Keeping kids safe online was the subject of a very special day at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver
George M. Wilfley Branch.
And it's an important subject. Check this out:
- 55% of online teens have profiles online-of those, 79% included photos of themselves; 66% included photos of friends.
Source Pew Research.
- 56% of teens receive requests for personal information; 12% of 'tweens (8-12)
Source-Polly Klaas Foundation.
- 54% frequently have private conversations with online strangers through instant messaging; 10% 'tweens.
Source-ibid.
- 32% of teens report being cyberbullied in the last year.
Source-Harris Interactive.
- Victims of online harassment are three times more likely to exhibit symptoms of major depression.
Source-Cyber Psychology and Behavior.
That's why
Colorado Attorney GeneralJohn Suthers joined Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver President and CEO Tim Sheahan,
Internet Keep Safe Coalition President Marsali Hancock and
SymantecInternet safety advocate Marian Merritt to talk to kids about keeping safe on the Internet and still having fun.
And they were joined by a very special guest, "Faux Paw the Techno Cat."
Attorney
General Suthers, who also received the Internet Keep Safe Award for his efforts in keeping kids safe, told kids how important it was to keep their information secret, not to post anything that would ever allow a dangerous person to find them and to never, ever, meet a stranger they might have met on the Internet. The Attorney General told the kids that many dangerous people pretend to be kids themselves, just to lure innocent victims.
Another very serious problem facing kids today is something called cyberbullying. Bullying anyone is simply a bad thing, and it's just as bad on the Internet. Believe it or not, very bad people can do some scary things to you using a computer.
Both
Marsali Hancock and
Marian Merritt emphasized to the kids how important it is to be very careful using the Internet, that computers should always be located where parents or guardians can supervise their use and above all, being very careful about sharing any personal information.
The Internet is a fun place, an educational place and computers play an important part at Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver. But like any tool, the first rule is safety first. And it's a rule followed very closely at all Clubs.
The kids also got to ask questions they had about using the Internet and afterwards got to tour the "Connected and Protected" tractor trailer demonstration. They also checked out the new Nintendo Wii video game console which was a hit with everyone who played with it.
It was an exciting and informational afternoon for the kids and staff of the Wilfley Club.
Click here to view video version of this story.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver thank Attorney General Suthers for his hard work in keeping everyone safe on the Internet along with Marsali Hancock of the Internet Keep Safe Coalition and Marian Merritt of Symantec. And Faux Paw the Techno Cat!
To learn more about Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver, visit their website at
www.positiveplacedenver.org.