NS Teens - Internet Safety for Teen and Children

One of the on going Hot Topics in our mom world is internet safety. We hear and read about it in the news of the horrific, scary and almost un-believable stories of children encountering predators, cyber bullying and receiving unsolicited pornographic material.

The truth is our tweens/teens are the techno generation with the ability to make friendships, play online games and interact with others across the globe, gone are the days of snail mail pen pals. They can send pictures, you tube their videos to be viewed across the world within seconds revealing often who they are, what they look like, what schools they attend and where they live to people they have never meet. They have access to retrieve information in seconds on any topic of their choosing, create online businesses, and the list goes on as to what this techno generation can do.

Today’s teens have a knowledge of the Internet that often surpasses that of their parents. Because so many teens are Internet savvy, it is imperative that they also have an understanding of the dangers that exist online and how to deal with them.

So, how do we keep this techno generation safe?

Thanks to MOMS Central for introducing me to NetSmartz, a leading online resource of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children has developed a website designed to educate, engage, and empower kids as Internet users. They offer information and support for parents, educators, law enforcement, teens, and kids. They even have a special area for teens where they show videos and comics featuring teen characters that discuss the harm people can cause on the web and also how it can be used in a positive way to empower teens. The videos go over topics such as social networking, cyber-bullying, and offline consequences. The cartoon videos also simulate interviews with teens talking about their Internet use. It is all done in a very hip and informative, but not lecturing, way.

So, if you need help in your mom world to create discussion about Internet safety, check out NetSmartz!