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Citizen Police Academy | D.A.R.E. | Gun Safety | Home Security | Kind Call Neighborhood Watch | Police 80th Anniversary | Police Chief Columns | Police Survey Pumpkin Patrol | Safety Town | Sex Offender Details | Street Sense | Vacation Safety Vehicle Speed Monitoring (Stealth Stat) Keeping Our Children Safe in the Internet AgePolice Chief ColumnBy Police Chief Brian Quinn As published in the SNP/Arlington News As the leader of a Police Division that includes many parents of young children among its ranks, I understand the obstacles of the Internet age, and believe we have a responsibility to raise awareness of the Internet dangers that our community’s young folks currently face. The Upper Arlington Police Division is committed to the education of the community concerning the potential dangers children can be exposed to while on the Internet. Because the Internet seems to provide a safe environment, children may be less cautious than they are in real life. They may receive inappropriate messages, visit unsuitable Web sites, reveal personal information, or in the worst case, expose themselves to danger by arranging meetings with people who are not who they appear to be online. The Facts on Online Predators As more and more homes have computers with Internet access, children become more Internet savvy. Likewise, as online activity and opportunities continue to expand, Internet dangers increase as well. The average age affected by Internet Predators is 12 to 14 and other Internet dangers are ages nine through 17. Even adults can fall victim to certain crimes. About 20 percent of children ages 10 to 17 have received unwanted sexual advances from a stranger on the Internet. Keep in mind, this does not include the wanted sexual advances received from strangers. As hard as it is to believe, some juveniles who are online are willing participants in these crimes. And this statistic does not include Police Officers who are solicited while posing as a young child. The fact is, more and more predators are caught each year. This is mostly due to law enforcement's increased ability in identifying the perpetrators of these crimes. Parents should pay attention so they have the knowledge and ability to help their child if they ever find themselves in trouble. The fact is, most children don't go to their parents for help, partly because they fear punishment but also because they feel their parents lack the skills necessary to help, so they turn toward peers and strangers for help. Parents should keep an eye on their children using standard features on their computer and software that can be installed to keep track of Internet travels. Every parent should adopt basic safety rules with their children and work out a plan to institute these policies. Safety Tips for Parents • Never allow a computer with Internet access in your child’s bedroom. • Never allow your child to have a Web cam. • Talk to your child about his/her online activities and the associated dangers. • Know your child’s profile name, e-mail address and passwords. • Remember that older teens need supervision too. • Be alert to changes in your child’s behavior. • Respect your child’s privacy but review computer files. Monitor what chat rooms are visited and who they are chatting with. • Research filters and monitoring software. • Be aware of additional access points to the Internet (gaming systems like Xbox and Nintendo Wii, cell phones, libraries, schools, friends’ houses). Safety Tips for Children • Make user names and online profiles generic and anonymous. • Don’t list or give any identifying information, such as: name, sex, age, address, school. • Never send a photo to anyone on the Internet. • Never meet a person you have had online contact with one-on-one. • Remember that responsible adults do not pursue relationships with children and teens, so those that do likely have questionable motives. • People on the Internet are rarely who they say they are. Web Site Resources • www.netsmartz.org - an educational resource from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. This site discusses various Internet safety topics. • www.isafe.org - i-SAFE is a non-profit foundation dedicated to protecting the online experience of youth everywhere. • www.missingkids.com - the official site of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. This site contains information on Amber Alerts, resources for parents and a searchable database of missing children. • www.protectkids.com - A helpful site of safety rules and tools. This site allows parents to report cyber crimes. • www.safekids.com - Rules, advice, and tips relating to child security and the web. A guide to making the Internet and technology fun, safe and productive. • www.familywatchdog.us - A free national USA search engine for registered sex offenders. If we educate the community’s children as well as their parents, I believe we can keep our community safe from Internet dangers. Educational programs are available through the Police Division to groups upon request by contacting the Community Relations Officer at 583-5197. Police Division City of Upper Arlington 3600 Tremont Road Upper Arlington, OH 43221 Phone: 614-583-5150 www.ua-ohio.net |
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