Being Safe Online Is Being Safe In Life

When I advise parents and educators that they should just say yes, when it comes to publishing online, the conversation often defaults to concerns of student safety.  I attribute this in large part to fear of the unknown from those not involved in online environments and the sensationalism of shows like Dateline’s To Catch a Predator.” The reality is that historically children’s names and photographs have been shared for years without negative ramifications.  Think coverage of youth sports programs, celebrations, valedictorians, contest winners etc.  However, when it comes to publishing online often those not deeply literate in such worlds become afraid the unknown.  


If they did know they would discover that student work can and should be published with their full name if that is the choice, or with an alias if there is fear around using a child’s real name.  That all online sites let you control privacy settings if you’d like, but there is something to be said for the idea that’s it’s never too early to start an online digital footprint.  Some say that will be the resume/portfolio of the not-too-distant future.  That it is rare you will find anyone who has run into safety issues as a result of publishing or having a presence online.  Instead, it is a result of the risky or inappropriate behavior in which they engaged.  

Simply put, the lesson is there are few rules unique to ensuring safety online, but rather, the rules are general ones that should be applied online or off.  In short, treat an online environment much as you would a playground or park.  They are fantastic settings for youth to interact, socialize, learn, and connect with new friends.  Adults should ensure the safety of the facility before allowing youth to be there.  Depending on the age of the youth, an adult should be in the vicinity, just in case something unexpected happens.  Children should be careful when talking to strangers and immediately share with an adult if there is anything that seems uncomfortable. Treat others with kindness and respect. Don’t mislead others about your intentions.  Be aware of someone seems out of place or just not right.  Report that to an adult too.  It is really the lessons we’ve been aware of for a long time.  


The difference is that when it comes to online environments, I’ve often heard adults saying and believing they don’t belong there.  Take Facebook for example.  What on earth is going on there.  Parents don’t think they have the right to be their child’s friend.  Educators are being banned from interacting with children for fear that the medium will turn them into some sort of inappropriate molester.  Where has the common sense gone.  We have become a confused society that is banning communication on certain mediums which have no intent, rather than addressing the behaviors we are trying to prevent.  

When educators and students are empowered to use online tools her are some of the terrific things that happen.  

• Students have the opportunity for their work to be authentically published and celebrated for consumption by real audiences.  
• Teacher - student relationships are strengthened.
• The home - school connection is strengthened.
• Students learn to create a respectable digital footprint of which they are proud.  Visit this link and this link and this link.

Think about it.  Have you ever known someone who acted appropriately online who ended up in danger?  If your answer is yes, is this really a function of the medium or the behavior which could occur online or offline?  The fact is that if we were really concerned about keeping children safe we wouldn’t be worrying about what they are doing online.  Instead we’d start with the home which is where most cases of child maltreatment occur.  As the below chart from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children & Families Child Maltreatment Report indicates, 81% of those responsible for the maltreatment of children are indeed the child’s parents (http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/pubs/cm08/table3_15.htm, 2009)



David Finkelhor, from the Crimes Against Children Research Center sheds some light on this issues during an interview with SafeKids.com (http://www.safekids.com/2008/05) stating:  

"It's not primarily having a social networking profile or giving out  personal information that puts kids at risk. What puts kids at risk are things     like having a lot of conflict with your parents, being depressed and socially isolated, being hyper, communicating with a lot of people who you don't  know, being willing to talk about sex online with people that you don't know."  

Similarly, the Congressional Internet Caucus Advisory Committee explains it this way:

It’s not giving out personal information that puts kid at risk. It’s not having a blog or a personal website that does that either. What puts kids in danger is being willing to talk about sex online with strangers or having a pattern of multiple risky activities on the web like going to sex sites and chat rooms, meeting lots of people there, kind of behaving in what we call like an internet daredevil.

Over at The Island View blog Tom Whitby says it well in his post The Blame Game. He says that given the hard facts it is clear our best defense for our children is education, not banning. Just as we should we would not ban family reunions, picnics, block parties, or other such functions, the Internet is also something we should not keep away from our children. The internet in general and social media in particular have the ability to not only start a revolution, but revolutionize the world.  It is a tool necessary not only for knowing about politics and elected officials, but one that is necessary if today’s children want to become one.  It is something that enables our children not to just publish for an audience of one (the teacher) or even some (the class), but a tool to connect with, communicate, with and create with others around the world who share their passions, interests, and talents.  


It’s time for adults to stop holding today’s youth in your past and instead join them in their worlds and empower and support them in discovering and developing effective ways to harness their future.  

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