Cyber Safety Solutions

Keeping your child safe in cyberspace

An informative and educational session for parents & carers of children and adolescents.

With the explosion of cyber technology, we are also seeing a dramatic rise in the negative impact of such technology. The issue of cyber bullying and ‘sexting’ is emerging as the number one issue confronting the safety and wellbeing of young people and the wider community. Together with associated technology including 3G mobile telephones, virtual chat rooms such as Club Penguin and Habbo Hotel and the popularity of social networking sites such as MySpace, Facebook & Twitter, today’s youth have access to and are accessible by many millions of people worldwide.

The historic benefit of being geographically isolated from the rest of the world may once have provided advantages for our safety, but in Cyberspace there are no boundaries. The unprecedented amount of personal information available on these sites makes them a perfect place for people who would happily identify their victims and gain their trust. Other identified dangers that are emerging include exposure to inappropriate content, cyber bullying and harassment, exchange of inappropriate images and identity theft.

Teens are often not aware that their words and or photos, which may have been intended for a small audience, sometimes find their way to a larger one, often with both the unexpected and undesirable consequences.

This session for parents / caregivers will cover:-

Popular sites for youth– What are they?( including MSN instant messaging, social networking sites such as MySpace & Facebook, virtual chat rooms such as Club Penguin, Habbo Hotel, and online games.)

What do kids do online?
Where do they go?
The difference between an ‘online friend’ and a ‘stranger.’
The importance of passwords and keeping them safe

Misuse of technology

Legal Consequences and the possible criminal charges.
What is cyber bullying and how does it occur?
Sexting’ – What is it, who dies it and what are the REAL consequences.

Potential dangers and known risks

Safety tips – how to assist the children in your care to stay safe online.
How to mange your childs online behaviour, set sensible boundaries and rules
Learn the lingo…….be able to converse with your children in the language of cyberspace
Be confident and empowered in your own ability

Question time

****** This PD is 90 minutes duration*****

Family Computing