Cyber-SafetyHow to Keep Your Kids Safe

Dacula Middle SchoolSeptember 22, 2015

Officer Petrocy

Why is cyber-safety important?Bullying

People use the internet as a way of bullying. We call this cyberbullying.

Victims of bullying have:• Lower self esteem, insecurity• Higher rate of depression• Higher absenteeism rate• Feelings of tension and anxiety• Decline in concentration and social interaction

Why is cyber safety important?

Kids who bully are more likely to:• Get into frequent fights• Steal or vandalize property• Experiment with cigarettes, alcohol or drugs• Skip or drop out of school • Have negative encounters with law enforcement • Carry a weapon

Why is cyber-safety important?Sexual Predators

Sexual predators use the internet as a doorway to interact with children. • Sexual predators like to use chat rooms, instant

messages and email.• Currently, there are over 644,865 registered sex

offenders in the United States; in Gwinnett County we have 461 registered sex offenders.

Why is cyber safety important?

Access to the internet is access to pornography

Pornography at a young age can lead to:• Children becoming victims of sexual violence• Sexual diseases, unplanned pregnancies, and sexual

addiction• Children sexually assaulting other children• Negative attitudes and values• Interference with a child's development and identity

What can I do as a parent?

GCPS Databases vs. Google

• Reliable• Accurate• No ads• Virus free• Age appropriate• Designed for educational use• Links have been evaluated for age

appropriate content

Multiple Access Points

Download this appfor your device. Get password from Mrs. Greer.

Icon onall schoolComputers.

Destiny, the Media Catalog, also is a search engine.

Take Control!

Take Control!Remember an electronic device is not a right, it’s a privilege. You own it, they don’t!Set rules about device:

• Set time limits and place of use• Require permission for use of the device• Require all passwords and codes/pins for device• Set appropriate consequences for misbehavior or

misuse of device

What Can I Do?

Audit the device• Inspect the device thoroughly • Check messages• Look at all photos• Check trash • Open recent searches• Click on apps to test them for authenticity