Internet Safety

What article did you choose to read for your fourth article?

The article I chose to read for my fourth article was "I have a question" by William C. Porter. He discusses answers to the question how we can take advantage of what is available on the Internet while avoiding objectionable material and questionable people. The three ways he discusses protecting his family from dangers on the internet is 1. parental awareness and involvement 2. family rules and 3. filtering. I think the most important of these three is parental awareness. Parents need to know what their children are looking up on the internet and how much time they are spending on the internet. Parents involvement can help avoid the dangers that are prevalent with the internet. 

What were the most important things you learned from the readings?

One of the most important thing I learned from the reading is that a way to show students and children that I love them is by showing interest in their internet use. They will see that I genuinely care about what they do and what they choose to spend their time doing. M. Russell Ballard talked about how the internet and the media, influenced by Satan, are slowly tearing down the strongholds of families. They are portraying good things as bad, and bad things as good. They are undermining the influence parents should have on children. We need to be aware that these things are happening and not just having a blind eye to what is currently attacking our families. This awareness will help us to build up defenses and know how to combat this negativity. Having a good filtering system will help eliminate many of the dangers that the internet imposes. The filtering system can help us to avoid many of the issues that will arise but we need not rely solely on this function. 

How will what you have read influence your actions as a parent and/or teacher of children and youth?

What I have read will influence my involvement with my students and children and the internet. When my students are using the internet for projects and other things along those lines, I should be actively involved in making sure they are making good use of their time and appropriate use of the internet. One of the most influential things I read from the articles  is how to appropriately model for students and children how to appropriately and effectively use the internet. This modeling can be so effective. If I am choosing to watch and use the internet to research important and uplifting things, this may inspire the students and children to do the same. 

How can you use what you have learned from the reading to have a positive influence on family and friends?

From the reading I have a feeling of being able to positively use the internet and shy away from the dangers that exist. I think that many people are afraid of the internet. This is probably because they hear about all the horror stories and negative things that are associated with it. A way to combat this fear and find positive ways the internet can influence our family and friends. One positive way to use the internet is to have a family blog or family website where other members of the family, far and wide, can access the sites and stay in contact with the family. I am aware of what horrible things exist on the internet and how cyber bullying can negatively effect our youth. I feel like after reading these articles I am more prepared to deal with the internet and issues that may arise in the classroom or in my home. 

Doing:

I talked with my 11 year old brother about internet safety, specifically cyber bullying. In the news there have been many reports about cyber bullying and I wondered if my brother had heard about this, know what it means, and how to avoid it or stop it from happening. I shared with him what I learned about cyber bullying. I shared that it exists, that it is detrimental, and how we should not participate in it. He seemed receptive and said that he didn't really know what the term meant when I first asked him about it. Once I explained it, he seemed to understand how it could happen and what it meant. He told me that it was a very bad thing to do. I am glad that he sees how negative it is. The conversation was short and positive. I think it was valuable because I saw that my brother, although young, knows some of the pitfalls of the internet and knows that there are negative things that exist. He can recognize what cyber bullying is and I value that I am certain he will not participate in it.