Click on the link and read these statistics about the need to protect kids online: http://www.netlingo.com/statistics.cfm Then click on the link to The Top 20 Internet Acronyms Every Parent Needs to Know at the bottom of the page. Did you know any of this? Are you surprised? What can we do in our classrooms to help keep our students safe when they're online?
109 comments:
I was very surprised when I read how high the statistics were concerning internet safety. I never would have never imagined that such a high percentage of teens are sexually solicited online. I think that parents should definitely assert more control and rules as to what their children should and should not be able to do while using the internet. I also believe that children and teens need to start using a little more common sense. The statistics claim that 81% of teens are not careful enough when giving out personal information - but why are they so quick to hand out this information? Common sense should tell them that this is a bad idea. I am also left questionning how accurate all of these statistics really are.
I think a deeper insight of the problem is; the need for parents to communicate with their children more. If communication was developed more between parent and child I doubt sexual solicitations would not go untold to their parents at a 75% rating. SRSLY,my first reaction to this article would be to find out the reasons why the other children(25%) did tell their parents.
I totally agree with you Lynne. Parent involvement- spend more time with yourchildren! There is no substitute.Children need to be loved.Maybe the children getting in trouble are looking to fill this need using the internet.
I read one of the Netlingo lists and all the abbreviations used, I was very surprised at some of the language. I know kids have their own kind of shorthand language that they use, but I didn't know their knowledge of dirty words was so descriptive and expansive. It seems like they had an abbreviation for just about everything that they could say the long way. Parents really have to be up on the "netlingo" these days just to keep up with their kids and what they are doing or saying on the internet.
This article is a great article for adults to read. Parents need to be more aware of what their children are doing on the computer. They should be monitored and web sites should be restricted. Children need to be more educated on the harm that can be caused by providing personal information to strangers over the internet.
I agree with Lynne in that they should have more knowledge and common sense not to give their information out so quickly. The parents should definatley be much more involved.
I agree with Matthew also in that the parents and children need to communicate much more. The statistics are very high and it seems to be at the blame of the parents.
Matthew, great point about parents and children needing to communicate more. I think it is quite sad to find how much kids can easily hide from their parents these days.
I agree with Keri in that children really need to be taught about the importance of not giving out personal information on the internet. I think kids get this false illusion that nothing bad can happen. Unfortunately, as we all know, this is not true.
I think it is scary that there is such a high percentage of sexual solicitation on the internet that our students come into contact with each day. The fact that they do not tell an adult is even more scary. I was away of some of the statistics because of my "information specialist" project but it was an eye opener. The acronymns were crazy!!! They are good to know as a teacher and for parents the same.
Matt, that is interesting that you concidered why the other 25% of children would tell the parents...what are those parents doing right? Or why would some children feel more comfortable than others. I think that it is these statistics are extremely important to show parents to give parents more of a reason to monitor their children's computer use at home.
I agree with Lynne also about children having to be more aware of the information they are giving out but we have to remember you can have children as young as 10 on the internet and might not understand how dangerous it really is. This is why it is even more important for parents and teachers to communicate with eachother to keep their children safe.
I normally don't trust statistics because of the tendancy that people have of manipulating them in order prove their agendas or hypothesis, but these numbers are just plain scary. I was shocked at the number of teens that received sexual solicitations on-line. The fact that 75% of all teens that are solicited do not tell their parents is very disturbing. I think that the lack of parental communication combined with the ever increasing number of children becoming computer literate spells disaster if their are not precautions put in place. This is a very strong case for governmental regulations and monitoring of the web. I believe that the punishments for sexual solicitations commited on-line should be much harder than they are now.
I think that Matthew has hit on a major problem facing not just this topic but society in the United States in general. Family values and communication have taken a back seat to material possessions and the fact that kids think they have to be "bad" in order to be cool. I believe that schools should take the responsibility for attempting to solve this problem.
I was completely unaware of half of the acronyms that I read. Some of them I found so silly, but I guess if you are a child trying to hide something it is useful. I was also really shocked by the statistics on the webpage. I warn my younger cousin constantly about how she makes herself look on her facebook page and I think it is important for all parents to know this information.
-Jamie-
I agree with Matthew when he says that parents need to communicate more with their children. I think parents need to know this information, and let their children know that they are aware and that is the reasons there are restrictions.
-Jamie-
Unfortunately, I think that the statistics will continue to increase, as society becomes more competent with technology. Therefore, it is critical to continuously educate children at school and at home about Internet safety. But it is equally important to inform parents about the dangers and the foul lingo that exists on the Web. Just like Jamie, I never heard of any of the Internet acronyms. I personally found it shocking. Yet, I needed to be aware of it to further protect my own children and child in school. For that reason, I printed out a copy of the acronyms, so that I can monitor classroom blogs.
However, predators are waiting to seize a moment with an innocent victim. I agree with Michelle; it is very scary. I’m sure many children are on their buddy list and visa versa. Parents need to know who is communicating with their children at all times. Yet, vigilant parents and educators cannot protect children or themselves from inappropriate sites that mimic wholesome websites. That’s why I think we need legislation that mandates a symbol with every website link, so that we can identify the website as G, PG, PG13, R, or X before we get to the homepage. It could be the same as reading the packaging on a DVD movie, so that we are empowered to make an informed decision about whether or not we want to view the content. Thus, I think a code system will help to reduce the likelihood of teachers, parents, or children from accidentally clicking onto inappropriate websites with vulgar or violent content. Here are two good examples of why I think more protection is necessary. Someone in class told me that an elementary teacher in school typed in The Whitehouse; sadly, both the teacher and the students were exposed to X rated content. This has also happened to me when I was seeking information about tree species, but I was lucky, for did not happen in school.
