Standards and Purpose

Welcome:
My name is Jess Malinky. I'm currently a 10th grade Social Studies teacher at Brooke High School in Wellsburg, WV.



Goals:
The goals of this blog are to educate students, parents, and the community about the various threats lurking in the online world; how to protect themselves from these threats; and where to report misuse of the internet.



WV Content Standards:

21.0.9-12.3.TT.4

Student adheres to acceptable use policy and displays ethical behaviors related to acceptable use of information and communication technology (e.g. privary, security, copyright, file-sharing, plagiarism); student predicts the possible cost and effects of unethical use of technology (e.g. consumer fraud, intrusion, spamming, virus setting, hacking) on culture and society; students identify the methodologies that individuals and business can employ protect the integrity of technology systems.





21C.0.3-4.3TT.4

Student complies with county acceptable use policy. Student identifies the need for acceptable use policies (AUP), discusses the basic issues related to resposible use of technology and information, describes personal consequences of inappropriate use and begins to cite sources for information found through electronic searches.



21C.0.5-0.3TT.4

Student complies with county acceptable use policy. Students discuss legal and ethical behaviors related to the acceptable use of information and communications technology (e.g. privacy, security, copyright, file-sharing, plagiarism) and predicts the possible effects of unethical use of technology (e.g. consumer fraud, intrusion, spamming, virus setting, hacking) on the individual and society, as well as identify methods for addressing these risks.



Purpose:

This blog is intended to provide information about safe use of the internet. It is designed to educate students, parents, and members of the community of the risks posed in the cyber world as well as provide them with strategies to reduce their risks online.







Online Communities and Social Networking

What is social networking?
According to wikipedia.com, a social networking service is an online service, platform, or site that focuses on building and reflecting of social networks or social relations among people, e.g., who share interests and/or activities.  Examples of social networking sites include Facebook, Myspace, and Twitter.  Click here to read the entire wikipedia entry.

What are the risks of using social networking?
According to psychcentral.com, an Australian study showed that while 95 percent of students use social networking sites, that 30 percent of those believed that social networking posed no risks at all.  This study was done among 1,000 middle school students (grades 7-10), 200 teachers, and 49 parents.  The majority of parents and teachers were primarily concerned with risks like cyber-bullying or online predators, but were less concerned with identity theft.  Over 70 percent of students reported receiving unwanted or unpleasant contact from strangers while using a social networking site.  Click here to read more about this study.

Specific risks of social networking include exposure to identity theft, cyberbullying, cyberstalking, spam, online scams, online predators, and much more.

Safety Tips:
OnGuard Online has several great safety tips for teens and tweens using social networking sites.  Some of these tips include:
  • Keep some control over the information you post by restricting access to your page.
  • Keep your full name, Social Security number, address, phone number, and bank or credit card account numbers to yourself. (You could fall victim to identity theft which could cost you money, ruin your credit score, and much more!)
  • Make sure your screen name doesn’t say too much about you. (Even if you think it makes you anonymous, it doesn’t take a genius to combine clues to figure out who you are and where you can be found).
  • Post only information that you are comfortable with other seeing and knowing.
  • Consider not posting your photo. (It can be altered or broadcast in ways you may not be happy about).
  • Flirting with strangers online could have serious consequences.  (Some people lie about who they really are).
  • Be wary about strangers wanting to meet you in person. If you decide to meet them- go in the daytime to a public place, and bring friends you trust with you.
Where and when should you report concerns about social networking activity?
  • Trust your gut if you are suspicious about online behavior!
  • If you feel threatened by someone or uncomfortable because of something online, report it immediately.
  • Tell your parents, your teacher, or another adult you trust.
  • Report the behavior to the online social networking site.
  • Contact your local authorities about suspicious behavior.
  • Visit OnGuard Online for more information!

REPORT CONCERNS DIRECTLY TO YOUR SOCIAL NETWORKING SITE:
Facebook Report Facebook Abuse
Myspace Report Myspace Abuse
Twitter Report Twitter Abuse

How can using a chat room reveal your identity and put you in danger?
Using chat room seems harmless and sometimes anonymous, but the truth is that even the smallest pieces of information revealed in a chat room can give someone access to your identity.  Read this transcript of a chat room conversation to learn how online predators can use bits and pieces of your information to figure out your identity and location.

Wiredsafety.org offers these basic tips for people using chat rooms...
  • Use a non-gender specific name.
  • NEVER give out your real name or any other personal information such as your Social Security Number, address, cell phone number,etc.
  • Never agree to meet someone in person that you only know from online.
  • Make sure you report problems immediately to the chat room moderator.
  • Know how to keep records of chat room conversations in the event you would need to provide the authorities with information.

PARENTS and EDUCATORS, Check out this site to find out what the social networking “buzz” is all about!  This site has great information for adults concerns with the risks of social networking.
Netsmartz.org

REAL LIFE STORIES OF SOCIAL NETWORKING GONE WRONG!
Children Preyed Upon By Online Predators Amy's Choice Watch the video of what happens when a young girl meets up with a man she met online.
As seen on Oprah- the stories of children who fell victim to online predators.  Read the stories of two young girls who met online strangers in real life only to have the meeting end tragically.


Students Create a Facebook Page Posing as School’s Principal 
Read what happens when students assume the identity of the school principal and create a Facebook page intended to damage his reputation.
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