Internet Safety Teaching

Before doing this, I watched the video on Frontline: Growing Up Online. From this video, I learned about what kids are doing and thinking when they make these decisions. I have never understood about why people act certain ways online, and I realized that it is a way of experimenting with identity, which many people used to do through their actions. It was interesting to me to hear about the attention that these kids received and that motivated their actions. It addicted them because they received attention and it was something for them to do when they were bored. I also thought it was interesting that many of the students have relationships purely through the Internet.

I spoke with a fifteen year old who just started tenth grade. She hasn't had a lot of exposure to the Internet, but knows the basic principles.

This experience was valuable. It was interesting to get her persective. We talked about the identity that kids create on the Internet and how she has seen that in her life. We also discussed ways of preventing this and different thoughts she has about why this is a negative thing. She recently opened a Facebook account and enjoys being on this, but she was very clear that she has friends in reality and that they would rather spend time together; Facebook is just a tool that they use in boredom. I think this was a very good conversation because I was able to see more than just my point of view of the Internet.