Students And Parents Learn About Internet Safety

By Eliza Hallabeck

There is no privacy on the World Wide Web, as Institute for Responsible Online and Cell-Phone Communication (IROC2) executive director and presenter Richard Guerry told Newtown Middle School students on Wednesday, March 31.

The PTA-sponsored presentation was one of three Mr Guerry did in the NMS auditorium between Wednesday and Thursday of that week. Two of the presentations were for students, and one night program on Wednesday was for parents and community members. 

“You are responsible for all your actions when using digital technology,” Mr Guerry said near the start of the presentation.

The presentation was called the “IROC2 2 Rock Concert,” and it focused on internet safety tips and ways students and parents can be responsible when using the web.

NMS PTA President Maggie Conway said the event came together for the community when Newtown High School PTSA President Sarah Beier and school district Security Director Mark Pompano started looking into what affects the Internet has on students.

According to IROC2, the institute’s mission is to demonstrate that all digital actions are public and permanent.

Mr Guerry, also according to the institute, created IROC2’s educational programs and resources, including the “IROC2 Responsibility 2.1C Concert,” which will be shown at the middle school.

A description of the program says “it offers the proactive communication of a necessary social norm regarding the utilization of current and future interactive digital tools and technologies that have such a major influence in most of our everyday lives.”

Mr Guerry spoke to students about the dangers of sexting (sending nude or suggestive photos over the cellphone), which include legal ramifications that could stay on a minor’s record for years.

The presentation also talked to cyberbullying, which leaves a trail of communications the victim can use against the bully, as Mr Guerry reminded the audience.

“So if you are a victim of cyberbullying,” he said, “relax.”

Safety precautions to keep in mind when using social networks include status updates that give away too much information, like specific dates and times someone leaves on vacation.

“Out of one million people, someone is going to take advantage of that,” said Mr Guerry. People can read status updates on a site like Facebook.com, and know when someone’s house will be empty.

Earlier in the morning, speaking to the same topic, School Resource Officer Lenny Penna also said the topic is an important one for students and parents to keep in mind.

Students can make comments innocently regarding their upcoming vacation, without realizing the possible ramifications, Officer Penna said.

Officer Penna also gave Internet safety presentations for students and parents at the start of the 2009-2010 school year, and said incidents involving the Internet have decreased at the school since.

Another thing Officer Penna said he asks parents to keep in mind is students can gain access to the Internet through different devices, not just a computer. While parents tend to monitor a computer in a central location of a house, he said it is easy to forget students can access the internet on their cellphones also.

A video on Internet safety with Officer Penna is available at www.newtownbee.com.

During his presentation Mr Guerry gave students a guideline to keep in mind when using the internet.

“You should never be positing something to the World Wide Web that you wouldn’t want the world seeing,” said Mr Guerry, “and that includes criminals.”

More information on the nonprofit organization is available at www.iroc2.org.