BAYVIEW Newsletter ISSUE 16 Monday 27 May 2013
www.bayview.vic.edu.au
Risen Jesus, make us holy by the gift of your Spirit.
From the Principal– Dr Michelle Kearney This week is national Cybersafety week and as such a timely reminder to all parents and teachers to continue to engage in conversations with young people about their online behaviour. Curious kids can innocently get into trouble online without thought of consequence and need our guidance so that they are protected from others, and from themselves. Adolescents who are slowly establishing their independence in the real world are also acting independently in the cyber world. And just like us when we were their age, they can be mischievous. Adolescents are fast learners and may know more overall about technology. They were born with it. Unfortunately, there are some young people that apply that advanced knowledge to hiding online behaviour from parents and teachers A recent survey in the USA revealed that nearly half of the parents surveyed believe their son or daughter tells them everything they do online, while 70 % of the young people revealed they have ways to avoid parental monitoring. Young people trick their parents in the following ways:
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53 % clear their browser history to keep web visits off the record 46 % close/minimize their browser when a parent walks near (to hide the web site) 34 % hide or delete instant messages or videos 23 % lie or omit discussing details with parents ask about online activity 23 % use a PC their parents don’t check 21 % use an Internet-enabled mobile device 20 % use privacy settings to make web content viewable only by friends 20 % use private browsing modes or proxy web sites (which are free)
15 % create a private email address unknown to their parents 9 % create a duplicate or fake social network profiles and share one of them with parents Many of these tricks can be prevented or monitored. As parents we should openly discuss the use of technology with our kids. We have the right to protect our young people (as the parent). In reality, the parent is likely paying for the device, the Internet access, and any mobile phone bill and, therefore, we should establish clear rules of conduct. We establish rules for the use of the family car, right? We need to do the same with the use of technology. Our young people need our support and guidance to establish safe and respectful digital citizenship. At home and at school we need to become skilled at “shoulder surfing” when young people are online. “Shoulder surfing” is the act of regular short periods of observation of what our young people is doing online. It is a great way to get
a conversation going with them.
In parenting and teaching, let this be our aim: Not to make every idea safe for children, but every child safe for ideas. -Gerhardt E. Frost