WatotoWatchNet's JumboTweets
- It is illegal!
Sexting' is the exchange of self-generated sexually explicit images or messages through mobile phones or webcams over the internet.
It may be common but 'sexting' is illegal. By sending an explicit image, a young person is producing and distributing child abuse images and risks being prosecuted, even if the picture is taken and shared with their permission.
- I saw this comment on FB and felt compelled to share it:
A guy sends you a friend request. You don't know him, but he's got a cute profile picture, so you accept his friend request.
It's your baby girl's first day of school. She looks SO cute in her new outfit you just have to take a picture and put it on Facebook so all your friends and family can see.
You're so excited dropping her off that you 'Check in' to her school on FB saying
'I can't believe how big she's gotten. Time sure flies. One proud momma/daddy right here'.
Meanwhile, the mystery guy whose friend request you hurriedly accepted earlier this morning is saving that picture you posted of your daughter in her cute new outfit to his phone and texting it to 60 other grown men across the world with the caption -
'Indian Female. Age 5.
Brown Hair. Black Eyes.
Rs. 70,000/-'.
Not only did you provide a picture of your little girl to a child trafficker, you've handed him the name and exact location of her school on a silver cyber platter.
You go to pick her up at 3:00 this afternoon, but she's nowhere to be found.
Little do you know, your precious baby girl was sold to a 43 years old pedophile before you even stepped foot off campus this morning, and now she's on her way to South Africa with a bag over her head, confused, terrified and crying because a man she's never seen before picked her up from school, and now she doesn't know where her parents are, where she's going, or what's gonna happen to her.
STOP ADDING STRANGERS ON FACEBOOK
and
STOP
posting everything about your life on Facebook.
Avoid keeping children's pictures as profile picture.
Please share it for the sake of all kids and parents.
- Make sure that your child takes advantage of the privacy settings on social networking sites at all times!
Remind your child never to post e-mail addresses or cell phone numbers.
Tell your child that passwords should only be shared with parents and guardians.
Teach your child not to respond to any e-mails requesting personal information and to delete e-mails from unknown senders.
Discuss how to keep screen names and e-mail addresses gender-neutral, appropriate, and free of any information that could reveal identity.
Encourage your child to tell you right away if anything happens online that bothers or frightens him or her. - Proverbs 22;1. The Bible says that good reputation is better than silver and gold! Now that you know, What do people say about you when they see your post on the internet? What pops-up when they look for your name on the internet? Give it a thought, find out what is there already
- When your kids begin socializing online, you may want to talk to them about certain risks:
Inappropriate conduct: The online world can feel anonymous. Kids sometimes forget that they are still accountable for their actions.
Inappropriate contact: Some people online have bad intentions, including bullies, predators, hackers, and scammers.
Inappropriate content: You may be concerned that your kids could find pornography, violence, or hate speech online.
You can reduce these risks by talking to your kids about how they communicate – online and off – and encouraging them to engage in conduct they can be proud of. - Does the virus really 'LOVE YOU?'
The ILOVEYOU virus comes in an e-mail note with "I LOVE YOU" in the subject line and contains an attachment that, when opened, results in the message being re-sent to everyone in the recipient's Microsoft Outlook address book and, perhaps more seriously, the loss of every JPEG, MP3, and certain other files on the recipient's hard disk.
This should also remind that you should not just open any pop-ups that appear on your screen every time you are on the internet. Keep Safe!! - Are your “privacy” settings really private? While privacy settings in public social networks like Facebook can dictate who can see content you share initially, there is no security measure that stops a person on your “private network” from taking a screen grab or right clicking on a photo to share it wherever they like. Remember, if you don’t want information broadcast, refrain from posting it at all.
- The etiquette guidelines that govern behavior when communicating on the Internet have become known as netiquette. Netiquette covers not only rules of behavior during discussions but also guidelines that reflect the unique electronic nature of the medium. Netiquette usually is enforced by fellow users who are quick to point out infractions of netiquette rules.
Rule 1: Remember the Human
When communicating electronically, whether through email, instant message, discussion post, text, or some other method, practice the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have others do unto you. Remember, your written words are read by real people, all deserving of respectful communication. Before you press "send" or "submit," ask yourself, "Would I be okay with this if someone else had written it?"
Rule 2: Adhere to the same standards of behavior online that you follow in real life
While it can be argued that standards of behavior may be different in the virtual world, they certainly should not be lower. You should do your best to act within the laws and ethical manners of society whenever you inhabit "cyberspace." Would you behave rudely to someone face-to-face? On most occasions, no. Neither should you behave this way in the virtual world.
Rule 3: Know where you are in cyberspace
"Netiquette varies from domain to domain." (Shea, 1994) Depending on where you are in the virtual world, the same written communication can be acceptable in one area, where it might be considered inappropriate in another. What you text to a friend may not be appropriate in an email to a classmate or colleague. Can you think of another example?
