DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Do these people (on the show) look like what you think perverts look like? Which one, if you passed him on the street would look most like your idea of a pervert? Which one would look least like one? Why?
This could lead to a discussion about how some of the men, like the one who showed up naked, seemed more suspicious than others. Starting simple may put children at ease. It may also help children learn that predators can look like anyone. Participate in the conversation by identifying the ones you thought looked more suspicious than others, and point out the differences in your perspectives.
2. Do you know anyone who has ever been solicited for sex on the Net? What did you do? What did he or she do?
Some children will answer this question, some won't. Forcing the child to tell you is not the point. Creating a comfortable atmosphere for your child to be willing to discuss the subject IS the point. You are not asking the child if he or she has been solicited directly, just if they know someone who has. Questions like this one help the child begin thinking about the subject and formulate plans if it DOES happen. You are also making the point that’s it’s okay for the child to talk with you about it without repercussions.
3. What are some things you can do to keep yourself safe?
Adults might be surprised at answers to this one. Children will think of things that adults would completely miss. Give the children positive reinforcement ("Great idea!") for suggestions. By doing this adults continue to create an on-going comfort zone for the children to share information. Encourage children to have conversations on their own about this question.
4. What can I do to help keep you safe?
Listen to what they say, make a list, put it on the fridge and DO IT, whatever it is, within reason, of course. Revisit the list periodically, ask children if there’s anything they’d like to add or subtract.
5. Let's just say you know for a fact someone is stalking you. What would you do differently on the Web? Would you remove anything from your blog?
This should at least get the children thinking without getting into power struggles. You can also ask them to show you the places they visit online, including their own blogs. To ease potential tension in that conversation, consider giving the kids 24 hours warning — at least the first time — so they have time to clean up their sites before you see them. Subsequent site visits can be a surprise, but if this is your first conversation about the topic, it's best to avoid a "gotcha" confrontation that will likely lead to less communication, not more.
As for general advice, Shankle says parents should be on the lookout for weird packages in the mail. Perpetrators will send gifts and even airline tickets to convince the child to meet in person. Reluctance to participate with kids their own age is also an important warning sign.
Isolated children who feel alone are at the greatest risk, she said — such as kids who want to run away, or who are in abusive situations either at home or at school. That's why dialogue is so important.
"Perpetrators hate involved parents," she said.
Finally, parents who feel they simply cannot talk with the children about this topic should find a qualified therapist in their area.
Shankle can be reached at shanklemsw1@msn.com.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
KEEP YOUR CHILDREN CLOSE TO YOU.
“Don’t You Forget About Me”: A Channel for Missing Children
The International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (ICMEC), in collaboration with the Find Madeleine Campaign and YouTube, has launched the first global channel dedicated to finding missing children worldwide. The Internet channel, www.youtube.com/dontyouforgetaboutme, features videos of missing children to be viewed by the global public.
Videos can be submitted by parents, guardians, or other sources verified by ICMEC prior to posting. Case information must be certified by the appropriate law enforcement agency or Hague Central Authority and the parent, guardian, or other designated representative must sign an Authorization and Release Form before ICMEC can post a video on the channel. Anyone with information about a missing child featured on the channel should contact the appropriate law enforcement agency. Please note that the purpose of the channel is to locate missing children; videos will be taken down once a child has been located. Please note that ICMEC is not a case-management organization and we cannot take reports of missing children. ICMEC is offering the channel as a public resource to help locate missing children.
The channel also includes safety and educational materials in different languages as well as Public Service Announcements (PSAs) and messages of support. We encourage law enforcement, government agencies, and child advocacy organizations from around the world to submit safety and educational materials for inclusion on the channel.
Videos can be submitted in any language.
There is no guarantee that any video submitted will be posted on the channel. ICMEC will review all videos before they are posted. ICMEC reserves the right to not post a video of a missing child, safety and educational materials, and/or PSAs if all requirements have not been met.
Requirements for Videos of Missing Child
Requirements for PSAs and Safety/Educational Materials
Channel Disclaimer
ICMEC is located in Alexandria, Virginia, USA. ICMEC’s Hours of Operation are Monday through Friday (excluding U.S. holidays), 9:00am to 5:30pm ET.
Video submissions will be processed during this time only.
The International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (ICMEC), in collaboration with the Find Madeleine Campaign and YouTube, has launched the first global channel dedicated to finding missing children worldwide. The Internet channel, www.youtube.com/dontyouforgetaboutme, features videos of missing children to be viewed by the global public.
Videos can be submitted by parents, guardians, or other sources verified by ICMEC prior to posting. Case information must be certified by the appropriate law enforcement agency or Hague Central Authority and the parent, guardian, or other designated representative must sign an Authorization and Release Form before ICMEC can post a video on the channel. Anyone with information about a missing child featured on the channel should contact the appropriate law enforcement agency. Please note that the purpose of the channel is to locate missing children; videos will be taken down once a child has been located. Please note that ICMEC is not a case-management organization and we cannot take reports of missing children. ICMEC is offering the channel as a public resource to help locate missing children.
The channel also includes safety and educational materials in different languages as well as Public Service Announcements (PSAs) and messages of support. We encourage law enforcement, government agencies, and child advocacy organizations from around the world to submit safety and educational materials for inclusion on the channel.
Videos can be submitted in any language.
There is no guarantee that any video submitted will be posted on the channel. ICMEC will review all videos before they are posted. ICMEC reserves the right to not post a video of a missing child, safety and educational materials, and/or PSAs if all requirements have not been met.