Valerie F.
I agree with cweisman, I was amazed at the language that is used on this site. I think every parent should read whats on "netlingo" so they can monitor their kids with use of the internet. I aways thought that if a kid covered up the screen if a parent or an adult walked in the room you should be concerned. The kids can just use a code to let someone know that a parent is in the room. Parents really should know about "netlingo" even if communication with their children is good. It helped to educate me.
Joanne V.
The statistics are astounding. It’s scary how many children are contacted via the internet by complete strangers. It’s even scarier that parents are unaware of the contact. If parents are aware of the threats, as stated on the site, why aren’t they doing something about it? It scares me that 65% of parents believe that kids do things online that they wouldn't want their parents to know about, yet 76% of parents don't have rules about what their kids can do on the computer. Children and parents need to be educated about the internet and web, whether it be visiting only valid and safe websites, or whether it be chatting through instant messenger, chat rooms, or via text messaging. As this becomes a large source of communication, parents need to stay involved and create parental controls, have the computer in an open, public area of the house, and most importantly, educate their children about the dangers of the internet. One way parents can do this is by educating themselves about the key web lingo their children use. This can help prevent unfortunate circumstances. I have used instant messenger since I was in the seventh grade, and although I am aware of several of the terms, the list on that site shocked me. It’s scary that children use some of those terms, and it’s even scarier that children actually came up with those terms in the first place. Educating parents and students is the only way to prevent the unfortunate statistics and create a safe web environment for all.
~Andrea A.
Valerie,
Great idea about using rating, much like the movies and tv, for websites. I have never heard of that idea before, but I think it truly is a great one. I think it can be an invaluable tool many parents can use. It can also be used to help increased better parental controls on the computer. Additionally, I also agree that schools needs to be aware of the terms and lingo out there just as much as parents. It would be interesting if they had an internal filter for these terms/lingos, so if students used them, they would be flagged. However, as I think about it, I wonder how many schools actually allow students to talk via AIM. This could, however, work for home computers as well. It will be interesting to see how the web changes over time to adapt to the safety of children.
~Andrea A.
I feel very aggravated to see the statistics but at the same time committed and compelled to initiate open communication with parents and students about the threats online, and to develop strategies with parents to supervise their children.JM
I am completely shocked with the vulgarity that is taking over the internet. I am aware that the internet is a dangerous place for children; however, I didn’t realize that there is a “lingo” that children are employing as a means of defying their parents. Children should not be allowed to search the web without adult supervision. It is truly frightening what children can discover or reveal when searching the internet. I think that teachers should definitely educate children as well as parents with internet safety tips!
Lisa M.
I think that Valerie has a great idea with the symbol ratings for different websites. This idea would also be great to help parents and teachers block inappropriate websites. Hopefully, soon something can be done about internet safety.
By Lisa M.
Ida Elizabeth
I think some of these statistics are very alarming and every parent whose child is using the internet should be aware of them! The internet is such a wonderful tool; however, it can be a very dangerous place for children if they are not correctly informed about the dangers chat rooms, social networking sites and Instant messaging can be, especially when they have no clue who their having conversations with. I believe teachers, administrators, and parents should work together and try and create a safety tips list when having conversations with people on the internet. I also believe when students are using the internet in the classroom, the teacher should monitor his/her students by constantly walking around the room. In addition, the teacher should become aware of certain inappropriate websites and have them blocked.
The questions that we are to respond to while posting this comment begin with "did you know any of this?" Sadly, the answer is yes. As a teacher in a small school that focuses on the small learning community model, I am an advisor in addition to a teacher. As an advisor, my students share things with me and the group that I, as an adult, may usually not be privy to. A lot of what they share is what happens to them and what they experience through online sites such as Myspace. It seems that teachers in my situation may be the exception, however, and most adults may not know that these statistics exist. The second question is "are you surprised?" Again, the sad answer is no. The internet, like most technological inventions, can be used for wonderful and great things as well as for evil and immoral things. As we get deeper and deeper into a world in which we cannot live without technology, we should not be surprised that miscreants and deviants are figuring out ways to not only espouse filth, but also to entrap children. The last question, "What can we do in our classrooms to help keep our students safe when they're online?” is a bit more involving. There are many ways that we can protect our children, but I believe the best and simplest answer lies in something that is familiar to teachers of all content areas: information. I believe the biggest problem with students' use of the internet is that they are not well informed about the dangers that lurk therein. Take the information that we looked at in order to post these comments. Why are we looking at this information as graduate students? If we were to show this type of information to students in middle and high school, we may be able to better instill in them the idea that they need to protect themselves. We also need to give the information to the parents. Like the stat said, many parents don't know the lingo that is being used to warn others of their presence. If parents were better informed, they would be able to take a more active role in protecting their children. As most teachers know, sometimes it is the responsibility of the school to think about these things and act before parents will.
Valerie,
Interesting idea regarding the rating system. One of my biggest fears has always centered around censorship, but the idea of rating something (websites, tv shows, movies, etc) and allowing people to self-censor seems to solve the problem. If there were a bill put forth that would establish a rating system for websites, I would urge my congressperson to vote for it. But that raises another question: Can we legislate in the United States something that is world-wide? So many problems, not enough solutions.
