CYBERLIFE: WHAT’S REALLY HAPPENING ONLINE?
What we will explore on this Reality Avenue show:
What does Cyberlife look like today?
We are all Internet junkies!! OK, well that might be an exaggeration, but we are evolving into an electronic society andvmany of us love it. Between 75 and 90 percent of teenagers in the United States use the Internet to email, instant message (IM), visit chat rooms and explore other sites on the World Wide Web.
The Internet is the new playground for people of all ages and there are no off hours. The unfortunate fact is that because of the popularity of instant messaging, e-mail, WebPages, and blogging, we can be targeted 24 hours per day, seven days a week by those who may wish us harm. This is scary, because 87% of Americans can be identified by just 3 pieces of information: date of birth, gender and zip code. The tradition of the home being a refuge from outside dangers is over – it’s time for us all to become Internet savvy!
So what are the Main Internet Dangers?
CyberGrooming, Cyberbullying, Identity Theft and more.
CYBERGROOMING – is the process used by predators and pedophiles to gain trust and build a false sense of relationship with the goal of enticing victims to meet face to face. How common is a child’s exposure online to unwanted material or people? 1 in 4 children/teens, ages 10 to 17 have been sent material and 1 in 5 children who use computer chat rooms has been approached by a pedophile. Most alarmingly, only 1 in 4 youth who have received a sexual solicitation online reported the incident to an adult.
CYBERBULLYING – is the willful use of electronic information and communication devices (e-mail, instant messaging, text messages, mobile phones, pagers, blogging, websites) to bully or otherwise harass or inflict harm on an individual or a group through personal attacks or other means. It may even constitute a crime. How common is it? 58% of 4th – 8th graders surveyed say someone has said mean or hurtful things to them online 53% of kids admit having said something mean or hurtful to another online 58 % of kids have not told their parents or any adult about something mean or hurtful that had happened to them online
What can we do to stay safe?
The goal of Reality Avenue is to educate and empower people to take control of their Internet experience and remain safe while online. Join us on “Cyberlife – What’s REALLY happening online?” and we will learn HOW to do just that. Follow the lives of self-proclaimed “Internet nerds” and find out not only why this generation loves being online so much, but also how other generations can begin the process of closing the Internet Gap. For more information on how to remain safe online for yourself, your child, or someone you love, watch Reality Avenue and/or attend our upcoming workshop.