Rule 4: Respect other people's time and bandwidth
Electronic communication takes time: time to read and time in which to respond. Most people today lead busy lives, just like you do, and don't have time to read or respond to frivolous emails or discussion posts. As a virtual world communicator, it is your responsibility to make sure that the time spent reading your words isn't wasted. Make your written communication meaningful and to the point, without extraneous text or superfluous graphics or attachments that may take forever to download.
Rule 5: Make yourself look good online
One of the best things about the virtual world is the lack of judgment associated with your physical appearance, sound of your voice, or the clothes you wear (unless you post a video of yourself singing Karaoke in a clown outfit.) You will, however, be judged by the quality of your writing, so keep the following tips in mind:
Always check for spelling and grammar errors
Know what you're talking about and state it clearly
Be pleasant and polite - PRIVACY SETTINGS FOR YOUR COMPUTER
The place to go to protect your computer against privacy invasion is your web browser. When you go online, websites install cookies on your computer that track your movements. Some cookies can be beneficial, such as those that remember your login names or items in your online shopping cart. But some cookies are designed to remember everything you do online, build a profile of your personal information and habits, and sell that information to advertisers and other companies
Take a look at the privacy settings offered in your browser (usually found in the Tools menu) to see whether you can fine-tune them to keep the good and block the bad. - STAYING SAFE ON THE INTERNET:
1) Don’t post any personal information online – like your address, email address or mobile number.
2) Think carefully before posting pictures or videos of yourself. Once you’ve put a picture of yourself online most people can see it and may be able to download it, it’s not just yours anymore.
3) Keep your privacy settings as high as possible
4) Never give out your passwords
5) Don’t befriend people you don’t know
6) Don’t meet up with people you’ve met online. Speak to your parent or carer about people suggesting you do
7) Remember that not everyone online is who they say they are
8) Think carefully about what you say before you post something online
9) Respect other people’s views, even if you don’t agree with someone else’s views doesn’t mean you need to be rude
10) If you see something online that makes you feel uncomfortable, unsafe or worried: leave the website, turn off your computer if you want to and tell a trusted adult immediately. - For a minute, just think about what you use the internet for.
Now think about how good it has been or maybe how you could be struggling to make it better for yourself.
Either way I'm convinced that there would be and there are better things to do on the internet other than maybe something you or somebody you know does.
How wonderful would it be if we concentrated on the better part of it. Think about all the good things that have been made possible by there being the internet.
Now, why not make a choice to encourage the society to use it for the better? Meanwhile follow the link below and see how Julius used it and how it has of benefit for him.
http://watotowatchnetwork.org/julius-yego/ - Easter Social Media Safety.
Easter is here, and with it plenty to chat about on social media. Despite the holiday season though, you can’t guarantee that hackers and cybercriminals won’t be on the hunt for weak and vulnerable social media slip ups, so what better time to give a refresher on social media safety than now?
Got any social media tip? Please let us know. - What are the potential risks for children who play Internet games?
When you think of online gaming, you probably envision your children sitting at the computer. While many children do play games on the computer, the world of online gaming has expanded to the gaming consoles that hook to your television.
Gaming systems now connect to the Internet and incorporate chatrooms, message boards, and voice-enabled chat. Players can connect with other players throughout the world. But your children can be exposed to the same online dangers when using gaming consoles, especially cyberbullying, enticement, and theft of personal information.
Some popular gaming systems are Xbox™, Playstation®, Wii™, and GameCube™.
Some games allow voice-chat with other players. This means that your child can actually hear and speak to other players through the headphones and microphone that hook into the console. Sometimes you can monitor these conversations. - How to report an inappropriate app.
https://support.google.com/…/android-deve…/contact/takedown…
Report Inappropriate Apps - Android Developer Help
Report Inappropriate AppsPlease let Google Play team know if you discover an application you believe to be in violation of our Google Play Content Policies. Follow this link to report an application that is infringing on trademark or copyright. Click here if you want to request an application refund…
- Staying safe with your smartphone.
"Are all Apps okay to download?" Nope.
This is because it is possible for apps to contain viruses and some smartphones are more prone to malicious apps. Smartphones run on an operating system (much like a computer) and this exposes them to the risks of being infected by the virus that may be attached with some of the apps that are being downloaded. It is therefore always worth reading reviews of the app on the relevant app store to check that other users have not had problems with it. - KIDS: Hey! We're here for the party.
GIRL: There's no party and I don't even know you!
You're careful about who you let into your house, right? But are you as careful when it comes to your computer?