To me, reading these stats and various uses of internet lingo comes as no surprise. The internet, as these websites have shown, was never intended for use by unmonitored children. However, with the availability, easier use, and rise of modern technology, the internet became a place for everyone to access and enjoy. With that came new dangers (i.e. children having access to the internet without parental supervision, sexual predators having unprecedented access to contact and solicit children anonymously, and even regular solicitors who send spam consisting of marketing ploys and adult oriented material). To ask children to become accountable for their actions while using the internet is basically a pipe dream. Children are naturally curious and are not always aware of the dangers surrounding their internet usage, even when it’s for something as simple as using a social network. To me, the average 12 year old is not concerned about creating a myspace page because they do not perceive the internet as a threat, they are too naïve. They view a social networking site as that, nothing more. I feel that much of the blame and burden for internet safety should fall on the parents. Websites are created to make money, so they need to market and find new customers. Just as tobacco companies did in the past, marketing campaigns will focus on children in order to persuade them to use the site or their product. Just as parents need to watch their children on the playgrounds, at parks, and in public, parents need to do the same when it comes to the online world.
Valerie,
I think that the creation of a rating system is a novel idea, but it has already been done to no avail. For example, take a look at the television and video game rating system. How many parents actually pay attention to those warnings when allowing their children to view certain programs or purchase certain video games? Yes these ratings allow parents to make a more informed decision, if they are observed. Also, if a parent bases their purchase off of what the ESRB states, or what any other rating program states, we are allowing them to do the parenting for us. As parents, it is our job to be aware of what our children are playing and viewing. I agree that it is important to be more informed of the products that are available to our children, but we as adults need to take the time to do our own research in order to decide what is good for our children. The decision of what is appropriate for our children should be made by us, not by a faceless group of people deemed by someone else to be the authority on a subjective rating system. The only true way to monitor what your children are doing is to be there with them. Granted it is time consuming and not the most elegant solution, but it is the only way to have some sort of control over internet usage.
I was very shocked to see how high the statcits were with internet safety. statistics claim that 81% of teens are not careful enough when giving out personal information. Parents need to be more aware of what their children are doing on the interent. The parents need to be more involved with the "netlingo".
J.DiBrita
I agree with Ida Elizabeth. The internet is such a wonderful tool; however, it can be a very dangerous place for children if they are not correctly informed. Children need to know what they are gettin themselves into and just because they have a compture infront of them, horrible things can still happen.
J.DiBrita
This was the second time that I read the statistics on internet safety (as I just did research on internet safety) and I still find these to be shocking. Parents need to keep themselves updated on the risks of internet use and pass this information onto their children. We as teachers and future teachers need to teach our students about the dangers of the internet and how to use it responsibly.
The internet acronyms surprised me. I do not instant message or text message so I am not familiar with any of the acronyms. Yes, these are something that parents and teachers and anyone who monitors children on the computer need to know. Children should not be discussing most of the things that are listed with acronyms (I guess that is why they are using acronyms).
We can help keep our students and/or children safe by monitoring their computer use. Keep the computer in communal space not in their bedrooms. Teach them about the dangers of the internet and how to use it responsibly. –Anne M.
I agree with J. Dibrita. Parents do need to be more aware of what their children are doing on the computer and familiar with netlingo. - Anne M.
Before I read this article I was aware of the dangers associated with the internet. The statistics didn't surprise me, nor did the acronyms.
As teachers, we need to present our students with the risks they take by sharing personal information on the internet. This includes sharing facts about what can and has happened to adolescents who have shared too much. This should begin at a young age and continue to be reinforced through high school. In addition, we as teachers should make it a priority to work with parents in an effort to protect kids online. Even if we just start by making them aware, it could make a big difference.
B. Ritchie
I cant pick one person to agree with here because I think everyone mentioned this at one point or another - Parents need to be more involved and aware!!
It pains me when my 10th graders tell me they have no curfew! Imagine what they are sharing on the internet! So sad.
B. Ritchie
When I was in high school, many people still did not have cell phones so in place there were beepers. I do remember lingo from those days and since you could only send numbers through there had to be acronyms. The ones I was aware of ranged from “hi” to “love you” and that was it!!!!! All of the other ones listed on the website were ridiculous. Working with students it is scary all the sexual comments they make and insinuate and they seem to think only they know what it means. Therefore, I am sadly not surprised, but more surprised at the statistics. They are something that should be made common knowledge and put out by schools (most likely not going to happen) to parents. I honestly don’t think there is simple solution to this problem except to educate parents, teachers, and anyone else that kids spend time with.
I agree with B. Ritchie that the students need to be educated about the dangers they face online. Sometimes going to the direct source rather then through the parents is more beneficial. I think everyone has great points about the need to make parents more aware, but I feel like this generation of students is not familiar with limitations or rules. They’re kids, they need rules, they need guidance, how do you know what to do and what not to do? That’s where the parents come in! Matt, I totally agree with you. We have a negative statistics, but lets flip it around and lets see what parents are doing right and focus on that!
B Ritchie,
I also can't pick one person to agree with. I think we all share the same beliefs regarding parent’s awareness to this issue. Parents should be aware of these statistics. They need to know what their children are doing on the internet and share the possible dangers that may occur by using it.
~Ida Elizabeth
I agree with Matthew that parents need to communicate more with their children. As a parent of two young girls, (I will not mention their ages because I do not know who is out there lurking in the shadows!! lol) I have kept open a dialogue between us that I hope will continue as they get older. I am forhtright concerning anything that they want to talk about. We have actually taken their AIM accounts off the computer because we thought it was senseless and useless. Actually, their schedules are so filled it leaves little time for "AIM"less chatting anyway.
Christien OB
After reading the statistics, I thought I had just finished watching an episode of "Dateline" with Chris Hansen waiting to catch sexual predators http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22423433/
http://insidedateline.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/07/25/291180.aspx
Children need to use common sense when talking online with strangers (being defined as someone they have never met in real life). Unfortunately, teens think all people online are new friends who are just like them and they need to be wary before meeting anyone.