Requirements for Videos of Missing Child
Requirements for PSAs and Safety/Educational Materials
Channel Disclaimer
ICMEC is located in Alexandria, Virginia, USA. ICMEC’s Hours of Operation are Monday through Friday (excluding U.S. holidays), 9:00am to 5:30pm ET.
Video submissions will be processed during this time only.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
How Teens Manage Their Online Identities
Teens, Privacy and Online Social Networks: How Teens Manage Their Online Identities and Personal Information in the Age of MySpace
Apr 18, 2007
The majority of teens actively manage their online profiles to keep the information they believe is most sensitive away from the unwanted gaze of strangers, parents and other adults. While many teens post their first name and photos on their profiles, they rarely post information on public profiles they believe would help strangers actually locate them such as their full name, home phone number or cell phone number.
At the same time, nearly two-thirds of teens with profiles (63%) believe that a motivated person could eventually identify them from the information they publicly provide on their profiles.
This report, based on a survey and a series of focus groups conducted by the Pew Internet & American Life Project examine how teens, particularly those with profiles online, make decisions about disclosing or shielding personal information.
Some 55% of online teens have profiles and most of them restrict access to their profile in some way. Of those with profiles, 66% say their profile is not visible to all internet users. Of those whose profile can be accessed by anyone online, nearly half (46%) say they give at least some false information. Teens post fake information to protect themselves and also to be playful or silly.
View Full Report:
Teens, Privacy and Online Social Networks: How Teens Manage Their Online Identities and Personal Information in the Age of MySpaceAssociated Grant:
Pew Research CenterSaturday, February 9, 2008
LOVE YOUR KIDS AS YOU GUIDE THEM
It's hard to raise children. You are probably already aware of this if you're reading this. I hope your not too late to change the course (if need be) of your child's life, Whatever path you choose I hope it's done with as little animosity as possible. Try these simple rules.
1.Children need to know that you're doing what you're doing because you love them.
2.Let them know that if you don't guide them into adulthood you're not doing you're job as a parent.
3.You can be a parent and a friend to you're child, but weather you and you're child like it you must be a parent first.
4.Let them have a secret someone to talk to, (Don't power trip on this one) They're going to anyway. If it's a family member thats better yet, The confidentially is important so don't push the child or secret friend to screw this up. For example my sons secret friend is my wife and I don`t ask about the secrets.
5.Family runs on love, Don't run out of fuel.
1.Children need to know that you're doing what you're doing because you love them.
2.Let them know that if you don't guide them into adulthood you're not doing you're job as a parent.
3.You can be a parent and a friend to you're child, but weather you and you're child like it you must be a parent first.
4.Let them have a secret someone to talk to, (Don't power trip on this one) They're going to anyway. If it's a family member thats better yet, The confidentially is important so don't push the child or secret friend to screw this up. For example my sons secret friend is my wife and I don`t ask about the secrets.
5.Family runs on love, Don't run out of fuel.
Teen Internet Addiction
(Two sides to every issue - click here for another viewpoint)
Dateline recently aired a series "To Catch a Predator", warning parents of the potential dangers that lurk on the Internet. Those highest at risk are children and teens. The website, www.myspace.com, is a good example. It has become a place to make friends, share information, and feel connected. Children share very personal information on that site, including pictures of themselves, their family, and their friends. Predators prey upon these children and the results can be dangerous and deadly, as seen on Dateline.
We would like to share Internet safety websites and articles on Internet addiction in hopes to help parents better understand this new and growing attraction to children and teens.
National Sex Offender Registry
Internet Safety Websites
Articles
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2006 Internet Addiction
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07/10/06 Online and On Alert
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07/31/06 Journalist Warns of Online Predators
Myspace Restrictions
There is a new bill pending in Congress that would cut government funding to any school or library that permits people under the age of 18 to access social networking websites such as Myspace. In addition, many schools are starting to punish students for pictures on their Myspace accounts.
On May 22, reporters from ABC’s World News Tonight interviewed Alex Koroknay-Palicz, NYRA’s executive director. While the news did not air Koroknay-Palicz’s segment, he was quoted in an online news article. You can read the full article here. A longtime ally of NYRA, Mobilizing America’s Youth is working with other organizations in the youth rights movement to oppose the House bill that would place prohibitions on Myspace. In a statement issued on May 18, Koroknay-Palicz said, “The National Youth Rights Association strongly condemns schools that use online information about a student as grounds for punishment… Unless a student’s behavior directly and tangibly disrupts learning at school, it is simply none of the school’s business. Schools are not a massive unrestrained police force for all individuals under 18." Write Congress to help Defend MySpace
MySpace Mania
My Edelman colleague Marilynn Mobley sent over some staggering statistics about MySpace. They got my head spinning considering this site was hardly on any of our radar screens a year ago.
It is the largest online social networking portal on the web
It has 61 + million registered users with 21+ million unique visitors (media metrix)
It's the second largest destination on the web, by page views
It splits 50.2% male, 49.8% female
They reach more men online than ESPN.com. They reach more females online than iVillage.
The primary age demo is 16-34
They have 1.4 million registered bands, 350,000 band blogs
The site attracts 220,000 new registrants daily
There are 50,000 groups including fashion, health, wellness & fitness, sports and recreation, music, film, TV, etc.
And last but not least it costs $35,000 to launch a profile for marketing purposes.
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