The Somerville Police Department Community Policing Unit has been giving Internet Safety talks to schools and adults in town since 1998. At this time the department began to see child exploitation and predation on the internet as such a significant threat to young people that our program was developed to give kids the basic information and street smarts they would need to know how to handle a situation where they might be approached either online, or in person, or have inappropriate content sent to them, or asked of them.
This program has so far been given to all freshmen at Somerville and Immaculata High Schools, to grades four through eight at Immaculate Conception School, and to the sixth through eighth grades at the Somerville Middle School. One lecture has been also given to Immaculata parents who were interested in knowing exactly what their kids are doing on the net, and how to track them.
Basically, staying safe on the internet is all about exercising common sense. Just as you would with a stranger you met on the street, why would you give a stranger on the internet, (an even more potentially dangerous and anonymous stranger), any personal information. Online profiles, while kinda cool, are one of the first places an offender will begin. He will use your personal information against you. For example, he will use your favorite music selection in your profile to have something immediately in common with you. Online seduction is all about breaking down your barriers! Keep your guard up when chatting or instant messaging.
In and of itself, these things are fun and useful, but some caution must be exercised. Use the link below to Safekids and develop a signed contract with your kids in reference to internet privileges and behavior. This is a good example of what a contract should say. One of the most important things would be to have the computer in a common area, not a bedroom, attic, or basement, where your children cannot be easily, occasionally, monitored.
If you have any questions, are looking for more in depth information about this topic, or would like to have this lecture given to your group, please contact Officer Mark Butler at 908-725-0331, or e-mail at info@somervillepd.org .Below are some links that may be helpful to you! Happy surfing!
NCMEC - National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
FBI - Internet Safety (English)
FBI - Internet Safety (Espanol)
State of New Jersey - Megans Law Guidelines
State of New Jersey Sex Offenders
Safekids (Especially the contract)