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Readers' comments on any of these resources are alsways welcome! Do email us via feedback@netfamilynews.org.Help from ChatDanger.com: Beyond chat!
A lot of kids will tell you they know the basic online-safety rules. What they really want to know is why to follow them. That's what young people in the UK and Denmark told Childnet International as it was getting ready to expand and relaunch its one-of-a-kind Web site, ChatDanger.com.
One of the greatest things about kids, Childnet found in ChatDanger's first four years, is that they "want to tell others about what happened to them in order that others might learn from their experiences," said Childnet's Will Gardner, who led ChatDanger's relaunch. And that's what they did, in some of the more than 5,000 emails the site's received since 2000. Young site visitors kindly, thoughtfully told their stories - about how strangers have approached them, and in some cases threatened and exploited them, in emails, instant-messaging, gaming chats, phone texting, etc. - so their peers wouldn't make the same mistakes.
"This is definitely the most powerful part of the site," Will told me in an email. It's exactly what the kids Childnet surveyed asked for: the relevance of "real life examples, many of them told by children."
I should tell you that I've worked closely with Childnet in the past few years, so I have a bias, but because of this association I can also speak to the quality and sincerity of their work with young people. That, and the responsiveness of ChatDanger.com are what set the site apart (most online-safety sites consist solely of good but static information, with "nobody there" behind the site to respond to emails and questions - and kids are rarely involved).
The new 2005 version of ChatDanger.com now embraces all of kids' and teenagers' favorite communications tools: IM, game chat, texting, and email, as well as chatrooms. Which is all very well and good, I told Will, but isn't the site really for parents? No, was the reply. Or maybe in a Childnet-style, kid-oriented, round-about way it is:
"The site will help children help their parents," Will said. "Some parents we know are not as comfortable with new technology as their children, and this site gives the children the information with which to reassure their parents. If children can discuss the safety issues with their parents, their parents will be more relaxed about their child's use of the new technology." Now there's an incentive for kids to go to ChatDanger.com!
The site has a section for each communications tool (mobiles, IM, etc.), each with testimonials and advice from kids as well as tips for both personal safety and PC/phone security. Other projects by or contributed to by Childnet include: the Cable & Wireless Childnet Academy (international awards for young Webmasters); WebSafeCrackerz.com for teenagers, funded by MSN UK; "Jenny's Story" on video about her encounter with a stranger online; and the Parents Online animation about all aspects of parenting online kids.
I would love to hear about online-parenting resources that your family has found helpful - email me anytime via feedback@netfamilynews.org.
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