The internet gives you access to heaps of stuff, but there's plenty of nasties out there too. It's called Malware - that's short for malicious, or nasty, software and this is it in action. Malware is any software designed to do something you don't want
First there's the virus. These nasty little critters piggyback on things like emails and downloads to get into your computer. They act like a real virus, copying themselves and then getting up to all sorts of things. They can make your computer sick, destroy your files, or just remind you that they're there in annoying ways.
And here's a friend of the virus; the worm. They can sneak into your computer by themselves and cause all sorts of havoc.
Next is the trojan horse. It's a program that looks like something you want, like a game, a download or another piece of software so you let it in and it goes berserk.
There's a very sneaky one called spyware. It can watch and record everything you do what's on your screen. Even your key strokes. Your personal details, your credit card number, the names and email addresses of your friends all can be recorded by spyware. - Damaged Reputations
Camera phones, digital cameras and web cams are everywhere these days, and kids can be victims of their own inexperience with new technology. Many post pictures, videos or notes online that they later regret. "Think before you post, because once you do, it's going to be up there forever
A child's online reputation is a growing concern, with the rise of online social networking and profiles reports of employers rejecting young people for internships and jobs after checking out what applicants have posted online.
Many teenage girls put up provocative photos of themselves, Why? they believes it's a game of one-upmanship. "Kids are trying to look cool. They're doing it because everyone else is doing it. A girl will see a picture and say, 'Oh, I can top that.' And before you know it, she's half-naked on the Internet for everybody to see."
Safety Tips:
Explain that even if your kids delete their posted photos, others may have already copied them into public forums and websites.
Tell your kids not to let anyone, even friends, take pictures or videos of them that could cause embarrassment online - such as if a relative or teacher saw them. - Social media isn't simply a way of life for kids -- it's life itself. What's really unique about social media is how it can enable users to instantly reach a wide audience, giving kids an opportunity to magnify their lives in a way that's different from the offline experience, it is therefore important for all of us to educate ourselves on ways in which we can ensure that kids are safe on the social media. Follow the link below to learn more about how to set privacy control on social media.
http://watotowatchnetwork.org/children-resources/ - SAFETY ON SOCIAL NETWORKS
Privacy and security settings exist for a reason: Learn about and use the privacy and security settings on social networks. They are there to help you control who sees what you post and manage your online experience in a positive way.
Once posted, always posted: Protect your reputation on social networks. What you post online stays online. Think twice before posting pictures you wouldn’t want your parents or future employers to see. Recent research found that 70% of job recruiters rejected candidates based on information they found online.
Your online reputation can be a good thing: Recent research also found that recruiters respond to a strong, positive personal brand online. So show your smarts, thoughtfulness, and mastery of the environment.
Keep personal info personal: Be cautious about how much personal information you provide on social networking sites. The more information you post, the easier it may be for a hacker or someone else to use that information to steal your identity, access your data, or commit other crimes such as stalking. - THE INTERNET IS A BEAUTIFUL THING WHEN USED CORRECTLY!!
Be informed of what your kids or siblings are doing online. Take action and keep them safe while educating them on how they can use the internet positively. - There are many potential dangers to using the internet, and most people are familiar with the idea of identity theft, unauthorized access to online accounts and the like. But there's another hazard which has come to prominence recently: DOXING!
DOXING: Refers to releasing personal information about someone to the internet -- information that could be embarrassing, personally revealing, or something that the victim would just rather keep to themselves. Interestingly, doxing is not necessarily illegal, but that doesn't mean that the ramifications are not far-reaching. - PROTECT YOUR CHILDREN FROM INTERNET PEDOPHILES!
Pedophiles seek a target-rich environment for finding their prey, and the Internet has become their flocking ground. Pedophiles are mainly adults or older adolescents who are sexually attracted to younger children.
Most pedophiles start out by grooming the child. This is where the child begins to trust the pedophile and the pedophile befriends the child. This grooming process is to lower the child's inhibitions in preparation for sexual abuse. The process of grooming may take a while to build that trust, but it is this process that will make it harder for the child to come forward later once that abuse has begun and tell. This is because it is harder to tell on someone that you trust or care about. Some of the ways that pedophiles use to groom children may not be illegal in and of themselves, but when taken as a whole indicate that the pedophile is grooming the child to sexually abuse him.
Once the pedophile has groomed the child and the child is receptive or responsive to sexual advances, the pedophile is now open to doing any number of different acts, including exposing his genitals to the child, displaying pornography, viewing the child's genitals, physical contact with the child's genitals, sexual contact with the child's genitals (including masturbation, oral sex, vaginal sex, and anal sex), or using the child to produce child pornography. All of these acts are harmful to the child, maybe not physically, but definitely mentally and emotionally. It is illegal to have do any of the above with a child under the age of consent; it is abuse and it harms the child. Many times the child is afraid to come forward because he/she is afraid that he/she won't be believed or that they or their family or pets will be harmed by the abuser if they find out. Often times, the pedophile will play on these and other fears as a means to keep the child quiet.
