Recent studies on the technological revolution show that even families in lower income brackets have home computers with Internet access in the home. This means more children than ever before are exposed to chatrooms, social networking sites and of course, content we would not like to see our kids to see.
With the current youth population being raised in this tech-savvy universe, many parents are now voicing concerns over not just the impact of the Internet on their future, but the influences and etiquette many are practicing while online. Many kids don’t seem to understand issues of privacy, language or even the consequences and ramifications of cyber bullying.
Thursday afternoon, June 10, Facebook and the national PTA (Parent Teacher Association) announced plans to combine efforts to produce information and tutorials for both parents and kids on Internet safety, protocol and behavior.
The PTA reported that studies show children aren’t gaining the necessary online education they need in classrooms, and most parents admit to not knowing enough information to guarantee their children are safe online.
Facebook’s COO, Sheryl Sandberg said, “Nothing is more important to us than the well-being of the people, especially the many teenagers, who use Facebook.”
Recently, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, addressed growing concerns over the social networking site’s privacy controls, noting the company had plans to make them easier to manage.
With the right educational tools in the hands of parents and educators, we can steer our kids in the right direction when it comes to online communication. As the number of households with computers and Internet access continue to rise, shifting focus to Internet safety and etiquette is essential to ensuring our kids practice safe and responsible social behavior.
I, for one, am glad they are doing this. Hopefully they can integrate these tools in classrooms, as well as on the home front. I also have high hopes this type of education will cut down on the rising number of Internet related crimes among teens, including cyber bullying.