As teachers, it is extremely important that we are aware, not only of the benefits of technology, but the dangers that come with it. As we move closer and closer to an entirely technology-based world, there are more and more dangers discovered every single day. Sure, technology can be a great tool, especially in the classroom. However, there are many different reasons why, as teachers, we need to understand the risks that come with technology and how to avoid these unfortunate scenarios. Due to the fact that technology is on the rise, there are always new resources that help to describe what exactly is going on throughout the internet and how to make sure our children/students are staying on the right path. Us teachers need to band together as one, in order to overcome the dangers that lie within the internet.
There are many different resources that we can refer to in order to keep children safe. According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and netsmartz 93% of teens are online. That is an absolutely staggering number. That means that in a standard classroom of 20 children, over 18 of them are online regularly. They are constantly faced with the dangers of cyber-bullying, sexting, keeping information safe, etc. Probably one of the biggest problems in the United States today is cyberbullying. Cyberbullying is classified as bullying through any sort of internet applications such as instant messaging, text messaging, any form of social networking, etc. There are also several different forms of cyberbullying: Happy-Slapping (uploading a video of somebody being physically harassed or bullied that is intended to embarrass that person), Identity Theft, Photoshopping (altering digital images so that a person is placed in an embarrassing situation, Rumor Spreading, etc. While this might not sound as bad as “old-school” bullying (picking on a kid after school or getting in a fight), it can sometimes be far worse. Children often feel much more brave on the internet because they can type or post whatever they want, whereas they might be too nervous/afraid in person.
No child should have to deal with being bullied in any form, especially not through technology. Signs that indicate a student may be a victim of cyberbullying include: avoids the computer/cell phone/other technology, withdraws from family and friends, has declining grades, has poor eating/sleeping habits, etc. If you notice a student that displays any of these symptoms, you should contact a school counselor. It is extremely important to halt this sort of behavior before it gets out of hand. Here in the schools, there are typically “blocks” on the internet so that students cannot access certain websites. This is a great way to promote internet safety, and to keep children away from websites that may introduce them to strangers online. The National Conference of State Legislatures lists all the different laws for each state regarding internet filters. Thankfully, there are laws in place that require schools and libraries to have filters on their computers to protect the children. Children should never have to worry about being bullied or harassed, and it is important that we, as teachers, are there to protect them.
