Monitoring Kids on the Internet

Monitoring Kids on the Internet Diane Richmond, M.A.Ed Web Services Manager – SunGard Collegis, Inc.

Did you know? • One in five has been sexually solicited • One in four has encountered unwanted pornography • Close to 60% of teens have received an e-mail or instant message from a stranger and half have communicated back • Over 75% of Internet crimes involving sexual solicitations of children and extra unwanted pornography is not reported to police or parents

Sex and Porn – NOT the only dangers Hundreds of thousands of sites exist which… • Explain how to grow and process narcotics • Advocate hate or anarchy • Sell stolen goods • Show how to make fake ID's or manufacture counterfeit money • Elicits personal information for illegal purposes • Offer "get rich quick" schemes that put your family at financial risk

Danger Zones Perhaps not what you are thinking – traditional “websites” are not the most threatening danger to our children…

Just Chatting Mom… Chat Rooms Chat rooms are probably the most dangerous areas on the Internet. ‘Cyber-molesters’ are not a new breed of offender. They simply have a new medium to reach their prey -- the Internet. Chat rooms can lead to private conversations, e-mails, instant message and photo exchanges. If your children talk chat rooms, chances are they are talking to strangers.

Warning Signs of Danger • Unsupervised time in chat rooms • Downloaded photos of strangers • Downloaded pornographic pictures • Phone calls, gifts or letters from strangers • Using an online account that belongs to someone else • Changes in behavior and being secretive about online activity • Quickly turning off the computer or changing the screen monitor when someone else enters the room

Supervision • Parental Education – get comfortable with the Internet and its related technologies • Common Sense/Gut Feelings – children should not be unsupervised in unknown places • Blocking/Monitoring Products – purchase or download tools to help if you can’t supervise Internet usage to your own comfort level • No Substitute for Parenting – “Pay attention to your children because, if you don't, someone else will.”

Educate Yourself - http://www.google.com/Top/Computers/Internet/Child_Safety/ Educate Your Kids –http://www.google.com/Top/Kids_and_Teens/Computers/Internet/Safety/ Install Monitoring Software – research extensively and don’t assume the software is a ‘complete’ babysitterhttp://www.google.com/Top/Computers/Software/Internet/Monitoring/ Things You Can Do

Thank You! • Diane Richmond Web Services Manager SunGard Collegis, Inc. Truman State University, Kirksville MO dianer@truman.edu 660-785-7191 AIM: mcrichmond Yahoo: tsuwebspinner This presentation can be accessed at:http://www2.truman.edu/~dianer/InternetKids.ppt

Credits & Information • Mansfield Texas Police Dept. Website • http://www.mansfieldpolice.com/WebFiles/InternetEducation.htm • Easton Massachusetts Police Dept. Website • http://www.eastonpd.com/htcu/parensknow.htm • Shannon’s Story • http://www.eastonpd.com/htcu/cyberstory.htm • Kirksville Missouri Police Dept. Website • http://www.kirksvillecity.com/Police/police.html • Includes links to www.safekids.com and local contact info • Missouri Sex Offender Listing & Information • http://police.truman.edu/services/sexoffender.asp

Monitoring Kids on the Internet