Christine OB
The statistics are surprizing to me. When i was younger, I remember my parents looking over my shoulder while I was "iming," emailing and surfing the web. My parents definately made sure my brothers and I were careful and even alittle scared to talk with people on the internet, however things have changed and we have become much more lax with students using the internet. I believe that parents and schools need to instil the dangers of the web in the students. I remember when i was in school and Scruff Mcgruff would educate students about crime, and i feel that possibly using a mascot to educate students about the dangers of the internet would help them understand.
The second link with the acronyms did not really surprize me, children are always inventing new acronyms or code words that parents and other adults may not understand. As adults, it is our responsibility to supervise and be aware of what the children are involved in, and what they are saying.
Cristine OB, Online Predators are so scary, you never know who you are speaking with on the internet. It is so easy to make believe you are someone else that it why we MUST make sure children are aware of what personal information they should not reveal online and how they should NEVER plan to meet someone they have met online. As children get older it gets scarier, Now with myspace and other networking sites they become friends with people they have never met before and want to meet them. Another thing is, with all the online dating sites that are available online, how do you keep teens away from them, especially when they see their parents and other adults using them and finding the "love of their life." How can we explain to children and teens that it is ok for adults to meet people online and fall in love but they can not do so?
These statistics are terrifying. I was in shock to see the top Internet acronyms that parents need to know. I wasn’t aware of them. We need to teach our kids and students how to make smart decisions that will encourage their personal safety, health, and happiness. We also need to teach these kids today how to sense danger such as cyberthreats and sexual solicitations. If kids have to use secretive language, it MUST be bad or inappropriate.
I agree with Lynne and Matthew regarding the role of parents. Nothing can compare to the love, encouragement, and education from parents at home. Parental involvement and awareness will serve as both a preventative method and solution to these concerns of internet safety. Communication at home and at school is truly important to be sure that students are following their morals and are aware of their surroundings. I also agree with Christine OB, that kids need to use their common sense. I think many kids actually need to be taught how to utilize common sense. We can do this by presenting kids with hypothetical situations and brainstorming possible solutions.
Parents need to be involved in their childrens lives. The computer has replaced the TV in the role of babysitter. Now we are dealing with the fallout of unmonitored time. Communication has always been the way to solve social problems, and if parents and teachers don't strengthen guidelines now problems will continue.
As a parent, I take the time to check all computers in my house. The kids know it. I just have to stay ahead of them, so they can't hide anything.
Responsible sites also help- aol blocks a lot of thecommunications we don't want then to have.
Theresa P
I was shocked by how many acronyms are being used by kids that are so vulgar and descriptive. The lengths they are going to hide conversations from their parents and not making their parents aware of strange online contacts is disheartening. I remember using “lol” and “ttyl” but never codes that explicit. It’s frightening to think about how detailed their coding is. The statistics were even more appalling. Parents need to read what is on the Netlingo site for obvious reasons. The fact that “14% have actually met face to face with a person they have met on the Intern” has to be a wake up call. I don’t think any child should be allowed to use the computers without any parameters are rules in place by the parent. In these days, things can easily go too far.
I agree with Mills in that children most of the time are unaware of the dangers that can occur online. They can be naive and think that they are invincible. Parents and teachers alike have to make more of an effort to openly discuss the dangers with online communication and social networking sites.
I agree with Megan that parents are the most important figures in a child's life. Proper support at home must coincide with proper support at school for successful development and effective education. Parental controls and monitoring have to improve with the new technologies so chilren can be kept track of. Adolescents do not understand (or do not care about) the dangers that exist in the digital world.
The statistics were a shock to me as well. I'll confess, I did not know any of those acronyms. I remember attending a board of ed meeting and they were making a presentation about computer/internet safety. One interesting thing was children should not have a computer in the bedroom. The computer must be in a "public" place in the household.
I am not surprised about the need for internet safety and guidelines necessary to keep children protected from potential threats. I think it is essential for not only only parents, but friends, brothers, and sisters to be aware of internet lingo that is used to lure kids and keep things under wraps. As I looked, at the secret acronyms users have made up, I was schocked because I couldn't even identify one. Personally, I feel there are many things both parents and educators can do to help mind these awful situations from occurring, such as banning the use of chat rooms from children and monitoring the time and sites children are allowed to explore. In a classroom setting, this can be especially enforced as teachers usually follow a plan and cannot let students go off on their own. Schools usually have many internet sites blocked with no computer access and teachers can advocate this by keeping students engaged and on-task.
The statisic most shocking to me is the very high number of 13 to 17year olds with personal profiles on a social network - 61 percent. Having a profile on the internet opens them up to predators; parents need to be aware of what their children have online and open to the public.
Megan, I wasn't aware of those acronmyms either (and so many of them graphic!). Very disturbing, especially when I think how many internet users that are either sending or receiving these acronyms are 13 or 14 years old.
I agree with Theresa that the computer has taken over the televeision as a babysitter. Children spend so much time on the computer and it is so important that parents stay on top of the internet lingo and monitor the websites that their children are viewing. Although it can be difficult, not learning the lingo and being involved in what your children do online can be extremely dangerous.
It is so hard to believe that there is such little conversations being had in households today about internet saftey. The article stated that only 3% of children are reporting incidents that happen online to their parents. This is a very scary percentage. If children are uncomfortable approaching adults, then adults need to be on top of everything that is happening on the computer. This also means trying to stay up on the alarmingly inappropriate acronyms that children are using. It is a scary world that we live in but we need to stay as educated on the technology as possible in order to keep children safe!
