interesting Dawn, my local news did the same thing. Undercover police acted as a teen girl and some guy tried to meet her. When they arrested him they found a rope, shovel and tape in his car. (supposedly)
Its funny you posted about this. My ds recently got his PC taken away because of a low grade (Which he has already brought back up btw! lol He also happily worked hard with me for several days as we (me and dh) re-taught him the chapter he was having difficulty with. Anyway, we decided that when he gets his PC back we are moving it down to the living room where we can watch the kids on it. We noticed a couple of questionable sites that had been hit in the history. We are also getting a new software called CyberPatrol to use. The other things we have tried do not work well!!! We heard this one is really good.
I dont worry about the other 2 computers upstairs as they are old and you cant even play a game on them. They need to be trashed! No one ever uses them. They all congregate in Brad's room taking turns on his much newer PC (which he saved up his money and paid for himself, btw). So, now they can congrgate in the living room on it and I can watch them. lol
Good post!
That's why my computer is in the front room with the setting to kid and they can't go to any site that they don't get permission from my husband or me to go to..just like i sent them a link to the soduku puzzle they couldn't even get on that site without permission = ) and then i sent them the kidzsearch.com and they couldn't get on there without my permission either = )
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