Web Safety in the 21st Century

I teach high school students. Primarily freshmen and seniors. The skills needed most are in web safety. In our school it is becoming common for students to post inappropriate messages to blogs, forums, twitter, and other social networking websites. We must teach etiquette and safety so our students become good digital citizens. Students must understand these social networking sites are not "diaries" or places to "vent" and consequences exist in cyber-world just as in the real world.

Essential elements to a classroom policy guide would include: accountability for actions and behavior on-line, respect for others digital citizens, respect for equipment, respect for others work, and display integrity and demonstrate character when communicating and in work presented.

Parents and students should be aware of invasion of privacy and identity theft. We must understand information on the internet is not always secure. Keep you identity, home address, phone number, SSN, and other personal information off the internet. We need to be aware of internet predators. These are creative people who steal personal information of others and use it to open credit cards, bank accounts, or even break into existing accounts to steal money. It's a nightmare for anyone who has their identity stolen. Credit is tarnished and money can be lost for good.