anythings.org

From:

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia is the first state to mandate that public schools offer Internet safety classes for all grade levels — and it’s one of many measures being taken nationally to protect young Web users.

Virginia’s requirement initially stemmed from concerns about sex offenders preying on children online and a general increase in Internet-based crime. It took effect this school year.

In a recent presentation at a suburban Richmond high school, Virginia assistant attorney general Gene Fishel flashed an online social-networking profile a 15-year-old who says she enjoys being around boys and wants to meet new people. The real profile user turned out to be a 31-year-old man convicted of sexually abusing 11 children he met online and sentenced to a 45-year prison term.

A 2006 study by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children showed that about 13 percent of Internet users ages 10 to 17 received unwanted sexual solicitations.

All I have to say is GOOD, and maybe FINALLY. With so many kids using sites like MySpace, I’m sure that percentage of internet users 10-17 who have received unwanted sexual solicitations has gone up.

Is it just me, or does this make you feel old? Do you remember back in the day when you would go into the Yahoo! Chat rooms and someone would send you a message asking what you’re wearing or if you were in the mood to get frisky? I know chat rooms aren’t the thing anymore - and good thing, too, because they were kind of creepy - but places like MySpace are just as bad, if not worse. Innocent unaware teens are posting pictures of themselves with their friends at the beach, school, or wherever else, and someone is using those pictures and the information in their profiles to stalk them.

I personally do not have a MySpace - anymore. I used to have one a few years back before I transferred to UC Davis and got onto Facebook, but once I got onto Facebook and enjoyed the privilege of privacy, I never turned back. Eventually, I deleted my MySpace, and I wasn’t surprised when I logged in and found several messages from men I did not know that were extremely explicit. Sure, I reported them to MySpace, but we all know how well that works.

All in all, I think every state should mandate internet safety lessons for children in public school ages 13 and up. While I would discourage the lessons from making them paranoid, knowing basic safety tips and how to keep your real identity and location a secret are just as valuable as the ability to be able to read or write.