Parents urged to help with online safety

Parents and carers should help young people stay safe on-line, according to the acting principal at Brisbane Water Secondary College Umina campus, Mr Gus Vrolyk.

Mr Vrolyk said the school had recently dealt with a number of cases of inappropriate communication among students.

"Just recently we have dealt with a number of cases at school involving inappropriate commentary about others both in text messages and online in chat rooms and digital meeting spaces such as MySpace.

"Such commentary amounts to harassment and stems from conflicts originating at school.

"This often escalates the problem and involves others through the broadcasting nature of the medium."

Mr Vrolyk said: "We are increasingly living in a society dominated by the use of technology.

"Young people are in their element here as they have grown up in a world where personal computing, instant communication, and the Internet are the norm.

"They often have skills in using and moving in this digital world that those of us of an older generation find astonishing.

"The implication is that young people have the potential to roam far and wide in the digital world without direct supervision of parents and carers."

Mr Vrolyk said that children needed parents and carers to help teach them how to stay safe online and recommended several principles to help them achieve this.

"Spend time online with your children and explore websites together.

"Be aware of your children communicating with people they don't know, particularly in chat rooms.

"Set house rules about what information your children can give out.

"Put the Internet-enabled computer in a public area of the home, such as the living room.

"Talk to your children about their Internet experiences - the good and the bad.

"Teach your children the ways to deal with disturbing material.

"They should not respond if someone says something inappropriate and they should immediately exit any site if they uncomfortable or worried by it.

"Teach children that information on the Internet is not always reliable.

"Encourage children to treat others in the same way that they would in real life.

"Know the best ways of avoiding spam and how to identify it when it first appears.

"Spam is the email equivalent of junk mail or nuisance telephone calls.

"It can include computer viruses or pornographic content."

Mr Vrolyk said the Australian Government's website, NetAlert, aims to help provide a safe online environment for families, especially children.

School newsletter, 28 Sep 2007 Brisbane Water Secondary College Umina Campus