Cyber Safety From 'TeenAngels'

Children today often know a little bit more than their parents do—at least when it comes to the World Wide Web. Internet use is not only an integral part of school curricula, but it plays a large part in the way kids now interact with each other.

Monday night's Internet Safety Open House at George Washington Middle School was an opportunity for teens to talk with parents and peers about safe Internet use.

"In order to educate and prevent, information has to be presented from the kids to the kids," said Mary Lou Handy, a technology teacher and host of the open house.

With so much at a youth's fingertips, it is hard for parents to understand what is out there and how to use it. The Internet safety night was hosted by the national peer advocacy group TeenAngels and touched on topics such as cell phone safety, protecting privacy, online gaming, as well as how to avoid cyber-bullying.

Many of George Washington Middle School students are a part of the national organization TeenAngels. It is a program that helps educate parents and kids about online information. TeenAngels' members act as mentors to the younger children and are able to talk openly about their experiences online. Instead of hearing it from a parent or teacher, it is done on more level terms. 

The George Washington TeenAngels—and technology class students—made flyers, posters, and informational websites for the open house to help educate the visitors on various topics.

"It is unrealistic to cut children off completely from the Internet. There is nothing wrong with Internet access, but they must be open about their activities," parent Steve Cohen said. "Their Internet use should be supervised. You should be able to check up on them without their getting upset."

An important tip from the night was safeguarding children's online activity. 

"We support open dialogue between kids and parents," said Liz Iacono, a student member of TeenAngels. She explained that it is important not only for parents to be informed and aware of their children's online behavior, but to be open to each other about it.

A recent letter from Benjamin Franklin Middle School Principal Anthony Orsini stirred up debate about Internet use among middle schoolers. He suggested the use of almost all social networking websites is dangerous for middle school children. Orsini's comments landed him national media attention—appearing on Good Morning America, CNN, and WCBS—and started a dialogue locally.

"It is phenomenal that the topic is out in the open," said Kerri Reilly, a nurse at Benjamin Franklin. She has dealt with many students who have been victims of cyber-bullying and online difficulties. 

"All my students said that their experiences with bullying online have been more hurtful," Reilly said. "It is so important for this age group to be informed and empowered."

Even Handy had been affected by cyber-bullying. Her daughter was a victim of severe harassment while in high school in 1994. During the early day of AOL instant messaging, Handy's daughte, Mary Ellen, was not a typical victim—she approached her mom about the problem. 

"What cyber-bullying does to its victims and families is devastating," Handy said. Victims feel violated and alone. But Mary Ellen was able to fight through the tough time and is now empowered by it. She has opened up to others about her experience, and today is a role model for other cyber victims.

Many kids experience minor online problems such as hacking or password theft. But with outreach and education a lot of these problems can be prevented. The importance of limiting personal information online was also discussed as the Web's openness may allow anyone to access information. 

For more information on online safety visit wiredsafety.org.