You do not act upon the compulsions that mark one as a pedophile - ONLINE PREDATORS
are people who commit child sexual abuse that begins or takes place on the Internet. Sexual predators do exist and are a very real threat. They target both boys and girls of all ages and use the anonymity of the Internet to their advantage since they can be whomever they want. Many are master manipulators with skills that can cripple any child's sense of awareness. This is known as the grooming process and predators look for children that are more technically savvy than their parents. They look for children that are emotionally vulnerable which can be related to personal issues derived from problems at school or home. They use these issues to befriend the victim and empathize with them while building a pseudo friendship and trust. If a child indicates frustration with parents or teachers at school the predator might suggest the child's parents are way too strict or their teacher is being unfair and this plays right into the adolescent mind as they look for people to verify their feelings.
SO WHAT CAN PARENTS DO?
Children must be taught that giving out personal information is extremely dangerous
The most important thing you must teach your children is that the Internet is not always a safe playground where they can let their guard down. Children often have a false sense of security on the Internet because they believe its anonymous nature will protect them, even from behavior that would make them run in real life.
The easiest changes that can be made is moving the family PC to a highly visible area, making it easier to watch for risky behavior. There are other valuable tips, such as how to pick chat room and instant messenger user names that draw less attention from predators and what type of chat rooms to avoid.
Also teach them that a stranger Online is not always who they say they are.
Educate yourself, educate your children to make sure they're safe. Don't let your family be the next saying they never thought it could happen to them. - PORNOGRAPHY. Yep, you read that right. Porn is sexual material that is explicitly portrayed for the primary purpose of sexual arousal.
If your children have access to a device with Internet access -- and it's a good bet that they do -- it's an equally good bet that they've been exposed to pornographic images.
The Internet has proven a useful tool for pedophiles and sexual predators as they distribute child pornography, engage in sexually explicit conversations with children, and seek victims in chat rooms. The more pornography these individuals access, the higher the risk of their acting out what they see, including sexual assault, rape, and child molestation.
SO WHAT CAN PARENTS DO?
First, use every technological resource available to limit your children’s access to pornography, including spam filters and parental controls on devices, software and browsers. If your child knows more about technology than you do, call your school or any relevant organization and ask if the resident technology professional can offer a workshop to parents.
But don't count on technology; no measure is foolproof and purveyors of pornography and curious kids are both likely to figure out a way around them. This takes active parenting. Open a discussion about online pornography and consider it a great opportunity to share your family's values about sexuality and pornography. Don't start by asking their child if they've seen sexual images on line; assume that they have - The internet is insecure by default, but if we can respond to others by use of proper Netiquette and ask for help when we encounter a difficulty on the internet then we would be standing on grounds that expose our children and young people to fewer Online risks.
- The three Ps in Online Safety!
1) PORNOGRAPHY.
2) PREDATORS.
3) PEDOPHILE.
The above Ps are the eldest challenges that children and young people have been facing on the internet even before the 21st Century introduced risks that are associated with social media and networking sites (including Cyberbulling, Sexting, Oversharing, Over use and many more).
Well, Starting 16th Feb 2015, Watoto Watch Network(WWN) will be covering the three Ps and all their details and most importantly how to keep children and young people from the dangers that come with the three Ps.
Keep posted !! - Valentine’s Day is here, and yes, romance is in the air. But the month of love also celebrates Safer Internet Day on February 10th. Show how much you care by sharing this short online safety tips with your loved ones:
1.Do not share personal information. Never give out banking information, credit card numbers, your address, etc. Be very wary of premature declarations of love or requests for sexy photos from your online crush. Don’t fall too fast for someone you’ve never met. Again, you don’t know who you’re actually falling for.
2.If you haven’t met in person, you don’t really know them. People can proclaim to be anything in writing. Talk is cheap. If someone is really into you and they happen to live far away, they will find ways for the relationship to progress beyond email. The best thing you can do is to stay guarded and vigilant until you actually can spend time together in person.
Otherwise, Watoto Watch Network Wishes all our funs a happy valentine! - YOUR CHILD IS NUMBER ONE!!
Children and young people love to play video games and with access to online gaming more obtainable the risks posed are potentially far wider and greater.
As a parent or carer you should find out about the dangers and help eradicate or minimise as many of them as possible to make sure that your child is a 'safe gamer' online.
BELOW ARE SOME SAFETY TIPS TO ENABLE YOUR CHILD TO BE A SAFE ONLINE GAMER:
Starting out – make sure your computer has an activated security feature such as a firewall, anti-spyware software or anti-virus software. You may also want o switch your pop up blocker on.