I also agree with Matthew that parents need to be more informed on what their child is exposed to. Maybe that list of acronyms should be sent home to each parent - I'm sure they'll all be surprised. I know I was.
I'm so surprised by the statistics. I had an idea that internet safety was an issue but I didn't know how severe it was! I feel that students need to be instructed (whether by parents or teachers) on the appropriate ways to use the internet. While using computers, children need to be monitored as much as possible. It is imperative that parents establish rules in order to keep their children safe from sexual predators. They need to know that they can not give out their personal information over the computer.
I agree with Danielle that internet safety needs to be discussed within the home. Its amazing that only 3% of children report incidents to their parents. This percentage needs to change; parents need to be aware of whats going on--they need to try their best to monitor their children while on the computer.
The statistics presented are certainly alarming. What shocked me the most is the fact that 9 out of 10 parents will never know that any inappropriate contact has occurred! How can this be? Parents must speak to their children and let them know that it is very important to talk to them if something feels wrong to them. This might even help to prevent the inappropriate contact.
I agree with Katie. Parents are the most vital people in protecting their children. They must be monitored as much as possible. Furthermore, I agree that it is essential for parents to establish rules to keep their children safe from sexual predators.
Kimberly S.
The links were both informative and frightening. Parents and teachers alike would benefit from an education in internet "lingo" and text messaging briefs. Children have always had their own variation of "slang" language, but an increas in awareness is necessary becuase children are vulnerable to internet predators. Unfortunatley the predators seem to be more familiar with the language than those who are trying to protect them. I am well aware of the lingo, and sometimes see these responses on homework assignments and exams ! Children have a difficult time separating their online life from their daily lives. We need to both educate ourselves and our students on the dangers and possible outcomes that exist.
Kimberly S.
I agree with Luci regarding the parental control and/or supervision of computer use. It is not overbearing to supervise your child's use of the computer. Limiting axis to dangerous areas can save your child's life. Would you send a child who could not swim into the deep end of the pool ? Shark infested waters ? Places on the internet are just as dangerous.
This is the type of article that should be handed out at "Back to School" night. It gives statistics that most parents would be shocked to hear. How do 10 year olds know where to draw the line when using the computer? They are still developing their definition of right and wrong. With the "world at their fingertips," children are exposed to everything in the click of a button. It can be downright scary. What's worse is the capacity of deception that is going on. If there wasn't anything wrong with it, then what would they have to hide from their parents?
I completely agree with Megan. I feel that while the benefits of technology are emphasized during school, children should also be aware of the dangers. With all things, there must be a delicate balance. Prior to internet usage, students should complete some kind of internet safety course or workshop.
Some of the statistics of this article are not surprising. The fact that there are so many parents that don’t have rules about their children using the internet is where many of the problems arise. Parents should be aware of which internet sites their children are visiting, how often they are using the internet, and how much time they are spending on the internet. They should also have a discussion with their children about the positive and negative consequences of the internet.
Looking at all the new top internet acronyms was shocking! It seems acronyms such as these will continue growing and changing. Since it is easy to access information on almost anything on the internet, I think it’s important that parents keep updated about information such as this.
I agree with Jessica about letting parents know about the dangers of their children on the internet at some kind of school meeting. Since the statistics show this is a growing problem, the city should allocate funding for teachers to hold an evening meeting addressing this issue.
I was not surprised to see that 95% of the parents do not recognize the lingo their children use. I have been a teacher for three years and every year the kids have something new to say and it is hard for me to keep up. I was also more shocked to see that when I went to print the list of shorthand used in texting and in instant messenger, 33 pages printed out. I had no idea that there were so many short hands and acronyms. I think that even though communication of children will continue to go on, parents need to be in more control of what their children are doing. I think parents need to monitor them more and maybe limit their text messaging and instant messaging. Parents are the ones that provide their children with the cell phones and computers, so they should defiantly keep a closer eye on them so they are not doing anything they are not suppose to. Whenever I use the internet in the classroom, I make sure that the website is safe and does not contain anything that could put them in danger.
Angella Saavedra
I was not surprised to see that 95% of the parents do not recognize the lingo their children use. I have been a teacher for three years and every year the kids have something new to say and it is hard for me to keep up. I was also more shocked to see that when I went to print the list of shorthand used in texting and in instant messenger, 33 pages printed out. I had no idea that there were so many short hands and acronyms. I think that even though communication of children will continue to go on, parents need to be in more control of what their children are doing. I think parents need to monitor them more and maybe limit their text messaging and instant messaging. Parents are the ones that provide their children with the cell phones and computers, so they should defiantly keep a closer eye on them so they are not doing anything they are not suppose to. Whenever I use the internet in the classroom, I make sure that the website is safe and does not contain anything that could put them in danger.
Angella S.
I agree with Jessica k. that this sort of information should be handed out during “Back to School” night. If parents have the statistics and the list of acronyms they will be more aware of that their children are doing on the internet and what they are talking about in texting or instant messages. If parents are more aware and show that they care what their children are doing maybe the statistics will improve and help reduce the dangers their children might encounter.
Angella S.
I agree with Lynne teens are not carefull enough when giving out personal information. Internet safety should be the concern of every parent. Use of the internet should be closely watched by the parents at home. Parents should have a talk with thier child. I think to often children are left at the mercy of the internet because parents are to busy and are not aware of the dangers
Anonymous said...
I agree with Lynne teens are not carefull enough when giving out personal information. Internet safety should be the concern of every parent. Use of the internet should be closely watched by the parents at home. Parents should have a talk with thier child. I think to often children are left at the mercy of the internet because parents are to busy and are not aware of the dangers
Robert D
After reading through the blogs,I agree with both Angela and Jessica that many parents do not know what their kids are typing on line or texting to one another. Two years ago, the middle school that both my daughters attended, provided parent information on internet safety and acronyms. It was extermely helpful and I discussed this with my husband and children. I agree that this problem needs to be adressed.
