Internet Safety

The topic of internet safety is a very important topic, one that parents and educators really need to constantly reinforce with their children and students. Growing up my parents told me not to talk to strangers and to look both ways before I crossed the road. In this day and age the internet has brought about a whole new world of issues, many good however many bad as well. Children need to be made aware of the dangers on the internet. I'm positive that kids now encounter way more strangers on the internet than the strangers that I may have encountered growing up on the street! Watch one episode of Dateline "How to Catch a Predator" with Chris Hanson if you don't believe how dangers the internet has become. Children spend countless hours on the internet, often unsupervised when parents are out at work. As students get older they need to also learn the dangers of identity theft. Billions of dollars are stolen a year due to these crimes and high school students need to be made aware of the dangers of purchasing items online, online banking,credit and debit cards etc. College students are working, getting their first credit cards and may be uneducated to these dangers as many adults are. The internet has made the world a much smaller place and we need make a strong effort to educate the youth of america on internet safety.