Tell your child to come to you if any messages or icons appear that make them feel uncomfortable or they are unsure where (or who) they came from.
Teach your child how to block or report cases of cyberbullying, tell them not to engage with the bully.
Check that your child’s username does give away any personal information - eg. name, location, age, date of birth or any other personal information.
Encourage them not send their personal details to fellow gamers.
Never let your child use a current picture of themselves - encourage them to use a animated avatar image.(anything but not their image)
Read and understand the ratings for the games that your children are playing or involved in. Various game sites have multiple games with a variety of different ratings, check the INs AND OUTs!.
Try and have your child’s computer/console in a room that is used frequently by yourself and other family members, this will help you monitor your child’s online movements.
If you feel necessary use the built-in parental controls on your computers web browser.
Make your children aware that they shouldn’t download any material without your permission. These files may contain malware virus and harm your computer.
Children use computers and games consoles everywhere, talk to your children about potential risks and safer online activity - this will help encourage them to take a sensible approach and talk to you if they are concerned or worried about anything. - Be aware of the potential online risks to children and young people.
Understanding the potential risks and encouraging safe and responsible use of the internet are crucial steps towards developing a risk management approach to keeping children and young people safe online.
This is to imply that the children and young people are safe on all forms of ICTs (Information Communication technologies) and at the same time they are at a platform where the same internet does not limit them the opportunities for EXPLORATION, CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION. lets keep them safe! - TALK TO YOUR CHILDREN ABOUT INTERNET SAFETY.
Children need supervision when using the Internet whether they are five years old or 15 years old. When they're younger, you can simply say that you would like to use the Internet together. This can even be a family bonding experience. As they get older, you should express more specific concerns for their safety. While they may not like the idea of your "spying" on them, many will realize that you have to take some precautions for their own good. This is not to say that you have to look over their shoulders constantly while they are online, but you want to make sure that they are not sharing photos or personal information with strangers or putting this information on websites where people they don't know, and therefore shouldn't trust, can see them. - Just as other people may describe us by the way we present ourselves, they can also tell something about us by what we post on the internet and especially the social media...this is called ONLINE REPUTATION.
Whether it’s you doing the posting or not, content will be generated and you will have an online reputation. Do you really want to let someone else define your reputation? Put out the content that tells your story—the way you want it to be told.
THE INTERNET NEVER FORGETS. If it’s ever been published, it’s potentially part of your online reputation. Search results aren't arranged chronologically, so old news items, outdated information, and stories from years ago will haunt you indefinitely if people click on them more than they click on the newer stuff.
This same reputation is what would affect the children in future especially when they are in their job searching age and the employer would want to know their reputation as far as the internet is concerned...definitely, nobody wants to hire anyone with a bad reputation. - How to Prevent Cyberbullying
There are steps that both children and parents can take to prevent cyberbullying. Parents should keep a close eye on their child's online activity and utilize tools such as parental controls. It is also important to establish firm rules for using technology so your children know exactly what they can do and what sites they can visit. Parents should also try to ensure that children feel comfortable speaking to them in the event that a situation does arise. You may also want to check with your child's school to see what their technology policy is. - How Cyberbullying Affects The Victim
According to research, victims of cyberbullying can suffer from a range of issues. Victims often have lower self esteem, and they may become depressed, scared, angry, and frustrated. Victims oftentimes will begin pulling away from friends and even family; this is generally the intention of the bully. In some situations, cyberbullying has been so severe that it has caused the victim to commit suicide. Children that may suffer from mental health issues are more prone to being seriously affected by cyberbullying. Because kids and teens are often hesitant to tell someone what is going on, they have an even more difficult time dealing with the effects of bullying. Cyberbullying is essentially a severe form of psychological abuse and as such can cause short and long term damage to victims. - Forms of Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying can take on different forms, from sending emails to harassing text messages. Online bullying often occurs on social media. It may include various actions such as getting others to gang up on the victim, making threats, and posting humiliating information with the intent of hurting the victim. Cyberbullying can also include the identifying of victims of crime publicly with the intention of humiliating or defaming them. Children and teens are often the victim of cyberbullies that they know in real life; for example former friends. Cyberbullies will often create fake profiles in the victim's name, among other harassing behavior. With the rise of the use of smartphones, it is easier than ever for cyberbullies to reach their intended target. Unlike traditional forms of bullying that may happen in schoolyards, cyberbullying can permeate every part of a victim's life, causing deep emotional issues. - Here are some questions you could discuss with your children. 13 years and older!
Do you really know everybody on your ‘friends’ list?
Do you know how to use and set privacy and security settings? Can you show me how?
Do you ever get messages from strangers? If so, how do you handle them?
