Safe Internet Use Research Articles

Happy onlife - A video game to support mediation on internet risks and opportunities

Children and young people are very active users of digital technology from an early age. Recent research shows that children learn quickly from mirroring the behaviour of parents, of older siblings and peers. On one hand, children have acquired independency and skills within the digital world; on the other, they lack reflective and critical thinking as well as awareness about opportunities and risks such as cyber-bullying or digital identity theft. Active adult’s mediation would allow for the integration of values and critical thinking but so far, adults seem poor active mediators and in need of practical tools of empowerment. Therefore, we developed Happy Onlife, a game to support players towards a happy online life. This interactive video game aims at empowering teachers and parents to actively guide children to become smarter, responsible, and respectful when using digital media. We chose an experimental and empirical approach and the design of the game repeatedly undertook the elicitation, representation and validation steps. Happy Onlife presents key messages about children's use, overuse, and risks of misuse of digital technologies and provides simple and clear strategies of prevention, mediation or remediation. Tests beds have proved the efficiency of the video game’s questions to prompt discussion between generations and drives the players towards a responsible and safe digital media use. Happy Onlife can be considered as an effective tool to support adults’ mediation to children for a healthy and safe internet and digital technology use.

EPA-0731 - How parenting style influences ict use and cyberbullying in a sample of secondary students in the UK

Introduction Previous studies in other countries have reported that cyberbullying was related to Information and Communication Technology (ICT) use. Helweg-Larsen, (2011) reported that knowledge about safe internet use did not decrease the prevalence of cyberbullying. Less is known about this relationship with family functioning. Objectives To examine the rates of cyberbullying and their relationships with ICT use and family functioning in a sample of secondary students in the UK Aims To study 1) associations between cyberbullying and ICT use 2) associations between family functioning and parental controls with ICT-use and cyberbullying. Methods A cross-sectional questionnaire of 2218 secondary students was completed Measures included demographic data, ICT use (levels and nature), Olweus bullying questionnaire adapted for cyberbullying, General Functioning subscale of the Family Assessment Device and parental controls (type and levels). Results Response rate 80%, 45% males, mean (SD) age 14.97 (1.9) years. Cyberbullying seems to be related to the time spent online and to the general family functioning . Bullies or bully-victims spend significantly more time online than those who are not involved. The majority of students have been told how to be safe online; however only a few have parental controls on their computers. There is a significant positive correlation between worse family functioning and time spent online and with being involved in cyberbullying, even after controlling for the time spent online. Conclusions Our results suggest that increasing family communication may contribute to reduce children involvement in cyberbullying

APPLICATION EXAMPLES OF SAFER USE OF THE İNTERNET IN THE WORLD AND INVESTIGATION OF AWARENESS ACTIVITIES IN TURKEY AND SUGGESTIONS FOR TURKEY

This study aims to analyse the developments concerning accurate, safe and efficient use of the internet, which has gained in importance along with the rapidly increasing use of the internet in Turkey in the recent years and the relevant activities of awareness-raising carried out in the world and in Turkey. Through national and international scientific studies, an attempt has been made in this study to state the reasons why we need safe internet use considering the risks that have been associated with internet as well as the benefits, since its introduction in our lives. Studies carried out in the European Union and in the world on the safe use of the internet in Turkey and other countries have been analyzed. Especially in Turkey, studies and researches on this topic are explained in detail. The results of the researches on Perceptions and Trends of the Turkish families and Social network habits of the Turkish children were mentioned briefly. In conclusion, comments and recommendations have been put forward with regards to what should be done for accurate, safer and efficient use of the internet in Turkey.