Katie
Katie,
You were fortunate to be given insight on this "problem." Either parents aren't aware or are in denial. Parents and school districts need to be proactive in exposing the serious risks involved in providing persoal information out there. Maybe adults are to blame because they also put out personal information when looking for partners and kids are aware of this. Schools should inform parents about the lingo and statistics so they can work together to educate our children. It seems that the need to satisfy sexual urges are a priortiy in our society. As educators we can teach our students to be responsible and be weary with who they communicate.
This is not new; kids nowadays are being exposed to too much information online, good and bad. In my opinion, most youngster wants attention, they abuse the internet out of curiosity. I think it would help lower those negative statistics if the parents or teachers could provide the youngsters with proper guidance and attention.
I forgot to mention those acronyms. I was surprised by most of them, but I also know a few "regular" acronyms that are very widely used among IMs. I always they have a negative impact on students' writing skill.
Jenny Chen
I was very surprised with the statistics that were given. I had an idea about what people did on the internet but I never thought that it would get to a child level. I think it is very inappropriate and that parents need to keep a watch on what their children do on the internet. For a child, I feel the internet should be a resource for research, and a place where they can play certain games. Parents should be aware of these statistics so that they know what is going on through the internet world.
I agree with what Luci said about the acronyms. I grew up knowing lol and ttyl but that was it. I feel as though children are just using the first letters of what they want to say so that their parents can not see what they are writing because their parents may be unaware of the internet lingo. I think this is something that will just keep growing and will never stop. Parents need to monitor and watch who and what their children say to others on the internet.
I was not very surpised by this article. Children are more computer savvy than adults because they grew up with the technology. My 7th and 8th grade students are constantly teaching me how to use the computer. Growing up, I knew some acronyms like "lol" or "ttyl" but there was nothing like what I read in the article. This article proves how important it is for parents to keep up with technology and research different internet acronyms so it is possible for them to monitor what their children are talking about.
Erin C.
There were a number of excellent points raised in the posts for this weeks discussion. As a parent of elementary aged children, it was both disheartening and frightening for me to read this article. There is so much out there that it seems a daunting task for parents to keep on top of it all. From a personal perspective, my children know to ask me before they visit a new website and to ask permission before they put ANY information out there over the net (e.g., entering contests and the like). They also know that I check the web browser and cookies almost nightly to see what sites they have been on. Fortunately, it has not yet gone beyond Webkins or Nickelodean, but they are still rather young.
I agree with the posts that suggested giving out the acronymns and other pertinent information at back to school nights. In our district, both parents and students must sign an agreement for proper use of the internet, but this information would be far more enlightening.
Also, it may be a good idea to somehow incorporate some of the more dangerous statistics into a schoolday, if at all possible. Students may be more receptive if they hear the information en masse, as opposed to hearing from there parents (I realize this depends greatly on teh individual student and the relationship that he or she has with his or her parent(s), but still think it might be a worthwhile effort.
I was very shocked at the statistics that netlingo discussed. I know that children, especially adolescents, today use instant messaging and text messaging often, but I never realized how careless some are about handing out personal information. I think parents need to be more aware of these statistics, and need to talk to their children about them as well. Parents who didn’t grow up with the internet, like mine, are definitely clueless to exactly what can be done with it. The fact that 20%, or 1 out of every 5 children age 10-17 have been solicited sexually online is disturbing. I found it interesting that in 2006-2008, texting by adults ages 45 to 54 increased 130 percent. In addition that half of texting adults said they started sending messages so they could communicate with their children. Overall, I think parents need to be aware of what their children are doing on the internet, but also they need to be informed that these things are going on in order to do something about it.
I agree with Luci and Colleen about the acronyms that kids use today. There was nothing to this extent when I was younger. It is disturbing the lengths they go to in order to hide conversations from their parents. It may be beneficial to give parents the netlingo website on perhaps know your school night, so that they can go to netlingo themselves and read the information. Although parents at my school as well, like Shannon mentioned, do have to sign internet permission forms, I wonder if the netlingo information would hinder parents from giving their consent.
It is unfortunate that some parents are truly unaware of what their children are exploring and to whom their underage children are speaking with on the internet. While making the world a "smaller" place is an incredible benefit of cyberspace, the dangers are beginning to outweigh the advantages!
Reading the internet lingo that some people are using is frightening, and kids need to be aware that it is usually creepy, pedophiliac adults who are making up these "cool" new expressions.
T Malcolm
These statistics do not surprise me. What does amaze me is how blind and "innocent" parents are to the simple risk factors of instant messaging. Children of today are technologically advanced and will find ways to beat rules. The statistic about Myspace deleting underage pages is just for those few who get caught; I know of students who lie about their age when signing up. Parents simply need to be in the same room with their children to monitor them...whether it be in a subtle manner or obvious.
Parents definitely need to have have relationships with their children where the children feel comfortable enough to tell the parents anything. Also, parents should definitely educate themselves aware about the netlingo that children use in efforts to keep parents in the dark about what's really going on. Parents should have all computer passwords and occassionally check emails and instant messages. Some may think that parents shouldn't violate a child's privacy but the bottom line is that when tragedy strikes, the signs were there but the parents never bothered to look.
~Shikema B.