Do you know anyone who has made plans to meet someone offline that they’ve only ever spoken to online?
Are people in your group of friends ever mean to each other, or to other people, online or on phones? If so, what do they say? Has anyone ever been mean to you? Would you tell me about it if they were?
Has anyone at your school, or anyone else you know, taken naked or sexy photos and sent them to other people, or received photos like that?
- What sort of inappropriate content might my child see?
pornographic material
content containing swearing
sites that encourage vandalism, crime, terrorism, racism, eating disorders, even suicide
pictures, videos or games which show images of violence or cruelty to other people or animals
gambling sites
unmoderated chatrooms – where there’s no one supervising the conversation and barring unsuitable comments. - My Rules for Online Safety
I will not give out personal information such as my address, telephone number, parents’ work address/telephone number, or the name and location of my school without my parents’ permission.
I will tell my parents right away if I come across any information that makes me feel uncomfortable.
I will never agree to get together with someone I "meet" online without first checking with my parents. If my parents agree to the meeting, I will be sure that it is in a public place and bring my mother or father along.
I will never send a person my picture or anything else without first checking with my parents.
I will not respond to any messages that are mean or in any way make me feel uncomfortable. It is not my fault if I get a message like that. If I do I will tell my parents right away so that they can contact the online service.
I will talk with my parents so that we can set up rules for going online. We will decide upon the time of day that I can be online, the length of time I can be online, and appropriate areas for me to visit. I will not access other areas or break these rules without their permission. - To parents of the digital children:
1. Protect personal information
2. Respect yourselves and others on the internet.
3. Stay safe online by listening to what your trusted others tell you about online safety and also by reporting any problem that you come across on the internet.
4. Stand up to cyber bulling when you see it happening
5. Balance your time well so that you don’t spend all your days on the internet and so that you do not find yourself in the trap of internet addiction
Stay safe online!! - Physical Danger
The threat of physical danger is perhaps the most worrying and extreme risk associated with the use of the internet and other technologies, and is probably the risk most reported by the media.
A criminal minority make use of the internet and chatrooms to make contact with young people with the intention of developing
relationships which they can progress to sexual activity.
Paedophiles will often target a child, posing as a young person with similar interests and hobbies in order to establish an online 'friendship'. These relationships may develop to a point where the paedophile has gained the trust in order to meet in person. These techniques are often known as 'online enticement', 'grooming' or 'child procurement'.
- Inappropriate Material
One of the key risks of using the internet, email or chatrooms is that young people may be exposed to inappropriate material. This may be material that is pornographic, hateful or violent in nature; that encourages activities that are dangerous or illegal; or that is just age-inappropriate or biased. One of the key benefits of the web is that it is open to all, but unfortunately this also means that those with extreme political, racist or sexual views, for example, are able to spread their distorted version of the world.
In the case of pornography and child abuse images, there is no doubt that the internet plays host to a large amount of legal and illegal material. - PARENT CHILD INTERNET ADDICTION TEST!
1. How often does your child disobey time limits you set for on-line use?
A. Rarely B. Occasionally C. Frequently D. Often E. Always
2. How often does your child neglect household chores to spend more time on-line?
A. Rarely B. Occasionally C. Frequently D. Often E. Always
3. How often does your child prefer to spend time on-line rather than with the rest of your family?
A. Rarely B. Occasionally C. Frequently D. Often E. Always
4. How often does your child form new relationships with fellow on-line users?
A. Rarely B. Occasionally C. Frequently D. Often E. Always
5. How often do you complain about the amount of time your child spends on-line?
A. Rarely B. Occasionally C. Frequently D. Often E. Always - Children learn through exploration and natural curiosity, and it is part of our job as parents and carers to encourage that. However, as our children grow up, develop and discover new experiences, we have to take more and different steps to ensure their safety.
Considering that we are living at a time when the world is digital, we need to take a closer look at their online activities, we can do this by teaching them the safety measures and rules and also spend time with them on the internet. Lets protect our children on the internet! - BELOW ARE TIPS THAT WILL HELP YOUR TEENS ENJOY THE INTERNET SAFELY THIS HOLIDAY!
Parents – establish online rules and an agreement with your sons and daughters about Internet use at home and outside of the home.
Teens – talk to your friends if you see them making poor choices online that could compromise their safety
Parents – spend time online alongside your daughter or son and establish an atmosphere of trust regarding computer usage and online activities.
Teens – your parents should respect you, but remember that they have the ultimate responsibility to keep you safe.
Parents – place your home computer in an area of your house where you can easily supervise your family’s Internet activity.
Parents – regularly discuss your sons and daughters about their online friends and activities. This helps you learn about how the digital generation uses the Internet – and may help keep your family safe.
Teens -if your brother, sister, or friends seems to be making bad choices online that could harm them, talk with them, as a parent or trusted adult.
