Internet Safety

by Julie Weisberg - January 29, 2003

Each year, more and more children are logging on to the internet, spending more and more time online.

With this increased use comes increased exposure to sexually-explicit material and the possibility of sexual harassment – or even becoming the victim of a crime.

To help educate parents about how to protect their children from online dangers, the Catherine McGee Middle School Parent-Teacher Organization recently sponsored an information session on internet safety.

The workshop, “Exploitation of Children on the Internet: What Parents Should Know,” took place in the school’s auditorium last Thursday evening.

According to McGee PTO President Antonietta Fraello, the parents-only presentation focused on issues related to their children’s internet use and the possible pitfalls and perils of that use.

Fraello said the group normally limits their workshops to McGee parents and community members only. But because the workshop’s subject matter was of universal importance for the safety of all children, they opened the presentation to any Berlin parent who wished to attend.

“Although the internet can be a very informative tool, it can also be very dangerous experience,” she said. “So, I think it is important for parents to become educated about the internet.”

Sgt. Andrew Russell, a member of the Connecticut State Police, led last week’s presentation.

Russell -- a police officer for more than 24 years -- currently is the commanding officer of the Computer Crimes and Electronic Evidence Unit for the state police. He also serves as the commander of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

“During the day we’re on duty and investigating these crimes and at night we’re giving these presentations,” Russell said.

During the presentation, Russell said he briefly outlines and examines common misconceptions parents have regarding the internet, how the internet actually works and the “tools of the trade” that “online predators” utilize.

Also included in his presentation is a demonstration of how easy it is to prey upon children online and some of the information children may be exposed to on the internet.

One of the first points Russell said he focuses upon during his presentation is the notion many parents have that their child is safe at home and in front of a computer.

“Thirty percent of teenage girls polled by the Girls Scout Research Institute said they had been sexually harassed in a chat room,” Russell said. “Only 7 percent, however, told their mothers or fathers about the incident, as they were worried their parents would ban them from going online.”

In addition, Russell said a recent “online victimization survey” of children between the ages of 10 and 17 found 20 percent of respondents experienced an online sexual solicitation and 3 percent reported receiving an “aggressive” solicitation.

Often, he said these solicitations are carried out within online “chatrooms,” through “instant-messaging,” emails or newsgroups – computer communication programs that many parents may not be familiar with or even know about.

“The big problem is the kids know about computers and the parents don’t,” Russell said. “And that’s a problem.”

However, Russell said there are several steps parents can take to ensure their children participate in safe online activity.

He suggests putting the computer in a common, supervised area, monitoring their child’s online time, using online filtering programs and discussing the internet with their children.

“Have them show you what they are doing,” he said. “Become and stay involved in the activity.”

Russell said parents should also take the time to teach kids about “online stranger danger.” This includes telling children not to talk to strangers online, not go to any face-to-face meetings, not give out any identifying information and to tell someone if they see something online that makes them feel uncomfortable.

Russell said he has seen the need for parental education and online supervision of children increase over the past few years, as more and more children become the victims of an online-crime.

He explained that the state Computer Crime Unit had 103 cases in 1999, 476 cases in 2000 and more than 600 cases in 2002 – of these, 40 percent were cases of child pornography, exploitation or “internet enticement.”

“It soon became evident that we need to take this issue seriously,” Russell said.

So, the unit recently developed a curriculum for fifth graders called “Play It Safe Online,” which helps educate children on how to protect themselves when surfing the internet.

“I just hope that parents stay involved and open their eyes to the dangers online for their children,” Fraello said.