It seems to be a theme this week, but honestly, it's random. Except that it isn't because I just found out October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month. Internet safety for kids has been on my mind because my daughter is taking an introductory class about the Internet at the end of November. Part of me screams "Are you crazy? Why don't you just throw her to the wolves while you're at it!?", but another, more realistic, less emotionally unstable part of me agrees knowledge is power.
Then I found out about this really, really cool guide from GeeksOnCall which will support parents like you and me to arm ourselves with knowledge, too. GeeksOnCall is a service that helps home computer owners and small businesses handle all their data storage needs, including fending off viruses that seem to be perennial, and not just during flu season.
Just a snippet to show you how great this guide is. Did you know:
A recent study conducted by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children revealed several
startling facts about Internet users between the ages of 10 and 17:
• 1 in 5 children is inappropriately or sexually solicited on the Internet.
• 1 in 33 children receives an aggressive sexual solicitation—someone who asks to meet them in real
life, calls them on the telephone, or sends them mail, money, or gifts.
• 1 in 4 children has unwanted exposure to pictures of naked people or people having sex.
• 1 in 17 children is threatened or harassed online.
• Less than 10% of sexual solicitations and only 3% of unwanted exposure episodes are reported to
authorities (such as law enforcement agencies, Internet Service Providers, or hotlines).
• Only 17% of youth and only 10% of parents can name a specific authority, such as the Federal Bureau
of Investigation, The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s CyberTipline, or an
Internet Service Provider, to which they can make a report.
Despite these daunting statistics, I'm introducing the Internet to my nine-year-old, but I know it is unavoidable. In way, it is yet another parental test. As always, we are asked to guide our children through the morass called life. For our generation, we are required to add the virtual world to that list.