Ways of Protecting Omani Children from the Internet: A Case Study of the Sultan School in Muscat, Oman

The Internet is an evolving medium that continuously presents new functionalities. Children’s Internet usage is also continuously changing. This requires vigilance with regard to Internet risk behavior and safe Internet use. The present article presents a structured overview of Internet risks and summarizes approaches to foster safe Internet behavior. Based on a cross-sectional study, internet usage of year six of the young children at Sultan School in Oman has been researched. The focus is to identify the risks that the children in year six at Sultan School face. Examples of this risk include content and contact risks. The study aims to explore the role that parents play in guiding their children when they use the Internet. Based on the analysis of survey data from 88 children, trends in their (un)safe Internet usage are studied in the year 2011. The results of this study show that 32.2% of the participants in this study use the Internet three hours, and 42.2% of them use chat rooms. With regard to parents’ role, the study found that 66.7% of the parents did not play a role in controlling or guiding their children when they use the Internet. Finally the study found that 66.7% of the informants are exposed to risk through the use of the Internet.

Ways of Protecting Omani Children from the Internet: A Case Study of the Sultan School in Muscat, Oman

The Internet is an evolving medium that continuously presents new functionalities. Children’s Internet usage is also continuously changing. This requires vigilance with regard to Internet risk behavior and safe Internet use. The present article presents a structured overview of Internet risks and summarizes approaches to foster safe Internet behavior. Based on a cross-sectional study, internet usage of year six of the young children at Sultan School in Oman has been researched. The focus is to identify the risks that the children in year six at Sultan School face. Examples of this risk include content and contact risks. The study aims to explore the role that parents play in guiding their children when they use the Internet. Based on the analysis of survey data from 88 children, trends in their (un)safe Internet usage are studied in the year 2011. The results of this study show that 32.2% of the participants in this study use the Internet three hours, and 42.2% of them use chat rooms. With regard to parents’ role, the study found that 66.7% of the parents did not play a role in controlling or guiding their children when they use the Internet. Finally the study found that 66.7% of the informants are exposed to risk through the use of the Internet.

Avant-propos: Génétique

The Internet is an evolving medium that continuously presents new functionalities. Accordingly, also children’s Internet usage changes continuously. This requires being vigilant about related Internet risk behavior and safe Internet use. The present article presents a structured overview of Internet risks and summarizes approaches to foster safe Internet behavior. Based on a long-term cross-sectional study, Internet usage of young children has been researched. The focus is on contact risks and content risks. Based on the analysis of survey data from 10000 children, trends in their (un)safe Internet usage are studied in the years 2005–2006, 2007–2008, and 2008–2009. An Unsafe Internet Usage Index (UIUI) is calculated. The average results point at a rather low level of unsafe Internet usage. But these average results hide between-subject differences and a number of children clearly reflect risky unsafe Internet usage. Also, no consistent reduction in unsafe Internet behavior is being observed over the years. Parental and teacher control hardly increase, and hardly seem to impact the level of unsafe Internet behavior. Considering a number of limitations of the present study, directions for future research are discussed.

Long-term study of safe Internet use of young children

The Internet is an evolving medium that continuously presents new functionalities. Accordingly, also children’s Internet usage changes continuously. This requires being vigilant about related Internet risk behavior and safe Internet use. The present article presents a structured overview of Internet risks and summarizes approaches to foster safe Internet behavior. Based on a long-term cross-sectional study, Internet usage of young children has been researched. The focus is on contact risks and content risks. Based on the analysis of survey data from 10000 children, trends in their (un)safe Internet usage are studied in the years 2005–2006, 2007–2008, and 2008–2009. An Unsafe Internet Usage Index (UIUI) is calculated. The average results point at a rather low level of unsafe Internet usage. But these average results hide between-subject differences and a number of children clearly reflect risky unsafe Internet usage. Also, no consistent reduction in unsafe Internet behavior is being observed over the years. Parental and teacher control hardly increase, and hardly seem to impact the level of unsafe Internet behavior. Considering a number of limitations of the present study, directions for future research are discussed.

