In educational settings and at home, cyberspace and electronic communication bombard the senses with rapid transmission of complex messages. Adult caregivers typically underestimate the influence of digital technologies on young children’s behavior and the potential for risk. While research has revealed that the Internet can be used for intellectual development, its use has behavioral repercussions and emotional implications as well.

The Internet can expose young people to information with questionable legitimacy, ideas that can be contrary to positive behaviors and messages that are intended to manipulate their actions or beliefs. The potential risks include exposure to online stalking; obscene interactions, including unsolicited exposure to pornographic material; spamming; flaming (online verbal abuse); hate speech; threats of violence; unwanted advances; consumer exploitation; and sexual predators.

Ensuring the online safety of young children is an ongoing process that needs to be of utmost concern to caregivers and child-serving professionals. It is not sufficient to merely identify risks or disseminate a list of practical online safety tips for children to memorize. It is necessary to develop prevention strategies that are relevant to children’s experiences online.

Just as we teach children to be good citizens of their communities, we can teach them to be responsible citizens of cyberspace. Many online resources are available for integrating key ideas associated with cyber-safety into the school curriculum and fostering responsible citizenship on the Internet. A good place to start is a discussion that centers on this tenet: In cyberspace - just as in our classrooms and on the playground - we need to respect the rights of others. Students also need to understand that, just like in the real world, misbehavior can have serious consequences. The most important thing that parents and teachers should remember is that they don’t have to be information-technology experts to integrate activities that teach the basics of such cyberethics. Indeed, integrating cybercitizenship activities into everyday educational experiences should be a natural and seamless way to prepare children for the digital world…

Source: St. Petersburg Times, FL
http://www.sptimes.com/2007/09/15/Opinion/Make_lessons_in_Web_e.shtml