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Technology Safety
Editor’s Note: Those of us at
the VIRTUS® programs have received many requests for more
information regarding Internet and electronic communication awareness
and safety measures. This article is the first background piece in a
series which will address some facets of cyber abuse, electronic
communication jargon, activities, and protective measures that should
be taken by caring adults.
“My mom and dad know
absolutely nothing about computers; they don’t even use them
where they work. I got a computer for my birthday and right away I
began meeting lots of cool people online. Right after school is the
best time to chat online with my friends because my mom and dad
aren’t home and I have absolute privacy. Unfortunately, I have
had some bad experiences online. I never knew that you could meet
really gross people on the computer, but I don’t let that stop
me from chatting with other people. I spend a lot of my time online;
sometimes I wish that we’d never bought that computer.”
This scenario can be an
all-too-common experience for young people today. Cyber technology
and the Internet offer youth an incredible world of experience. With
just the click of a mouse a young person can easily research a
subject for school, chat with friends, check messages, or download a
song. The electronic world can be fun and educational; unfortunately,
like the real world, cyber technology, electronic communication, and
the Internet also have inherent dangers.
Just as we encourage children and
teens to behave in certain ways when dealing with strangers or even
interacting with friends, we also need to teach them how to act
safely and appropriately when online or while utilizing electronic
communication devices.
Unfortunately the technology gap
between adults and young people is widening. Children today have
grown up with computers and they think of today’s technology and
the many associated devices as safe and a lot of fun. Many adults, on
the other hand, view computers only as work tools and don’t
consider this form of technology to be a source of entertainment or
as a constructive way to spend time away from work. However, the best
way for adults to span the technology gap is to learn to use media
and communication devices as their children do. This means one should
try to chat with someone while using the computer online, use an
online search engine to find particular information, download some
music, or send a text message on a cell phone.
Youth of today need
technology-conscious adults—trusted adult with whom they have
open lines of communication—to teach them how to make smart
choices about whom and what they will find when visiting the
Internet. Simply communicating with kids may actually be the best
weapon against the child sexual predators that frequently use the
Internet to identify potential victims. Sit down with your son,
daughter, or a student and ask him or her to take you on a tour of
the Internet and the electronic communication world they know.
Parents and schools need to be more
actively involved with young people’s computer and electronic
communication usage than many probably are. Unfortunately, some
parents will purchase a computer, set up Internet access, and then
just walk away. If one is going to have a computer with online access
in the house or at a school, children need to be educated by
responsible and caring adults about the many dangers. A computer with
online access can be just as dangerous as a car being driven by a
teen without a license. Parents should regularly ask their children
about their online activity and discuss the many new types of
Internet activity popular with young people. Remember, no
child-safety filtering software is perfect. Young people must be
taught by responsible, concerned adults to be cyber-savvy.
Teenagers who use the various
online services often feel that they don’t need the same
controls or restrictions as younger children. Unfortunately, teens
are more likely to get in trouble while online than are younger
children. Online chat rooms provide teenagers the opportunity to
easily reach out beyond their parents, their circle of friends, or
even their own peer group. Teens are frequently unaware that chat
rooms are often the most dangerous online location a person can visit.
Law enforcement in the United
States observed that child molesters’ use of computers and the
Internet exploded in 1997. No longer did the child molester have to
assume a child-related profession or lurk in parks and malls to gain
access to children. A molester could now sit at a computer and roam
online from chat room to chat room trolling for children and teens
susceptible to victimization.
It is vital to be aware of and
familiar with new and changing technology and to maintain open lines
of communication with children and teens. Young people might not be
receptive to the message of safety if they feel that they are more
knowledgeable about certain technology issues than are the trusted
adults in their lives. Also, young people can be great teachers, so
it is important to let them show you the sites they are visiting
online, whom they are talking to, and what they are doing in
today’s world of technology. Remember, by routinely talking with
young people, setting time limits, having them take breaks from
online activity, and continually educating ourselves about
ever-changing technology, we are all aiding in the guidance and
protection of God’s children. |