Perceived Safety and Teen Risk Taking in Online Chat Sites

Framed by theories of adolescent development, this study explored relationships among adolescents' perceptions of chat-site safety, time spent chatting, and risky online behaviors. Tenth graders (N = 139) in rural Midwestern U.S. schools completed surveys. Factor analysis produced three factors each for perception of safety and risk-taking behaviors. Regression analyses revealed that perception of safety factors were useful in predicting online risk-taking behaviors. Teens with more social discomfort and those who thought it was safe to reveal personal information and trust chat-site "friends" were more likely to take risks. As time spent in chat sites increased, so did risk-taking behaviors. Implications for educators and parents are discussed, such as initiation of conversations about safe Internet use, parental participation in chat sites as teens' invited "friends," and school programs to teach safe online practices.

To control or not to control? Parenting behaviours and adolescent online aggression

Non-empirical publications have espoused the importance of monitoring/controlling children’s online and computer activities through monitoring software; however, no empirical research has verified whether this is a viable means for promoting responsible and safe internet use. This study examined the association between parenting behaviours and adolescent online aggression. The sample included 733 adolescents (451 females), between 10 and 18 years, from Western Canada. Participants completed a questionnaire that included questions on internet aggression, and parenting. The parenting questions were modified from Stattin and Kerr’s (2000) questionnaire to better suit the online environment. Results from the univariate least squares factor analysis revealed two distinct factors: (1) Parent Solicitation (parents ask where child is going on the internet), (2) Child Disclosure (child naturally tells parents what they are doing). Hierarchical Linear Regression analysis revealed that having a computer in the bedroom increased the likelihood of engaging in online aggression and that adolescent self-disclosure of online behaviours (and not controlling or monitoring online activities) was negatively associated with online aggression. These findings emphasize the importance of establishing good communication between parents and adolescents rather than investing money on monitoring software and on controlling adolescent internet use.

“Just Emotional People”? Emo Culture and the Anxieties of Disclosure

In an article in the Sunday Tasmanian shortly after the deaths of Melbourne teenagers Jodie Gater and Stephanie Gestier in 2007, Tasmanian Catholic Schools Parents and Friends Federation president Bill Button claimed: “Parents are concerned because all of a sudden their child, if they have access to a computer, can turn into an Emo” (qtd. in Vowles 1). For a few months in 2007, the dangers of emo and computer use were significant themes in Australian newspaper coverage. Emo, an abbreviation of the terms “emocore” or “emotional hardcore”, is a melodic subgenre of punk rock music, characterised by “emotional” or personal themes. Its followers, who adopt a look that includes black stovepipe jeans, dyed black hair and side-parted long fringes, might merely have been one of the many “tribes” (Bennett 605) that characterise contemporary youth culture. However, over an approximately five-month period in 2007, the deaths of three teenagers in two separate incidents—the murder Carly Ryan in February and the suicides of Jodie Gater and Stephanie Gestier in April—were linked to the emo subculture and to the social networking site MySpace, both of which were presented as dangerous and worrying developments in contemporary youth culture.

Protecting Adolescents’ Personal Information Online: Constraints and Parameters

AbstractCable News Network recently reported that today’s children will spend an average of 23 years of their lifetime connected to the Internet. The Department of Education reports that 100% of teens today have Internet access at school. Currently, no laws protecting teens from the collection of their personal data (known or unknown) while online exist. The personal information they post today can be collected today—or 20 years from now and can be used against them when they seek employment or apply for health insurance. This study examines the issue of adolescent consumer privacy protection from the perspective of those entities responsible for protecting and educating them about safe Internet use (educators, marketers, and policy makers). An analysis of transcripts from an expert panel (collected via telephone interview) is used to determine who is responsible for protecting teens’ privacy and how to accomplish this task.

Emerging Technology Trends and Ethical Practices for the School Principal

What is the school principal's role in ensuring ethical technology use while promoting the use of wireless and advanced technologies in instruction? The rapid advances in technology in only the past 5 years, including the increase in laptops and smart phones, have transformed both educational practices and the role of the school principal as technology leader. In this research analysis, social, legal, and moral issues have emerged as three major concerns. Principals must advocate for equity and access to new technologies in their schools, with an awareness of student diversity in race, language, special needs, and gender. By closing the “digital divide” gap, promoting safe internet use policies, adhering to copyright laws, and ensuring environmentally sound procedures, the educational leader can meet the challenges of emerging technology use.