Teens and Parents – block instant/personal messages from people that you or your son and daughter don’t know.
Parents – review the amount of time your son or daughter spends on the Internet, and at what times of the day. - Kids are safe on the internet when:
They are not hiding anything about their online experience.
There are no mean things about their experience on the internet.
There are no bullies.
They are not befriending strangers.
They are viewing nothing inappropriate.
There is no hacking.
They do not access account without permission. - WHEN ARE KIDS READY FOR CELL PHONES?
The ability to stay in touch with your children as they become more independent gives you peace of mind, but it does pose a question: When is your kid ready for a cell phone? And what kind should you get? Here are some tips to help you decide
NEEDS vs WANTS.
If your child sees a cell phone mostly as a toy or status symbol, consider waiting. But if your kid spends lots of unsupervised time with friends, attends after-school activities alone or has an after-school job, you’ll probably want a way to keep in contact—especially in an emergency.
FEATURES.
Decide what features you want your kid’s phone to have. If you don’t want your child to use the phone for texting or for surfing the Internet, keep that in mind when deciding which phone model to buy.
LEVEL OF RESPONSIBILITY.
Consider your child’s level of responsibility. Cell phones are small and expensive to replace, and even adults misplace them all the time. Is your kid mature enough to keep track of a cell phone?
BOUNDARIES AND PLANS.
If you do decide to buy a phone with features such as texting or Internet access, look for a plan that keeps you in the driver’s seat. - PROTECTING CHILDREN ONLINE!
Just as you do everything you can to keep your kids safe in the real world, you can also help protect them on the internet.
Many of the risks faced by children on the internet are the same as those they face in their everyday life. So it's safe to say that many of the simple safety rules you teach your children to follow when they leave the house each day also apply when they use the internet.
It's best to talk to your children about what they are doing online and help them understand how to have a safe, fun and secure experience of the internet. You can help them to know what risks to look out for, and help them to feel comfortable telling you about anything that offends or upsets them online. - Filter a website and you protect your child for a day. Educate them about online safety in the real world environment, and you protect your child for a lifetime!
- TALK TO YOUR KIDS ABOUT INTERNET SAFETY!
When your kids begin socializing online, you may want to talk to them about certain risks:
Inappropriate conduct: The online world can feel anonymous. Kids sometimes forget that they are still accountable for their actions.
Inappropriate contact: Some people online have bad intentions, including bullies, predators, hackers, and scammers.
Inappropriate content: You may be concerned that your kids could find pornography, violence, or hate speech online.
You can reduce these risks by talking to your kids about how they communicate – online and off – and encouraging them to engage in conduct they can be proud of. - What Is Sexting?
Sexting (or "sex texting") is the sending or receiving of sexually explicit or sexually suggestive images, messages, or video via a cellphone or the Internet.
Examples of sexting include sending:
nude or nearly nude photos or "selfies"
videos that show nudity, sex acts, or simulated sex
text messages that propose sex or refer to sex acts
Why Do Teens Sext?
Many girls sext as a joke, as a way of getting attention, or because of "pressure from guys." Guys sometimes blame "pressure from friends." But for some, it's almost become normal behavior, a way of flirting, being seen as cool, or becoming popular. And teens get some reinforcement for that when lewd celebrity pictures and videos go mainstream and the consequences are greater fame and reality TV shows, not ruined careers or humiliation. - Why are children so important?
I believe Watoto(Children) should have a right to grow and have a life, a family and children of their own. They should be given a chance to do so.
If we had no children then there would be no future generations. Then what would happen? No more descendants, nobody to carry down our ancestor's legacys.
Sometimes it is hard to raise children, they need our love and our guidance, to put them on the right paths of life. But do not abandon them, they depend on you. And they love you.
If you feel you cannot cope with the children for whatever reason you have, talk to someone, see a counsilor, your priest, minister, rabbi, doctor, a close friend, sometimes just a few words from them can be a big help to you.
Anytime you are with them, wherever they could be or whatever they could be doing, ensure that your kids are safe!! - Is it safe to post pictures of my kid online?
Sharing pictures of our kids with friends and family is one of the most popular uses of social media and has become an everyday way to stay in touch. But it's worth knowing the facts before posting pictures or letting other people post pictures of your kids.
First, posting photos of your kids creates a digital footprint -- a kind of electronic paper trail -- that forms their identities in a world they haven't chosen to enter. Someday your preschoolers will grow up, and they might not want documentation of their diaper days hanging out online for their friends to find!
Second, once you post a photo online, you lose control over it. Someone could easily copy the photo, tag it, save it, or otherwise use it -- and you might never know.
