Internet Safety

1. What article did you choose to read for your fourth article?
I chose to read Mario Hipol's article entitled "Fighting Internet Filth"

2. What were the most important things you learned from the readings?
I think a lot of these ideas have already been integrated into my home as I grew up - and the internet wasn't nearly as popular or readily available as it is today. It was interesting to read about how it is the father's duty to Preside over the family and how presiding was interpreted to mean setting the limits on the internet. I think that is one of the things that I have never really though about. One of the things that I'm guilty of is just being on the internet to pass time - I'll be doing my homework and have Facebook up or something like that. But there was a lot of practical advice - such as keeping the computer in a high traffic area and making sure that the cache is not cleared out when it shouldn't be. I think that my kids will have a harder time pulling the wool over my eyes because I would consider myself pretty technologically savvy, although who knows what technology will be introduced in the future!

3. How will what you have read influence your actions as a parent and/or teacher of children and youth?
I have a feeling the cyber bullying is going to become more of an issue in the older elementary grades - and will replace the actual bullying that takes place. It is relatively easy to sign up for e-mail accounts with false information and then send e-mails or post on people's facebook walls stuff that is not nice or appropriate. I will teach my students and children civility and proper etiquette in using the internet. Hopefully some of the lessons that I teach will stay with my students and they will apply the things that I teach.

4. How can you use what you have learned from the reading to have a positive influence on family and friends?
I think the positive influence is in sharing what information I have in helping others stay safe on the internet. It was interesting how one of the articles said that it is not practical to tell our children to stay away from the internet completely. I really liked that statement because it is very true. You can not expect your children to NOT use the internet. It is a wonderful resource. It was interesting at the end of this past General Conference...last session last talk, President Monson was very direct in his plea for members of the church to cease to use the internet inappropriately. It must be becoming a bigger and bigger problem for the church. But our prophet is telling us that we need to be careful - and it is always wise to follow the prophet.