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With a growing number of children spending their
afterschool hours online chatting and surfing the web, online safety is
more important than ever. The students on the YFJ team in the Troy City
Schools GATE program identified internet safety as an issue of concern
to them and their peers.
Children are often approached in chat rooms or
through email by potential predators asking for personal information
such as their name and address. If children don't are not educated
about potential dangers, there is a chance that they will give out
information that could potentially lead to their harm. Considering the
fact that younger children are gaining online access, the sooner kids
are taught what is appropriate online behavior and what is not, the
better.
The YFJ team researched what young people need to
know about staying safe while online. The team interviewed Mary Smith,
technology facilitator for Troy City Schools, and learned what kinds of
sites have the potential to be the most dangerous. Their research
indicated that it is essential to educate the children themselves not to
give out any of their personal information online. In order to better
equip parents, teachers, and even the students themselves, the YFJ team
created a booklet with helpful tips about how to keep kids safe online.
This pamphlet also lists a number of sites that are safe and fun for
kids to visit. Parents and teachers were also given information about
software that blocks inappropriate sites and content online. Finally,
the group created a companion website that shares the information from
the booklet.
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