Finally, everything you post has information that is valuable to advertisers and data collectors; posting a photo of a kid identifies you as someone who might be interested in baby products, for example. - LET YOUR KID HAVE FUN VISITING THESE SITES!
Bananaboo
There's lots to do at Bananaboo! 4 to 8 year olds will enjoy Bananaboo's big selection of puzzles, stories, craft ideas, jokes, coloring pages, cut-outs, cartoons, and more.
Ben & Jerry's - Fun and Games
Join ice cream makers Ben & Jerry for fun online games, printable activities, desktop wallpaper, and other fun activities.
Billy Bear's Playground
For games, activities, and educational content, kids can always count on Billy Bear for a good time! Pick and choose from the site's wide variety of fun activities, coloring pages, story books, drawing lessons, animal, dinosaur, and holiday sections, worksheets, postcards, crafts, clipart, and so much more.
Billy Bear's Winter Activities
Learn to make a snowman snowflake, play Winter & Arctic Animal games, and get directions for making a snowman and snow angel. Free downloads for screen savers, wallpaper and jigsaw puzzles.
Blockcorner - A Digital Building Toy
Use a simple programming language to create blocks and move them around. Take a look at the Quickstart Guide and experiment with the commands until you get the hang of it, then create a scene as simple or complex as you like! - Hello there, today i want to teach you why 'THINK' is important before posting! 'THINK' helps your child to know if the post they wish to share is:
'THINK'. that is
T- is the post TRUE?
H- it it HELPFUL?
I- is it INSPIRING?
N- it is NECESSARY?
K- is it KIND? - WhatsApp Messenger is a cross-platform mobile messaging app that allows exchange of messages without having to pay for SMS. There is no actual age restriction.
WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE CONCERNS?!!
Unlimited texting, photo and video sharing including the ability to share location to anyone on the friend list increase the risk of Sexting (the sending or receiving of texts, photos, or videos of a sexual nature). Whatsapp doesn’t use SSL encryption – which might allow hackers to view private information through unsecure WiFi networks. - DID YOU KNOW THAT YOUR KIDS CAN USE GOOGLE SAFELY WITHOUT EXPOSURE TO INAPPROPRIATE CONTENTS? This is how to set that:
Visit the Search Settings page using Google.
Find the "Safe Search filters" section.
Turn on Safe Search by checking the box beside "Filter explicit results."
When Safe Search is on, sexually explicit video and images will be filtered from Google Search result pages, along with results that might link to explicit content.
Click save button at the bottom of the page to confirm the setting!
TO REVERSE THIS SETTING:
Turn off Safe Search by unchecking the box. When Safe Search is off, We'll provide the most relevant results for your search and may include explicit content when you search for it.
Click Save button at the bottom of the page.
- Internet is such a wonderful experience when accessed safely by the children. Media has the following benefits to OUR KIDS!
FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN, the developmental benefits of media include developing:
-Literacy skills – for example, learning letters of the alphabet through programs such as Play School and Sesame Street, or through educational computer games
-Numeracy skills – for example, learning to count through programs including Sesame Street and Play School
-Social skills – for example, learning cooperation by watching TV programs and using computer games and websites, such as ABC for Kids, that show cooperative and helping behavior.
FOR OLDER CHILDREN, there are:
-Intellectual benefits – for example, developing problem-solving and critical thinking skills by playing computer games, or developing morals by comparing family values with those found in fiction and documentary content
-Educational benefits – for example, encouraging reading particularly after watching a program or movie based on a book
-Social benefits – for example, joining online clubs such as Club Penguin or Skoodle, which teach children strategies for effectively and safely using social networking sites, or playing computer games with friends and family
-Creative benefits – for example, developing skills in imagination, art and modelling, music and media, through using software to create a picture, or being inspired to make something by a TV show.
TEENAGERS CAN DEVELOP THEIR,
-Reading, writing and critical thinking skills through using blogs, chat rooms and becoming involved in message boards, such as on movie or news sites
-Social skills through connecting with others on social networking sites
-Political and social awareness by watching news, current affairs and documentaries
-Values through observing good role models in the media. - CHATTING!
Stay on top of who your children are talking to online, and where they do it.
The risks associated with chatting include!!
Cyber bullying or stalking affect social networking sites, instant messaging and chat rooms
Imposters the web makes it easy for people to lie about who they are.
Sharing too much once personal details hit the web, all control and ownership is lost
Webcam chats can be recorded and could fall into the wrong hands. - ONLINE GAMING!!
Put your child in control of the addictive and dangerous elements of online gaming.
The risks associated with online gaming include!!
Imposters. The web makes it easy for people to lie about who they are
Inappropriate content offensive or upsetting in-game comments
Gaming addiction can affect children’s lives, taking time away from homework and friends, or even affecting health
Sharing personal details that could fall into the wrong hands