There has been a great deal of concern recently – among lawmakers, in the courts and in the media – about the dangers faced by children on the Internet.
Indeed, the statistics about online predators are frightening. Just in the last three years, 7,600 offenders have been caught and arrested for sexual solicitations.
According to a U.S. Department of Justice survey, 1 in 5 girls and 1 in 10 boys admitted to being sexually solicited on the Internet.
The Internet has proven to be a riveting tool for children – it provides an incredible opportunity for students to gain a broader view of the world, collect research for school projects, and keep in contact with family and friends.
Kids are a lot less likely to become victims of sexual solicitation with proper supervision and education about online dangers. That is why we were so encouraged by the program established by Qwest and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children in an effort to educate parents about monitoring their kids on the Net.
To raise Internet safety awareness in Colorado, Qwest is calling for 10,000 Coloradans to become educated about online safety. The Denver-based telecommunications company is offering grants of up to $250 to the first 100 schools that provide instructions to at least 20 percent of parents by the end of the year, using the website incredibleinternet.com.
The site, among several services, provides tips on safe surfing and teaches parents about social networking sites such as MySpace and Friendster. It also offers information on the top anti-spyware scanners and an online safety video featuring former Olympic speedskater Bonnie Blair.
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children provides a site, www.cybertipline.com, that reaches out to both parents and children. It describes the dangers of the Web and discusses situations to avoid. There is even a game where children can use simulated chat rooms, instant messaging and e-mail, and are asked to identify possible predators – a creative way to practice identifying red flags on the Web.
It doesn’t make sense to deal with Internet risks by locking up your children’s computer, but it’s vital for parents and guardians to monitor their online use.
Through awareness, parent-child communication and a few safety precautions, kids and teens can appreciate the benefits of the Internet while dodging most of the dangers.
