Summary:
This report is in the form of a booklet for parents by the Federal Trade Commission and addresses issues unique to Web 2.0 including cyber-bullying, fishing, peer-to-peer file sharing, sexting, and privacy issues. The report offers parents tips on how to discuss issues of privacy and safety on the internet. The issue of privacy, according to the report, is viewed differently by children and adolescents; they do not understand that if one posts something online it is available essentially forever and to anyone who cares to see it. The report urges parents to address this problem by telling children to post something only if they do not mind everyone seeing it. The issue of sexual predators is also addressed and the authors of the booklet tell parents to explain to their teens that if they discuss sex online, especially with strangers in chat rooms, they could be targeted. Cyber bullying is also addressed, but the suggestions seem somewhat weak.
Analysis:
This report is easily understood and offers parents sound ideas for discussing online safety and netiquette with their children. The only real problem with the report is that some of the methods may either scare children or, the dangers or the Web may seem exciting. I do not think this is the case, however. It is almost always better to have open and honest communication about an issue rather than sweep it under the rug. The suggestions on cyber-bullying are not reassuring because they offer the same tactics as in person bullying; tell an adult. And while that may seem like a good idea, the success of the plan really depends upon the adult and whether or not a school or institution enforces a no-bullying policy.
References:
Federal Trade, C. (2009). Net Cetera: Chatting with Kids About Being Online. Federal Trade Commission, Retrieved from ERIC database.
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