I'm going to play Devil's Avocate. Several people mentioned that parents need to carefully moniter what their children are doing on the Internet, and I agree with that wholeheartedly. As a parent, I certainly hope to have open and honest relationships with all three of my children, which is easy now, with the oldest being 10, but I also need to be realistic. How many of us ever tried to pull a fast one on our parents when we were younger? (I was nver very good at it, but my brother was the master of deceit!) I think part of the dilemma is that childhood has been accelerated for this generation; things that I wasn't exposed to until college are cropping up in middle schools, e.g., drinking. For me, there are distinct challenges, both as a parent and as a teacher, in this new (and troubling) world.
Joe Botka
Like many of the posts on here, the problem seems to be the lack of supervision by an adult that isn't more knowledgable in this area. With instant messengers and chatrooms that are easily accessible to children, I think parents underestimate the amount of danger a child run into. While it may not be like leaving your kid alone in the middle of a crowded mall, dangerous people can find out where you live and when no one is home through seemingly innocent questions. That's why perhaps blogging and using the internet at home and for class projects would be more suitable for older and more responsible students.
This was a very interesting and informative article to read. It is true that so much goes on and parents do not even realize what their children are doing on the computer. It opens ones eyes to realize what goes on and as an adult to be more involved in what your children do. Chidren are too naive sometimes to realize the consequences that could occur. Therefore it was an interesting article and a real eye opener for all adults.
I agree with Joe that the use of blogs is better for older children. It can really be too dangerous for the younger ones with the lack of parent supervision.
I agree with Megan, some of those acronyms I didn't know either. It is a crazy world out there. We have to be aware for the safety of our children.
Unfortunately, however, it is the older, more "resposnsible"
students who are usually the most deceitful!
I agree with Joe B. Kids are allowed to much free reign on the computer. As much as we believe that it is impossbile to moniter our kids at every minute the internet and phone companies are making it easier. New phones come with the ability for the parents to lock out certain numbers or certain features, also there are new computer programs which can block harmful websites and "log" the child off of the computer during inappropriate conversations. Although this problem isnt completely the parents fault, it also falls on to education, and the fact that we as educators need to teach children the proper uses of the internet, and the dangers that can come from its misuse
Mike is absolutely right in that we must be responsible, as educators, to instruct students as to the proper use of the intenet. It also doesn't hurt to subtly let them know that you are aware of the "net lingo" that is used. It truly scares them when they find out that they don't know EVERYTHING (and we, nothing).
I agree with many of the comments made on this blog. Too often children browse the internet and come across sites that they shouldn't be viewing. The internet can be very informative yet a very scarey thing for children and parents. You hear too many horror stores about what happens on the internet and how many people take advantage of it. However, teenagers, as curious as they might be, need to use common sense when browsing the internet because giving pesonal information can lead to negative outcomes.
Alexandria
After reading this article I was shocked at all the intense stats that were listed. I can't believe that children are still being exposed to the negative sides of the internet at such an alarming rate. The elementary school that I worked with last year had a police officer come in two times that eyar to discuss with the children internet safety. Most of them had a broad background knowledge of what is safe and what is not while using the internet. I believe that there should be more internet safety classes and workshops integrated into the elemenatary and secondary schools, so that children can continue to be informed of the dangers that may lie within the internet.
After reading Netlingo's statistics I have to say I'm not surprised at all about what I read. The internet, more specifically instant messaging, chat rooms and web pages was a newly emerging technology when I was in sixth grade. Although there are more safety features available today, it's frightening how little parents and teachers utilize these features, hence the statistic that reads," 75% of parents don't have rules about what their kids can do on the computer". The internet has become a place that is no safer than having a child walk the streets by themselves. Just today, in my student teaching experience one of my sixth grade students shared with our class the web page she has recently created. The site was free to create and there's no parental monitoring. It' unbelievable, but not surprising how much our youth knows about computers and what the internet has to offer at such a young age. It's even scarier how many strangers are able to reach our children at just a click of a button. As an educator I plan on closely monitoring my student’s computer usage. Through the use of software and having computers stationed directly in front of my desk I intend on keeping my students safe. It's also important to stay updated and informed about internet "lingo" and preventive technology in hopes of better keeping parents well-informed about an issue that’s becoming so serious.
-CHRISTINA TRESCA
After reviewing the statistics I am very surprised at how high the percentage was for parents who don’t have rules for using the computer. I think that it is imperative for computer use by children to be strictly monitored. In today’s society the computer is used as the number means of communicating within social networks. As such all computer use should be monitored. However, it is easier said than done. From experience in a middle school setting for the last four years, it is extremely difficult to monitor students’ use of the computer. Within the classroom I have very set rules to guide the use of the computers and task requirements are clearly outlined. As a backup the computers are equipped with filtering software that filters out inappropriate information.
KISHANA BOODRAM
Upon reading the article, some of the statistical data was truly alarming. I frequently text message my friends because it is convenient, quick, and efficient. However, after reading and learning about just how many people, especially teens, become susceptible to cyber bullying and harassment, I now know how dangerous it can be. There are so many computer savvy people who can heck into any databases. Despite all of the technological advancements we have made, all of us should be mindful of some of the costs of technology. Parents find it difficult to communicate with their children, and kids and teens find it frustrating to have to explain everything to their parents. I agree with Lynne that in order to safely and effectively use technology, we all should use common sense, especially if sharing or giving out of any personal information is involved. In addition, we as teachers and future parents should educate our students and children to be more wise and aware about internet safety.
