PLE 14.
I have completed the steps 1-3 on the PLE for this week.
The university course evaluation is done, checking my grades in moodle
are all up to date, and i took the survey.

Internet Safety Reflection

Internet Safety Reflection

I have read on may articles, but my article of choice is
"Let our voices be heard," by Elder M. Russell Ballard.
Briefly. it was about how bad choices in media result
in bad choices in our daily lives. If we make bad choices on
the internet we are also putting our families at risk. People
really do need to be careful what they view in media and choose
wisely what we watch and listen to.
I watched many videos from the PBS.org. I viewed many on
how adolescents use the internet to change their identity. They can
be who ever they want to be, and they have all their relationships with
people online! They dont meet them, they just talk online and send
pictures of what they want the other person to perceive them as.
I just can't believe how many kids use the computer for those reasons!
As i watched these videos online i feel like the kids act as if they know
of everything that can happen online, and what they should not be doing,
but i believe that knowledge is minimal. They really needed to be taught
how the internet can be dangerous and to always be very careful!
My most important take away's from reading and watching the online videos
is that you really can not trust anything online. You always have to be very
careful when it comes to students and kids at home online. You
have to be aware of what they are doing online at all times and
monitor them. As soon as you do not do this, the kids start to do
their private things online that you would never know of, which may
be unsafe and bad. Just like the girl that distant herself from her family
and was posting inappropriate pictures of herself online for everyone to see.
I have learned that to be aware and make the media and internet a
safe place for kids put limits on the computer, add blocks on the
media, set a good example, talk to them, limit the time you can use
the computer, put it in a common room, and watch your kids!
For the"doing" part of the assignment, i have talked to two different
people. When i asked them both on what they knew on the topic,
they both new that the internet could put their children at
risks, and that it is unsafe for them. They knew that kids sometimes
do go on chat room pages and that they were unsafe for all children.
I found that they knew a lot about internet and media safety but they
didn't know how bad it could be for some kids. For example,
when i told them about how many kids use the internet to talk with
people and use that for relationships by sending pictures of
themselves and making a self image that they are not, they were
shocked. Or about the story when the girl made her own website
displaying inappropriate pictures of herself and the parents
did not even know, they were disgusted. I dont think all parents
really do know all the risks of media and how unsafe it could be.
Like when a girl had been killed by her online relationship partner,
or older people trying to get young kids. After i had explained
all of this to them i told them some things that could help them in
making sure their own kids will be safe online too! I think by having
this talk with them, they will really take into consideration on how
dangerous the internet can be and they will keep a closer
eye on their children. One of the parents mentioned that they do leave
their computer in a common room, but the other has their computer in
a room in the house. I think by talking and explaining to them,
they will try and make the changes in their house to make it a
safer place for their children! Overall, i think this assignment
was a real eye opener, and hopefully
more people learn about it and we can teach those
who are lacking
this information. This way them and their children can be safer!