Blogging Safety:Blogging Safety: A Tutorial for Parents A Tutorial for Parents

Developed by the Douglas County School Developed by the Douglas County School System Technology DepartmentSystem Technology Department

What is a Blog?What is a Blog?A Blog or Weblog (web+log) is a journal posted on the Internet. It is basically a diary. It may contain pictures and or text and may be viewed by anyone.

Blogs are often hosted free of charge by companies who place ads on blog pages.

Too Much InformationToo Much Information

Blogs can be written about anyone or Blogs can be written about anyone or anything. They are not typically monitored anything. They are not typically monitored or regulated.or regulated.

According to Microsoft, recent studies show:According to Microsoft, recent studies show:Teenagers write half of all blogsTeenagers write half of all blogs2 out of 3 include their age2 out of 3 include their age1 out of 5 include their full name1 out of 5 include their full name

Too Much InformationToo Much Information

The Dangers…The Dangers… While many teens enjoy blogs and use them as While many teens enjoy blogs and use them as

a way to vent or express themselves, they are a way to vent or express themselves, they are not alone on the web.not alone on the web.

Sexual predators often search blogs and try to Sexual predators often search blogs and try to put together enough information to locate a put together enough information to locate a child. They often join a blog ring and befriend child. They often join a blog ring and befriend teens to get additional information. All they need teens to get additional information. All they need are a few key pieces of information.are a few key pieces of information.

Reverse phone number look-ups can find a Reverse phone number look-ups can find a street address.street address.

Mapping sites (Mapquest, Yahoo Maps) will Mapping sites (Mapquest, Yahoo Maps) will even provide a map to your front door!even provide a map to your front door!

ExamplesExamples

The following examples of blogs belong to The following examples of blogs belong to students living in Douglas County.students living in Douglas County.

Identifying information has been hidden.Identifying information has been hidden. These were found by simply searching for These were found by simply searching for

blog rings.blog rings.

ExamplesExamples

ExamplesExamples

ExamplesExamples

ExamplesExamples

Cyber BullyingCyber Bullying

Cyber bullying is sending or posting Cyber bullying is sending or posting harmful or cruel text or images using the harmful or cruel text or images using the Internet or other digital communication Internet or other digital communication devices. devices.

Cyber bullying is emerging as one of the Cyber bullying is emerging as one of the more challenging issues facing educators more challenging issues facing educators and parents as young people embrace the and parents as young people embrace the Internet and other mobile communication Internet and other mobile communication technologies.technologies.

Blogging GuidelinesBlogging Guidelines••Never offer any personal informationNever offer any personal information including your including your last name, contact information, home address, phone last name, contact information, home address, phone numbers, schools name, e-mail address, last names of numbers, schools name, e-mail address, last names of friends or relatives, instant messaging names, age, or friends or relatives, instant messaging names, age, or birth date.birth date.••Never post provocative pictures of yourself or anyone Never post provocative pictures of yourself or anyone elseelse, and be sure any images you provide do not reveal , and be sure any images you provide do not reveal any of the previously mentioned information. Always any of the previously mentioned information. Always remember to look at the background of a picture, too. remember to look at the background of a picture, too. ••Assume what you publish on the Web is permanentAssume what you publish on the Web is permanent. . Anyone on the Internet can easily print out a blog or Anyone on the Internet can easily print out a blog or save it to a computer.save it to a computer.••Keep blogs positive and don't use them for slander or Keep blogs positive and don't use them for slander or to attack others.to attack others.

Warning Signs for ParentsWarning Signs for Parents Your child quickly changes the computer screen or turns Your child quickly changes the computer screen or turns

off the monitor when you enter the room. off the monitor when you enter the room. Your child is hiding disks or CDs. Your child is hiding disks or CDs. Your child spends an inordinate amount of time on the Your child spends an inordinate amount of time on the

Internet or is online late into the night. Internet or is online late into the night. You discover unusual charges on your credit card You discover unusual charges on your credit card

statements. Be especially suspicious of phone charges statements. Be especially suspicious of phone charges that identify themselves as "Web Site." Many that identify themselves as "Web Site." Many pornographers don't provide their names to avoid raising pornographers don't provide their names to avoid raising parental concern. parental concern.

You notice changes in your child's behavior (mention of You notice changes in your child's behavior (mention of adults you don't know, secretiveness, inappropriate adults you don't know, secretiveness, inappropriate sexual knowledge, sleeping problems, etc.). sexual knowledge, sleeping problems, etc.).

What Can You Do?What Can You Do?

Educate yourself and your child.Educate yourself and your child. Talk to your kids and establish guidelines Talk to your kids and establish guidelines

for Internet use, including blogs. Remind for Internet use, including blogs. Remind them that what they write is visible to them that what they write is visible to ANYONE searching the blog site.ANYONE searching the blog site.

Report threats and bullying.Report threats and bullying. Visit the links provided at the end of this Visit the links provided at the end of this

presentation for more information.presentation for more information.

ResourcesResources www.isafe.orgwww.isafe.org http://www.fbi.gov/publications/pguide/pguide.htmhttp://www.fbi.gov/publications/pguide/pguide.htm http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/children/kidblog.mspxhttp://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/children/kidblog.mspx http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/children/http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/children/

parentsguide.mspxparentsguide.mspx http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7668788/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7668788/ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/3774389.stmhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/3774389.stm http://www.netfamilynews.org/nl050603.html#1http://www.netfamilynews.org/nl050603.html#1 http://www.loveourchildrenusa.org/parent_cyberbullying.phphttp://www.loveourchildrenusa.org/parent_cyberbullying.php DCSS Board Policy on Bullying:DCSS Board Policy on Bullying:

http://web.douglas.k12.ga.us/adobe/JCB.pdfhttp://web.douglas.k12.ga.us/adobe/JCB.pdf http://web.douglas.k12.ga.us/adobe/JCDA.pdf (rule 6)http://web.douglas.k12.ga.us/adobe/JCDA.pdf (rule 6)

http://cyberbully.org/http://cyberbully.org/ http://www.schoolcounselor.com/safetynetlinks.asphttp://www.schoolcounselor.com/safetynetlinks.asp http://www.protectkids.com/parentsafety/http://www.protectkids.com/parentsafety/