As a parent of a teenage girl with a laptop and a facebook account I felt a renewed surge of panic when reading the statistics and acronyms listed in this article. Am I as a parent being naive? I trust my daughter to do the right thing and warn her frequently about the dangers of the internet. Teens do lack common sense, especially when faced with peer pressure, and the internet seems like an anonymous way to let off steam, get a laugh and impress your friends by shock value. The dangers seem unreal to teens, just parents overreacting again. I did download the acronyms, as Valerie suggested, and I will use them to monitor my daughter's internet language. I agree with the blogger who suggests that teens don't tell because they fear the will lose computer time. Teachers need to plant internet safety skills in the younger grades, and reinforce these skills as the children reach adulthood. Kathleen M.
Suprising! I cannot believe that such a high percentage of teens are sexually contacted on line.I think parents should be friendly with their kids, communicate and spend more time with them.
Suprising! I cannot believe that such a high percentage of teens are sexually contacted online. I think parents should be more friendly with their kids , should communicate and spend time with them.
Iffat
This article is very interesting because of all the different facts and stats that it contains. For parents this is vital information that they are probably not aware of. As students, we may be a little more aware of this information, but this is good for us to read as well so we have a better idea of all the different troubles going on in the world.
This article was very interesting and quite disturbing. While I was not surprised by the solicitations that are made through chat rooms, I was shocked that they are also made through instant messages. I was also alarmed by the number of kids that are solicited online. As a parent of three young boys, one of which is just starting to learn about using a computer, this has been a growing fear of mine. How do we protect them? I believe that knowledge is power. As technology changes, parents and teachers need to be aware of the serious threats the internet can pose and be able to communicate them with our children. I was appalled that 81% of parents say that kids are not careful enough when giving out information about themselves online and yet 76% of parents do not have rules about what their kids can do on the computer. Maybe that is because we are always hearing about how it is a necessity for children to be monitored when they are online, although very seldom is there any advice or information given on the best ways to do so. In a classroom, I believe there have to be very clear rules on what students can and cannot do on the computer and very clear consequences for breaking those rules. Furthermore, teachers should be walking around and paying attention to what the students have on there screens and what might be minimized when they are walking around.
–Colleen Corrigan
martha D.
This article is a valuable resource for parents as they struggle to raise children in a digital age. Computer literate children have been exposed already to the great benefits and the dangers of the internet. We all need to work together to make sure the internet is an exciting and safe avenue of discovery for our children.
I agree with Christina’s comment that the internet is no safer than having children walk the streets by themselves. I thought that was very well-put. Furthermore, I agree with her when she talks about positioning the computers in such a way that the teacher can see them and keeping updated on the lingo and the preventative software that is out there. As a parent, I related to Kathleen’s comment. There has to be some level of trust with your children, but like she said, kids do in fact lack common sense at times. Therefore, it is a wise idea to keep up on the latest lingo. I also agree with her that it is important to instill internet safety skills in the younger grades.
--Colleen Corrigan
This really shocked me. I really believe that parents need to be more involved and aware of what their children are doing on the computer. I feel as though parents do not stay on top of them because they trust their child, which is fine. The people that they cannot trust however is not their child, it is the people, adults, out there who are trying to take advantage of them. Teens should always be monitored when on the computer. These statistics are mind-boggling and scary.
After reading this article, I am not at all shocked to read that there are so many parents/educators in the dark about the Internet and/or the Lingo that takes place online. The Internet can be a very dangerous place, especially for children who are not being monitored frequently. Parents must take a more legitimate role in watching their children at home, and alerting them to the potential dangers that exist. I believe that many children do not understand these risks because they are not educated about them- and that becomes the fault of not only the parents, but the educators as well. Although I teach high school students, I believe that this article would be very worthy of discussion. Even teenagers (who seem to think they know everything about anything and everything) could learn from this article. Internet Lingo is something that is newly changing and evolving on a daily basis, which is why there needs to be an active front with both parents and educators to stay on top of this new material. By being educated and aware about this material, it will allow them to better communicate this information to their children/students.
Kim C.
I got "404 not found" on both articles while trying to open the sites. However, based on the comments I can guess what the articles were about. There is always a danger while socially interacting on the internet that parents need to be (and many are) aware of. To Catch a Predator had all of its potential sex offenders caught via the internet. If a parent isn't alarmed at this point, they're just not paying attention. With regard to internet acronyms, Im assuming the site was referring to the typical "ROFL" "a/s/l" and "OMGs" that children and (and web inclined adults) use on a regular basis. 20 makes a short list. Kathleen and other students mentioned the need to keep up on internet lingo. There's an easier way. Get on the internet yourself and start chatting. The list that was posted (I wish i could read it) is probably already outdated, and new acronyms are making their rounds on the internet. The only way to keep up with an evolving internet culture is to be a part of it. As far as monitoring children, like nearly every person said here, children should be monitored. But there is a limit to what a parent can do. I remember many times exploring the internet at 2 or 3 in the morning with friends during a sleepover while the heads of the household were snoozing. And yes, there were creeps that wanted to chat with us 13 year old girls. But we were smart enough to ignore the messages. That's what it comes down to. You can't babysit your kids 100% of the time, but you can teach them to choose their online "friends" carefully, and that makes a huge difference. - Katherine Dalton
This is shocking! I have never heard or most of these acronyms and I am a pretty regular text messenger. I was surprised by the statistics regarding this new lingo and the amount of uninformed parents. While I don't discredit parents for trying to stay involved, it is nearly impossible to keep up with these new terms and abbreviations.
HA. The above post was mine sorry.
Nicole Rhodes
It is sad, but I was not surprised by the acronyms or the statistics. I was shocked at the vulgarity of them. Realizing that children know these expressions and use them is very disturbing. People in general think they are above statistics and the internet is no exception. Until it happens to you, we remain painfully oblivious.
Parents need to trust their children but at the same time put measures in place that help protect them.
Theresa S.
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