CREATED BY MELISSA ROUSH

Technology SafetyAn Action Plan for Parents and

Students

What are our children doing?

Our children use technology for school, entertainment, and to connect with people all around the world. Do you know who your child is interacting with? Do you know if your child is effectively using technology? Do you know if your child is using technology appropriately? These are many of the questions that face parents today while raising a 21st century kid.

Did you know this about our teens?

93% go online75% have cell phones1 in 3 have experienced online harassment97% play computer, web, portable, or console games27% play games with people they don’t know onlineCopyright © 2001-2013 National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. All rights reserved.Animated Characters Excluding Tad and Tera Copyright © 2000-2013 National Center for Missing & Exploited Childrenand Boys & Girls Clubs of America. All rights reserved.

Did you know this about our teens?

4% of cell-owning teens say that they have sent sexually suggestive nude/semi-nude messages to others via text message15% of cell-owning teens say they have received sexually suggestive nude/semi-nude images of someone they know via text73% have profiles on social networking sites47% have uploaded photos14 % have posted videosCopyright © 2001-2013 National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. All rights reserved.Animated Characters Excluding Tad and Tera Copyright © 2000-2013 National Center for Missing & Exploited Childrenand Boys & Girls Clubs of America. All rights reserved.

Why are these statistics important?

Our children are using technology for social interaction and gaming at high rates in environments that are not always safe. We don’t always know who our kids are playing with while playing games on their gaming consoles. Many of these kids have gaming headsets and have conversations with people all over the world. They are using social sites, like Facebook and Instagram, to set up profiles, share pictures, and message with others. They are also texting, emailing and blogging using handheld devices.

The concern we have as parents... Are our children safe? Do we trust these networks with the communication our children are using? Do we know if our children are making the best choices?

What can we do?

Monitor your child’s social networking ~ show them how to use security settings, discuss appropriate postings and pictures, “friend” your child and check postings regularly.

Place time constraints on use of mobile devices.Ask your child who they are communicating with, both online and

with smartphones.Place the computer in a high traffic area and check the history of

webpages your child has visited.Most importantly, have conversations with your child about

your expectations and concerns.

“THE QUALITY OF HABITS, ACTIONS, AND CONSUMPTION PATTERNS THAT IMPACT THE

ECOLOGY OF DIGITAL CONTENT AND COMMUNITIES”

What is Digital Citizenship?

Heick, T (2013). The definition of Digital Citizenship. http://www.teachthought.com/technology/the-definition-of-digital-citzenship/

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