Internet Safe Reflection

For my article of choice I read "I have a question" form the Ensign of March 2001, which address how parents can help their children take advantage of the many useful information and resources the internet provides, but at the same time how to avoid immoral materials and people that are out there. It gives us three suggestions in hoe to do this: parental awareness, family rules, and filtering. this includes having computer and internet rules in the home, always talking and showing support for children, and monitoring computer through filtering strategies internet server can provide. I watched many videos from the Netsmart which provided real life stories of how the internet and misuse of it led lives to chaos and conflicts that were hard or almost impossible to fix. I loved the cartoon animation form Ikeepsafe, it was engaging and fun, and still followed through with informing children to keep their internet safety by not talking to strangers, not giving information, or scheduling to meet people you have only met through the internet. I watched really good videos from the frontline PBS documentary. But one particular video that stood out to me form that website was the "cyberbullying". I was really touched by it, and so disappointed there are actual people in the world who encourage others to take their own lives. And even more shocking to see the type of websites that are dangerously available to children, and my future children, it scared me. I think the most important take away form the articles and videos I watched, was just being blessed for having the Gospel in my life and knowing that it can help as an extra support in trying to guide and protect our students and my children. As I watched the video "The child predator fear", where a mother desperately tries to protect their children from internet danger, but it is a very difficult thing to do having the gospel in our lives, but I noticed it is even more difficult to try to do it without the Gospel. Taking the knowledge I have from prophet revelations and teachings I can help my students be safe, and always council them in not doing anything dangerous and reckless on the internet.

The person I did my "doing" part with knew basic internet safety ideas, such as: having computer in open family space, where everyone can see you and what you are doing; give children time limit on computers; try to know their friends and passwords. The person was really shocked about the  "cyberbullying" video as well as I was, and was glad there are so many resources from church leaders that help us fight against all the danger that the internet holds, if not used properly. I shared Elder Bednar's talk, along with other videos and articles I read, and that stood out to me the most. Not much surprised me about the person's reactions, because they had the same reactions I had to the material we looked over and learned about. I think that the person being a parent will ponder more about internet safety and take it even more seriously in trying to prevent unwanted things happening to their children.