Protecting vulnerable young people in cyberspace from sexual abuse: raising awareness and responding globally

This paper explores the danger that young people may be exposed to when using the Internet. The first part sets out the context by considering new developments in UK and international legislation and then explores educational moves to protect children. Focus is upon findings from research undertaken on behalf of the London Metropolitan Police Service in evaluating the Safer Surfing programme designed to enable young people’s safe Internet use. In the final part of this paper it is argued that more must however be done internationally both to protect children online and to curb the growing trade in indecent child images.

Safeguarding young people from cyber pornography and cyber sexual predation: a major dilemma of the internet

AbstractOver the past 20 years, the internet has provided an expedient mode of communication and access to a wealth of information. The internet is a valuable tool; however, it can also be detrimental to the wellbeing of children due to numerous online hazards. There is the potential for children to be abused via cyberspace through online sexual solicitation and access to pornography. Indeed, the internet is replete with inappropriate material, including pornography, chatrooms with adult themes and access to instant messaging wherein others could misrepresent themselves. Because children are actively utilizing the internet where unknown others can have access to them or where they can be exposed to inappropriate sexual materials, they require safeguarding and education in safe internet use. The purpose of this article is to provide a discussion of how to safeguard children from and educate them about online sexual solicitation and pornography. We contend that society needs an overall conceptual shift in its attitude towards young people's internet use. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

HEADSS up: Adolescents and the Internet

The Internet contains a tremendous amount of unregulated information. Internet use gives adolescents access to a wide variety of information and communication devices, and may be associated with certain risks. To provide health care professionals with information on adolescent Internet use and its associated risks. Ninety-four per cent of Canadian youth surveyed nationwide in 2005 reported having Internet access in their homes. Parents and health care providers need to educate themselves on issues of Internet safety. The divergent means by which adolescents are using the Internet and the inherent risks associated with unsupervised and uneducated use are addressed. Parents and teenagers are provided with tips for safe Internet use, and health care providers are offered sample questions pertaining to adolescent Internet use. A large proportion of adolescents use the Internet daily. Studies examining the risks of online exposure in this age group are evolving. Awareness of the range of applications and information available online will facilitate counselling on appropriate Internet use.

AMA Reaffirms Commitment To Parity For MH Care

AMA Reaffirms Commitment To Parity For MH Care

Primary school children’s safe and unsafe use of the Internet at home and at school: An exploratory study

In this study, 1700 primary school pupils (4th, 5th, and 6th grade) of 78 schools in Flanders and their headmasters were questioned about their use of the Internet and their perception and behaviour as to safe Internet use. The results indicate that, next to the expected high level of Internet use at home, there is clear evidence of unsafe Internet use. Exploration of the data reveals that, of the currently taken specific interventions to promote safe Internet use and (un)safe Internet behaviour, only parent control seems to be significantly related to lower degrees of unsafe behaviour. No school-based interventions seem to be associated with the level of unsafe Internet use. The nature of current school-based interventions is discussed and considered to be less effective to expect an impact at the behavioural level. Next to implications for future research, recommendations to reorient school policies and action lines are presented.

The Web, Communication Trends, and Children's Health. Part 5: Encouraging positive and safe Internet use.

The previous four articles in this series on the Web, Communication Trends, and Children's Health (Clinical Pediatrics, March-June, 1998) have shown that the Internet is a rich interactive window on the world, with health-related resources not readily available elsewhere. While the Internet brings great benefits, there are also some significant potential drawbacks. In this final article of the series, we focus on the precautions parents, teachers, and caregivers can take to help children and their families use the Internet wisely and safely.