Surfing
the Information highway
safely
http://www.swlauriersb.qc.ca/schools/recit/chatdanger
Presented by
Peter Bilodeau, Educational Consultant (RECIT)
The Internet –
Neither angelic nor demonic
 In the future, history may say that the Internet was the most
important invention of the 20th Century.
 The Internet allows everyone to share information world-wide.
 The Internet, by its nature, brings people together.
On the other hand…
The Internet –
Neither angelic nor demonic
The Internet has allowed …
 easier communication between criminal organizations;
 the birth of new forms of terrorism;
 the explosive growth of child endangerment;
The Internet –
Neither angelic nor demonic
The Internet is as dangerous as and no more dangerous than…
 electricity
 nuclear power
 gasoline
 bicycling
All of the above products have helped mankind but, improperly
used, can injury or even kill an person.
Sources of Possible Danger
 Chat Rooms
 Cyber-Bullying
Chat Rooms
 Chat rooms are Internet coffee shops – places where people
can meet.
 Generally, they are separated into groups of like-minded people.
 They are no more or less dangerous than brick & mortar coffee
shops – in an unfamiliar part of town.
Chat Room Notes
 My Space has 77,000,000 members; MSN nearly that.
 2% criminal element  1,540,000 criminals
 People usually lie about age. If under 21, increase by 2-5
years; if older than 35, same in reverse.
 Profiles: searchable; lock profile to friends only but even so…
 Some schools have banned My Space & MSN at home and
school
Chat Room Notes
 One twist: TV producers are creating MySpace profiles for
fictional TV characters.
 Problems: chain-mail; mail confirming unproven theft;
inappropriate pix; fake websites in student name.
 Say things without thinking; practical jokes; dares & bets;
posturing for popularity.
Chat Room Notes
 Good parts of chat areas: creative expression; a good place to
try on and act out; learn about street-level technology – Leads
to: new skills, new opportunities; collaborative global
citizenship; a new definition of “intelligent”; schools a safe
training ground.
 Are you tech-savvy? Risk takers; anticipate consequences;
 Problems non-truths & opinion mixed with fact – hate, racism,
weapons, suicide, violence
Chat Room Rules for Everyone
to Live By
 Never post personal information
 Never respond to a message from someone you don’t know
Chat Room Rules for Everyone
to Live By
 Never post your real name or address
 Block troublemakers
Chat Room Rules for Everyone
to Live By
 Don’t click on links in a message from people you don’t know
 Have an adult to turn to
 Save bad messages
Things to watch for
in Chat Rooms
 People who can’t get their story straight
 People who initiate sexual conversation
Things to watch for
in Chat Rooms
 People who don’t know the answers to teen culture questions
 People who want photos or to meet in person
 People who ask for too much information
More On Chat Room Profiles
Name
Birthday Birth Place
Current Location
Eye Color Hair Color
Height
Left/Right Handed
Heritage
The Shoes You Wore Today
Your Weaknesses
Your Fears
Perfect Pizza
Goal You’d Like To Achieve This Year
Cyber-bullying
In the middle ages, the Welsh said:
“It’s easy to be brave behind castle walls”
– Welsh proverb
Today, the proverb might read:
“It’s easy to be tough using an anonymous handle”
Cyber-bullying facts
 34% of Canadian students have been bullied at one time or
another.
 27% of those students have been bullied over the Internet.
 60% of students on-line pretend to be someone else.
 17% of students on-line want to "act mean to people and get
away with it“.
Cyber-Bullying & the law
 It is a crime to communicate repeatedly with someone if your
communication causes them to fear for their own safety or the
safety of others.
 It's also a crime to publish a "defamatory libel" - writing
something that is designed to insult a person or likely to injure a
person's reputation by exposing him or her to hatred, contempt
or ridicule.
 It is also a crime to spread hate or discrimination based on race,
national or ethnic origin, color, religion, age, sex, sexual
orientation, marital status, family status or disability.
if you’re cyber-bullied…

Don’t reply to messages from cyber-bullies.

Do not keep this to yourself! Tell an adult you know and trust!

Inform your Internet Service Provider (ISP) or cell phone/pager
service provider.

Do not erase or delete messages from cyber-bullies.
Useful Links
Don’t Believe the Type
http://tcs.cybertipline.com/
Wired Safety
http://www.wiredsafety.org/askparry/special_reports/spr1/qa8.html
Net Smartz Workshop – Real Life Stories
http://www.netsmartz.org/resources/reallife.htm#realamy
Cyber-Bullying. Ca
http://www.cyberbullying.ca/
Chat Dangers
http://www.swlauriersb.qc.ca/schools/recit/chatdanger