Online+Communications

= Talking Online... =

In what online situations should you get a “gut feeling” that tells you that you may be at risk?
While acknowledging the benefits of online talk and messaging, students learn how to handle situations or online behavior which may make them feel uncomfortable.Through a guided class discussion, students then learn strategies for recognizing and responding to risky online interaction.

**What are some of the opportunities and some of the pitfalls of connecting with people online?** The Internet gives you the opportunity to connect with people your age that aren’t in your close friend group,and with the Internet, you can work together with people in an online game or virtual world. However, dealing with online harassment can be a pitfall when connecting with strangers online.

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These ways of socializing and communicating can be fulfilling, and yet, they come with certain risks:

 * ** Inappropriate conduct: ** The online world can feel anonymous. Kids sometimes forget that they are still accountable for their actions.


 * ** Inappropriate contact: ** Some people online have bad intentions, including bullies, predators, hackers, and scammers.


 * ** Inappropriate content: ** You may be concerned that your kids could find pornography, violence, or hate speech online.

You can reduce these risks by talking to your kids about how they communicate—online and off— and encouraging them to engage in conduct they can be proud of.

Because they don’t see facial expressions, body language, and other visual cues we rely on offline, students may feel free to do or say things online that they wouldn’t otherwise. Remind them that behind the screen names, profiles, and avatars are real people with real feelings.

When you talk to your students, set reasonable expectations. Anticipate how you will react if you find out that he has done something online you don’t approve of. If your students confides in you about something scary or inappropriate they’ve encountered online, try to work together to prevent it from happening again. Since your students are closing in on being an adult, they need to learn how to behave and how to exercise judgment about using the net safely, securely, and in accordance with your classroom/school ethic.

**MORE**... [|OnGuard Online PDF] Letter to the Educator from CyberSmart Carnegie Mellon University's CyberAcademy


 * Return to Digital Citizenship Home Page **

Video courtesy of CommonSenseMedia.org [|OnGuard Online.gov]
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