ST. JOSEPH’S N.S.PARENTS ASSOCIATION

Session #2

Our Children OnlineInternet awareness & safety

GOAL

Help and empower our children

to use the internet

Safely and Responsibly

How much time is my child spending online?

How much time is my child spending online?

What is my child reading and

viewing online?

What is my child reading and

viewing online?

What info & images is my child sharing

online?

What info & images is my child sharing

online?

How is my child behaving

online?

How is my child behaving

online?

How can I discuss online safety with

my child?

How can I discuss online safety with

my child?

5 questions:

QUESTIONS

INFORMATION

ADVICE

RESOURCES

PRACTICE

QUESTIONS

INFORMATION

ADVICE

RESOURCES

PRACTICE

AdultsAdults Young peopleYoung people

Consumers (mostly)

“Digital Immigrants”

Producers & Consumers

Web 2.0

“Digital Natives”

What’s happening online?

Children and entertainment media

How many hours per day do 8- to 18-year-olds spend using entertainment media?(i.e. computer, video games, TV, movies, music, print media)

Kaiser Family Foundation study (January 2010) in USA

Generation M2: Media in the Lives of 8- to 18-Year-Olds

Children and entertainment media

How many hours per day do 8- to 18-year-olds spend using entertainment media?(i.e. computer, video games, TV, movies, music, print media)

7.4 hours per day

Kaiser Family Foundation study (January 2010) in USA

Generation M2: Media in the Lives of 8- to 18-Year-Olds

Youth & media research

Generation M2: Media in the Lives of 8- to 18-year olds

70% youth say their families have no rules about how much time they can spend with TV, computer, games.

Youth & media research

Generation M2: Media in the Lives of 8- to 18-year olds

70% youth say their families have no rules about how much time they can spend with TV, computer, games.

When parents set limits (any limits), children spend almost 3 hrs/day LESS consuming media.

Youth & media research

Generation M2: Media in the Lives of 8- to 18-year olds

70% youth say their families have no rules about how much time they can spend with TV, computer, games.

When parents to set limits (any limits), children spend almost 3 hrs/day LESS consuming media.

Tween years are critical! Media use among 11-14 yo’s jumps dramatically compared to younger children.

Paediatricians & childcare experts advise firm rules in place by the time children reach tween years.

Youth & media research

CMCH = Center on Media & Child Health

All media is educational – it is what they teach and how well they teach it that vary.

Media itself is neutral, but very powerful.

If children learn to critically assess media, they will resolve conflicts themselves.

The best tool is education!

CMCH has a blog & parents newsletterwww.cmch.tv

Explicit content/pornography

Explicit content/pornography

CyberpredatorsCyberpredators

CyberbullyingCyberbullying

?

?

?

QUESTIONS

INFORMATION

ADVICE

RESOURCES

PRACTICE

Filters & Parental Controls

Filtering web sites is useful for younger children, but less useful as children get older: Innocent content can be blocked Older children can bypass filters Older children can use the internet everywhere

Remember: “the best filter is between your ears”

Teaching our children

Media Literacy = critical thinking about online information & behaviour what we read / view / download what we write / post / upload

Teaching our children

Media Literacy = critical thinking about online information & behaviour what we read / view / download what we write / post / upload

The 3C’s: Cyber-security Cyber-safety Cyber-ethics = “digital citizenship”

http://knowwheretheygo.org/c3matrix

Teaching our children

Media Literacy = critical thinking about online information & behaviour what we read / view / download what we write / post / upload

The 3C’s: Cyber-security Cyber-safety Cyber-ethics = “digital citizenship”

http://knowwheretheygo.org/c3matrix

Keep communicating!

Social networking sites

Club Penguin

Club Penguin is a “virtual world” & social networking site for younger children.

They create penguin characters and hang out with others to chat & play games in a cartoon environment.

CP is generally a safe environment, but there are risks: enticements to paid membership & merchandise and exposure to unfriendly behaviour.

Club Penguin: Advice for Parents

Not appropriate for children under age 7Set Parental Controls (including time limits)Show your child how to use safety features, e.g.

“M” button for moderator, ignore/block buttonsNo sharing passwords!Opportunity to discuss privacy, i.e. what is “OK” and

“not OK” to shareOpportunity to discuss chat etiquette (“netiquette”)

Check http://www.sharonestroff.com – “Undercover Mom”

YouTube: Advice for Parents

If you allow your child access to YouTube, talk about videos that are off limits (e.g. fights, pornography, pranks, etc.)

An account is required to post videos to YouTube. Take care when setting account, profile & privacy settings!

Children U13 should post videos only to family & friends.If your child posts videos to YouTube, check with your child:

Does the video identify you? Does the video violate anyone else’s privacy (video or tags)? Are you prepared for comments? Are you prepared to give up ownership of the video?

CommonSenseMedia.org

Web site reviews for parents:Includes information on educational value, what to watch out for (e.g. language, sex, violence), privacy issues, parental controls, etc.

YouTube review:www.commonsensemedia.org/website-reviews/youtube

Cub Penguin review:www.commonsensemedia.org/website-reviews/club-penguin

QUESTIONS

INFORMATION

ADVICE

RESOURCES

PRACTICE

Resources

www.cmch.tvhttp://knowwheretheygo.org/c3matrixwww.commonsensemedia.orgwww.saferinternet.orgwww.watchyourspace.iewww.thinkuknow.co.uk/parentswww.webwise.iehttp://cybersmartcurriculum.orgwww.spunout.iewww.texted.cawww.digitaltatoo.ubc.ca

“Be Web Aware” philosophy

LEARNUnderstand what

Your kids do.

LEARNUnderstand what

Your kids do. COMMUNICATEKeep the conversations

happening.

COMMUNICATEKeep the conversations

happening.

PARTICIPATEUse the tools

and enjoy!

PARTICIPATEUse the tools

and enjoy!

www.bewebaware.ca

ACTIVITY #2Create a Club Penguin Child & Parent accounts

Practice using Parent Tools