Tech Abuse And Your Child
By Susan Dunn, MA, Personal and Professional Development Coach, Fri Dec 9th
New technology brings new ways to stay in touch and guard yourchild's safety but it also brings new ways to steal, cheat,bully, act irresponsibly, and harm others.
Bullying via camera cell phones and Internet is an internationalproblem and misuse starts younger than you might imagine. BBCreports that one in nine 5-9 year olds has a mobile phone, andover a third of primary school children with mobile phones havereceived name-calling text messages. 10% have received threatsat the level of “bullying”.
CAMERA CELLPHONES
Preteens and teens use cell phone cameras to photograph peersand humiliate them over the Internet, such as photographing astudent naked in the locker room. Text messages are also usedfor harassment and cheating on exams.
Legislation is starting about the privacy aspects of suchphotography, beginning with restrictions on federally-ownedland. The private sector is also swinging into action. The YMCAin Australia has forbidden the use of cellphone cameras in theirfacilities.
IDENTITY THEFT
You should also be aware that someone standing near you at thecheckout counter with a cell phone could photograph your creditcard and have access to all the information.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
While we all wait to see if social norms will develop regardingthe use of cell phones, what do you think? Personally, Iwouldn’t count on it or it would already have happened. Here aresome things you can do:
1.Be proactive.
Work with school officials about bullying. Ray Hughes, violenceprevention coordinator with the Thames Valley District Schoolsays a classroom or seat change can help the bullied, andbullies need consistent non-violent enforcement of consequencesfor
