What to know before students use internet searches

I believe that it is important for students to understand that they are vulnerable on the Internet. Most children tend to think that they are not as accountable for their actions when they are online compared to when they are face-to-face. When students use social networks such as facebook and myspace, they need to understand that everyone can see their pictures and posts if they have not set the security settings correctly. They could be "leaking" personal and vital information about themselves and others without thinking about consequences. They might also be posting inappropriate pictures that can be viewed by family, friends, teachers, and anyone else who has access to their page. Children should also be taught that you never meet people that you have formed a new online relationship with and that they should always be cautious about talking with new people. In general, children should be taught not to give away information such as the school they attend, place of employment, addresses, and even full names because it could make them potential victims of predators or "cyberbullies".

Children should also be educated on safe Internet searches. Parents should already have protective settings on their computers to prevent children from gaining access to adult sites and information. They should also be taught the difference between safe sites and unsafe sites. It is also important for students to learn that they should not enter contests or click on advertisements or download suspicious files. They should also understand that some sites have an age limit for a reason and they should not visit any sites that are only for adults.

Besides teaching kids how to be safe on the internet, I would also recommend teaching them how to be good internet researchers. Parents and teachers should show children the difference between a reputable informational site and one where any person can post information. They should understand how to site sources, including pictures that they have taken from the internet. They should also be taught about copyrights and stealing on the internet.