Greetings Parents!
Are your children using
the internet safely, ethically and responsibly at home?
If not they may be at risk of falling subject to
cyberbullying, sexting and or offensive and illegal internet content…
Cyberbullying has been defined by the Australian
Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) as, ‘the use of technology to bully a
person or a group. Bullying is repeated behavior with the intent to harm others’
(2015).
‘Sexting’ has also
been defined by the ACMA; ‘the sending of provocative or sexual photos,
messages, or videos, generally using a mobile phone or webcam. It can also
include posting this type of material online’ (2015).
This blog post is about ensuring your children are using the
internet safely, ethically and responsibly at home, to avoid these potential
risks. The internet is an excellent resource for information that has proven to
enhance many aspects of general life; however it is important for parents and
supporting adults alike to be aware of the risks associated with internet use. The
ideas explored in this post centralise around three essential components
relating to internet use at home in a safe, responsible and ethical manner:
1.
Recognition of intellectual property,
2.
Application of digital information security
practices
3.
Application of personal security protocols
A collection of information has been
suggested in the way of; rules that can be implemented at home for safer child technology
use; following the ICT protocols and guidelines; understanding internet
identities and communication with strangers; recognising inappropriate behavior
online; personal responsibilities of identity care; understanding of copy write
laws, and how to acknowledge products of someone else; learning how to recognise the early signs of potential
security threats with internet use; and lastly, some suggested educational
resources parents can utilise in a home environment to help their children remain
safe online. This is aimed at developing general parent/ caregiver
awareness of how to effectively, ethically and safely use the world wide digital
connection that is the internet.
1.
Understand the need for basic safety rules.
Children need to be set clear rules and boundaries
to remain safe online. Perhaps setting a ‘technology rule’ for when all
electronic devices must be turned off each night. Because how do we know what
they are doing online, whilst sitting quietly on their device? Young people
need their beauty sleep, hence should have the device put away before going to
bed.
2.
Follow social protocols and guidelines
when using ICT.
Further information regarding social and ethical ICT protocols is available
in the reference list below: linked as ‘Information and Communication Technology Capability Continuum’
source. However, in brief summary, this provides the underling framework for
student learning through the responsible use of technology. Ensuring children
remain consistent at home with responsible online behavior developed by the classroom
teacher should be a focus for parents. For example, communication between students
online when in a school environment is expected and taught to be polite, courteous,
and respectful. It would therefore be contradictory for a child to then go home,
login in on a personal device and begin communicating with school friends
absent these interpersonal values.
As a parent, monitoring your child’s online interactions with
school friends will help parents and teachers to work in conjunction,
complimenting each other’s teachings, thus nurturing consistent student
learning.
3.
Understand that anyone met exclusively
online is an unknown contact.
The reality is that there are unknown
predators online that look to target young children. Hence why random contact
made by strangers exclusively over the internet always need to be considered
with caution. This is especially true when it involves young children who are
not yet mature enough to deal with this type of situation independently. Parents
and teachers have a duty of care to ensure children remain safe at all times, thus
we need to educate them to become aware of the associated risks with ‘friends’
made online. Participating safety with internet communication is a standardised
content descriptor for all schools consistent with the Australian Curriculum guidelines.
However parents can also open discussions about this topic with their children
to reinforce their learning from school. Suggested opening questions for a
conversation like this include: How do you know the person you are chatting
with (online)? Do you talk with many people you have never met in real life? Do
you think this is safe? Why? Why not?
4. Avoid or exit inappropriate sites online
(including via spam emails, popups, prize offers and unfamiliar links).
Recognition of inappropriate sites
is critical to the successful and safe internet user. Potential computer
viruses, ulterior-motive driven ‘prize’ incentive pop ups can easily manipulate
a primary school child into giving out personal details, and similarly, spam
emails that if opened can load spyware onto your computer, in search of someone’s
personal details without the computer owner even knowing before it’s too late. This
is a tool criminals exploit for identity theft. Therefore, once again, parents
and teachers must educate young children, developing competent internet skills
to avoid this type of situation transpiring. Specifically, parents should help
their children to identify these things and perhaps demonstrate the appropriate
methods for avoidance. The Cybersmart website is a useful resource for parent
seeking further information on the subject (link provided in reference list)
5. Recognise inappropriate behaviour
(especially cyber bullying) and report this to an adult.
Not dissimilar to face-to-face
bullying, this behaviour can be detrimental to the self esteem of young children.
Studies show students who are victims of face-to-face bullying are more likely
to be victims of cyberbullying too (Slone et. al, 2013). As a parent, you can
help your child through this, by encouraging them to take control of the issue
(ACMA). There is a plethora of suitable strategies parents can explore to guide
their child though this in the ACMA Parents guide to Online Safety. (Link below
in reference list)
6. Act responsibly by caring for their
identity and others’ identities and personal information.
Responsibility is an essential
life skill that teachers and parents should always look to foster in children.
Teaching them about the significance of one’s personal details resides at the
very core of understanding this internet strategy. Parents can open a
discussion with their children facilitating this new knowledge by asking: What
are your personal details? What can you do with them? How could you get money
out of your own bank account? If someone else had all your details, what could
they do? Outline how this is stealing and against the law, and reaffirm the
importance of personal confidentiality.
7. Acknowledge when they use digital products
created by someone else, and use a simple method to cite a source found on the
Internet.
Understanding legalities surrounding copywrite and
the use of creative commons is a subject difficult for young children to
conceptulise or fully comprehend. What parents can do to support this however,
is explain how we should not copy someone else’s property unless they have given
us permission. Discussion could begin with a real world analogy: Would you like
it if someone copied all your homework and pretended it was their own? (Further
resource links in reference list)
8.
Recognise and prevent security risks associated
with communication devices.
Parents can compliment student learning at home by reinforcing
intended learning outcomes. Opening a discussion about what would be considered
a risk, before outlining some strategies for avoiding potential threat. Parental
monitoring software is vastly available. Once installed on your childs device
you can get access to what is browsed online with it. Internet filtering capability
can be quite sensible because this allows you to control certain sites you deem
inappropriate. Cybersmart detectives
is an online activity teaching children about key aspects of internet safety,
something that parents could view with their children to deepen security risk
understanding (see below for additional links).
CONCLUSION
As a pre service teacher, one must reemphasise the importance
of parents and caregivers working in conjunction with school professionals to
keep children safe, whilst continuing to develop their ICT skills that are
becoming increasingly essential in a digitally connected society. As previousy
mentioned, below is a complied list of resources used to comprise this post, as
well as some handy links for parents seeking to further explore the area.
REFERENCE LINKS
Burgess, J. McLoughlin, C. (2012). Investigating Cyberbullying: Emerging Research and e-Safety Strategies within Families and Communities. Communities, Children and Families Australia, Vol.6(1), p.3-12.
Slonje, R. Smith, P.K. ; Frisén, A. (2013). The Nature of Cyberbullying, and Strategies for Prevention. Computers in Human Behavior, Vol.29 (1), pp.26-32.
ACMA - Link to Parents
Guide to Online Safety Resource:
Information
and Communication Technology Capability Continuum:
Online Safety: A
Teacher’s Guide to Dealing with Cyberbullying, Sexting, and Student Privacy. Viewed on 12/9/15. <http://www.edudemic.com/the-teachers-guide-to-keeping-students-safe-online/>
Copywrite and Creative
Commons Links:
