Central Michigan University

• Without safety measures, summer is season for Internet predators

Topics in this story: College of Education and Human Services, Computers and technology, Educational Leadership, Family life, personal growth and psychology

SOURCE:
David E. Whale, associate professor, department of educational leadership
Central Michigan University
Phone: 989-774-7167
E-mail: whale1de@cmich.edu
Web site: http://www.ehs.cmich.edu/edl/facultystaff/faculty/facultypages/dwhale.asp

Schools will soon close for the summer, and children of all ages will be spending more time at home on the Internet, often unsupervised. Central Michigan University's David Whale, an expert in children's online safety and privacy, is available to speak to reporters regarding how parents can help keep their children safe from Internet predators and recognize the warning signs of involvement with predators.

Some of Whale's initial thoughts on the subject:

Regarding how parents can help keep their children's online activity safe:
"There are four ways that children are protected while online: Software applications that can block objectionable content or record activities; laws to punish online wrongdoers; the efforts of Internet Service Providers and content providers such as Facebook and Myspace; and, most importantly, an involved parent. Parents are the most important factor in keeping children safe online and an understanding of the other three ways listed above is a good start."

Regarding the basics of the parental role in online safety:
"I think that most parents know by now that they should talk to their children about online safety, not giving out personal information, that sort of thing. But I also think we need to do much more than that. Insisting that a child behave appropriately online and not offer personal information or interact with strangers just isn't enough. The children today and those who would harm them are far too sophisticated to expect that the basic parent warnings and admonitions are going to work. They are a start, but only a start."

Regarding what else can be done to protect children:
"Parents need to be aware of where their children go online, which is generally the library, at school, at home or at a friend's home. The likeliest place for problems is the friend's home, the place with the least supervision available. Parents may also want to consider installing 'spyware' - recording software - or 'blocking' software on their home computer, but both of these options deserve careful consideration by parents before proceeding, including how much of this information is shared with the kids. Finally, this whole issue is getting more complicated with the advent of nearly universal wireless online availability and the development of 'smart phones' that nearly take the place of the computer. The point here is parents may have a 'secure' computer at home, but that is no more than a finger in a dam full of leaks. Still, the best approach of all is an involved parent. It also is important for parents to help one another by providing much-needed supervision of Internet use - or banning it altogether - when their kids have friends visiting."

Whale is an experienced administrator at the elementary, middle and high school levels whose research and teaching focus on the use of technology by educational leaders. He has published in Principal, Principal Leadership and the Journal of the Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals.

David Whale












CMU Media Relations contact:
Lindsay Allen
989-774-7327
allen1lm@cmich.edu