Photo Credit: Quinn T.
Internet Safety
By Nishna Kothamasu and Hala Amer
There are many ways kids can stay safe on the internet. They should use strong passwords with letters, numbers, and symbols and never share them with strangers. They should also keep personal information, such as their address, school, phone number, and location, private. Kids should be careful when talking to people online because they may not always be who they say they are. Ms. Morgan, a 7th grade ELA teacher at Julia Landon College Prep (JLCP) said, “Internet safety is a big matter and even bigger outside of school… children are not fully aware of these unsafe internet opportunities and that they think the problem with the internet is brainrot and not safety issues.”
Online Dangers
Kids can face viruses, cyberbullying, hacking, and unsafe people online. Mr. Geary an 8th grade science teacher at JLCP said, “Students must look out for viruses, cyberbullying, unsafe people, and the chances of getting hacked by unknown or unsafe people.” Kids should avoid strange links, pop-ups, and unsafe websites. They should also think before posting pictures or videos. If someone online makes them uncomfortable or scared, they should stop talking to them, block them, and tell a trusted adult.
Social Media and Games
Social media and online games can also cause safety problems. Mr. Geary warns, “Social media can invade your privacy,” and kids should be aware of who they play with. Ms. Morgan explained that apps like Snapchat, TikTok, and Instagram can spread negative posts that affect children at school and at home. She also warned about playing games with strangers, especially on sites where you can communicate with random people like Roblox. She also says, “Yes, social media and online gaming can contribute to negative student impacts.”
Parents and Schools
Parents and schools both help keep kids safe. DCPS laptops have protection and filtering, but these protections are not perfect, especially outside the school network, as Mr. Geary told us. Ms. Morgan said, “We cannot limit unsafe internet safety materials as teachers, but parents can limit this and pay a lot of attention to this matter. Parents should check their children’s phones and social media and explain to them what can happen on the internet when it is not safe.” Parents can also limit internet use and monitor the apps and websites their children visit. Kids can stay safer online by using strong passwords, protecting personal information, avoiding unsafe websites and links, and being careful about who they communicate with. Parents and schools can help by teaching children about online dangers and monitoring internet use. By making smart choices, everyone can help make the internet a safer place for everyone!
Source: Take Action | Homeland Security
