Thirty years ago today a British computer scientist submitted a proposal that formed the basis for today’s World Wide Web, making today the Web’s 3oth birthday. It’s a marvelous invention, but one that we must protect our children from. Consider these scenarios:
A kid you know is complaining about mean messages about him on Twitter, an embarrassing picture of him on Facebook, a humiliating profile that popped up on another site, a rumor about him sent out on all his friends’ email or texts. All of these are examples of cyber bullying, and none of it is harmless fun that will just fade away. In fact, kids who are victims of cyber bullying tend to have life changes: cut classes, use drugs and alcohol, do poorly in school, become unhealthy (physically and emotionally), and be victims of in-person bullying.
All adults in a youngster’s life need to be vigilant to guard against this. We must keep aware of what our kids are doing online, and that includes the Internet, social sites, emails, and texting. We must talk with our kids about what goes on in cyber-space, set rules, and monitor adherence to those rules. All schools have such rules, and we must make sure that we and our kids are familiar with them. Yes, the kids will complain. But—and here’s what’s important—they’ll be safe.