Web Safety; Real and Virtual Prevention

Web Safety; Real and Virtual Prevention

Helen Perdue
April 4, 2009


Educating students about Web Safety must be tackled from many vantage points. There is, of course, the idea of restricting access and usability of certain websites and programs. Parents and teachers may have tools for monitoring what students are able to see and do on specific computers. Plenty of tools for how to promote internet safety are available on educational forums such as www.connectsafely.org . Videos and guidelines for how to set privacy on facebook settings, for example, may help unwanted intruders.
http://www.connectsafely.org/code/code/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogsection&id=23&Itemid=124

But in many ways, this is a band-aid approach. It reminds me of the 'parent control' options that were sold as part of a TV cable package back when 100+ television channels was the new and exciting (if not risky) item on the tech market. Now, with the many interactive capabilities with the internet, the issue is not only about what students see, but it is also about what they do with others. And the case of safety, it may be may be more about what others do with them.

Cyber-bullying is a growing phenomenon that has raised much concern, as well as speculation. According to Anne Collier, cyber bullying must be clearly defined and taken with a grain of salt. (http://www.connectsafely.org/code/code/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1322&Itemid=118)

I somewhat agree. I mean, when all of this interaction is transmitted through 'virtual' screens, does it really warrant concern for a child's safety? Certainly. But it may not be the kind of (physical bullying) in which a child remains helpless. But support is needed. The solution is less about controlling student's access and more about empowering them with the critical thinking and psychological tools that will give them more power to resist unsafe engagement and interaction. ( http://www.connectsafely.org/code/code/index.phpoption=com_content&task=view&id=970&
Itemid=118)

As with watching television, I think the best thing we can do is teach students how to find joy and fulfillment (in both activities and relationships) that do not depend so much on the computer. Time together, in person, with family and friends is fundamentally different than virtual interaction. And I believe, it is an essentially preventative method for combating WebSafety. If students feel safe and loved outside of the cyber-world, then that world will have less power over them.

With that said, I am very assured to know there is plenty of attention given to the matter of WebSafety, in terms of research and support. www.connectsafely.org has enough resources alone to answer most questions and provide ample advice and support for how to understand and address the topic. But like many of the resources available online, there may be too much to tackle for one parent to grab hold of. I can only imagine my mother trying to navigate through that site, much less narrow down the scope enough to take any tangible action. Forget about it.

So here in lies my greatest concern, for both teachers and parents, and our collective approach to dealing with WebSafety. There is SO much out there, both in terms of safety risks as well as methods to minimize and treat them, that I cannot help but wonder how in the world we can come to a collective moral, ethical, educational, and punitive approach to dealing with the issues as they arise.

The public high school that I taught at, for one, does not have any rules, regulations, or education forums that are followed by all teachers. I don't even recall any 'optional' ones. What they do have, like many schools, is a technical measure of 'blocking' certain sites. That helps, but only to the degree that it restricts. It does not educate or empower students with how to handle unsafe web interactions when they do arise.

Like most teachers, I never spent much time on the topic. Perhaps I should. I think the key is, however, to balance the amount of time spent on the internet, and on internet related topics, with some time and experience off-line. Good ol fashion books and socratic seminars are soon to be a lost art. What about an afternoon at the park with your high school sweetheart, guitar and flowers? Real ones. Imagine: no texting or beeping going off in the middle of your first kiss?

Okay, perhaps I am going too far into the realm of pre-internet nostalgia. In truth, I do not think we need to revert back to the 'good ol days' of when I was in high school and we didn't have cell phones or emails. But for our health sake, I think it is very important that students are empowered with options for love and safety that have nothing to do with being online. Real live human love, interaction and protection will always be important for safety, I think.