2012-2013 Archive
Internet Safety Policy - What Are The Dangers?
- Details
- Category: Internet Safety Policy
- Published: Friday, 04 February 2011 12:17
Article Index
What are the Dangers?
The Internet is an open communications channel, available to all. Anyone can send messages, discuss ideas and publish materials with little restriction. This brings young people into contact with people from all sectors of society and with a wide variety of materials some of which could be unsuitable.
Key Concerns are:
Potential Contact
Children may come into contact with someone on-line who may wish to harm them. Some adults use chat rooms or e-mail to communicate with children for inappropriate reasons
Children need to be taught:
- That people are not always who they say they are.
- That "Stranger Danger" applies to the people they encounter through the Internet.
- That they should never give out personal details or
- That they should never meet alone anyone contacted via the Internet
Inappropriate Content
Through the Internet there are unsuitable materials in many varieties. Anyone can post material on the Internet.
Some material is published for an adult audience and is unsuitable for children e.g. materials with a sexual content. Materials may express extreme views e.g. some use the web to publish information on weapons, crime and racism which would be restricted elsewhere. Materials may contain misleading and inaccurate information e.g. some use the web to promote activities which are harmful such as anorexia or bulimia.
Children need to be taught:
- That information on the Internet is not always accurate or true.
- To question the source of information.
- How to respond to unsuitable materials or requests and that they should tell a teacher/adult immediately.
Excessive Commercialism
The Internet is a powerful vehicle for advertising. In visiting websites children have easy access to advertising which is very persuasive.
Children should be taught:
- Not to fill out forms with a lot of personal details.
- Not to use an adult's credit card number to order online products.
If children are to use the Internet in places other than at school e.g. – libraries, clubs and at home, they need to be educated about how to behave on-line and to discuss problems.
There are no totally effective solutions to problems of Internet Safety. teachers, pupils and parents must be vigilant.