How safe is it?
In my opinion the internet can be a fun, interactive, educational place for students to share, talk, research and play. However, it can also be dangerous and damaging if students aren't taught how to safely use the internet.
The internet has changed so much since I first remember starting to use it (and that wasn't really that long ago!). There are loads more chat sites, forums, social media websites and other forms of communication out there which kids these days visit frequently. To judge how safe they are really depends on how well informed the kids are to the dangers and scams that are out there.
Some of the dangers kids face when using the internet are; accessing inappropriate material, talking to dangerous people on chat sites, scammers and cyber bullying to name a few.
It only takes mistyping in a website and a child could be on a website that is not appropriate for them to be viewing, sure there are internet filters out there but they can't stop 100% of the sites you don't want your kids seeing.
Chat sites are a great place for kids to share ideas, find new hobbies and talk to new people in like-minded groups. It is also unfortunately a place where stalkers and pedophiles go to meet and lure in venerable children. The government has a website which has plenty of ideas on how to safe guard your child against situations when talking to someone that they don't know. http://www.cybersmart.gov.au
I believe that for children to safely use the internet they need to be informed about the dangers of the internet, what to do in situations when they don't feel comfortable or safe on the internet, have rules and guidelines about how long they can use the internet for and what they can view and have their internet use monitored by a parent or teacher.
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