Cyber-Safe Kids, Cyber-Savvy Teens: Helping Young People Learn To Use the Internet Safely and Responsibly

Introduction x

Part One: Internet Parenting Strategies

1. Of Fenced Play Yards and Hands-On Parenting: Effective Real-World Parenting Online 3

2. Danger Signs on the Information Highway: Overview of Online Risks and Concerns 7

3. Internet Use for Different Ages: Guidelines for Children, Early Teens, and Older Teens 15

4. Too Hard, Too Soft, Just Right: Parenting Styles and Effective Internet Parenting 27

5. Filtering Follies and Other Myths: Technology “Quick Fixes” Lead to False Security 33

6. I’m Your Parent. It’s My Responsibility: Supervising Your Child’s Online Activities 39

7. A Community of Parents: Collaborating with Other Parents 47

8. Red Flags! Warning Signs and Responses 51

9. Away from Home: Use of the Internet at Other Places 57

10. Get It in Writing: Parent-Teen Internet Use Agreement 63

Part Two: Foundational Issues

11. Me and My Friends: Online Social Networking 69

12. Eyeballs and E-Wallets: E-Commerce and Your Child 77

13. None of Your Business: Privacy Protection Strategies 91

14. Wired 24/7: Internet Addictive Behavior and Multitasking 103

15. Read with Your Eyes Open: The Importance of Information Literacy 113

16. Don’t Take Candy from Strangers: Online Stranger Literacy 119

Part Three: Influences on Online Decision Making

17. Working on the “Hard-Wiring”: Brain Development and Online Decision Making 131

18. You Can’t See Me, I Can’t See You: How Technology Can Interfere with Responsible Decision Making 135

19. Why We Believe What “They” Say: Social Influence Techniques Online 143

20. Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places: Young People Who Are at Greater Risk Online 155

21. On the Net, What You Do Reflects on You: Core Values and Standards Online 161

Part Four: Specific Risks and Concerns

22. Sex and the Internet: Risky Sexual Online Activities 175

23. I Can Say What I Want Online: Cyberbullying and Social Aggression 205

24. Questionable Support: Self-Harm Communities and “At Risk” Teens 219

25. “Us” Against “Them”: Hate Groups, Gangs, and Other Troublesome Groups 227

26. I’m Going to Get You: Cyberthreats and Distressing Material 235

27. Come and Play: Online Gaming 241

28. You Bet, I Win, You Lose: Online Gambling 249

29. Tag, I Got You: Hacking and Computer Crimes 255

30. Not the Highest Form of Flattery: Plagiarism 261

31. I Can Copy and Share Anything on the Internet: Copyright Protection and Infringement 267

32. Security First: Protection Against “Malware” 275

33. Spam, Spam, Spam, and More Spam: Unsolicited (or Unknowingly Approved) Email Advertising 281

34. Have I Got a Deal for You: Scams and Phishing 285

Part Five: Accenting the Positive

35. Finding the Good Life: Beneficial Activities Online 295

Appendix A: Parent-Teen Internet Use Agreement 299

Appendix B: The Cyberspace World 301

Notes 311

About the Author 315

Index 317