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Comprehensive Internet Safety Checklist for Educators Released by Dr. Nuccitelli

Posted May 15, 2013 By National Cyber Security
gI_126947_Educator Internet Safety Checklist-EISC-Internet-Safety-iPredator Image

 

Internet safety, cyberbullying, cyberstalking and cyber harassment are Information Age issues being presented to educators and their students of all ages and grade levels. To help educators, Michael Nuccitelli Psy.D., C.F.C., a New York State licensed psychologist and certified forensic consultant, has designed the Educator’s Internet Safety Checklist (EISC.) In addition to developing the EISC, Dr. Nuccitelli designed 25 other online risk assessment tools specific to the typology, age of online user and organization.

Just as all the checklist risk assessments (IISC Collection), the EISC can be purchased in the abridged or full version. Both tools include the exact same assessment instrument, but the full version has a considerable amount of additional cyberbullying and cyber attack prevention relevant information used for education and assessment. To view a sample of the items that are used in internet safety tools, feel free to visit iPredator Inc.’s Cyber Risk List web page or clicking on this link: Cyber Risk List Interested parties can visit iPredator Inc.’s internet safety website or click on the links provided here.

I. Educator’s Internet Safety Checklist-EISC (Full Version) $399.95
II Educator’s Internet Safety Checklist-EISC-ABR(Abridged Version) $49.95

Educator’s Internet Safety Checklist (EISC): The Educator’s Internet Safety Checklist is a 330- item data collection, diagnostic and informational tool for educators regarding a student’s preparedness and prevention of being cyber bullied, cyber harassed, cyber stalked, sexually solicited and/or victimized by iPredators. In addition to being a data collection tool and general educational template, the EISC can also be used as an adjunct to classroom projects, prevention education plans and educator training seminars on Internet safety. The EISC is designed for educators and educational institutions working with children, adolescents and young adults ages 9-21.

The goal of the EISC is to educate children on their vulnerability and risk potential of being targeted by an iPredator engaged in cybercrime, cyber stalking, cyber harassment, cyber bullying or trolling for a target to sexually victimize. In addition to an educational tool, the EISC has been designed to allow teachers, educators and pediatric professionals to interview, collect data and engage in a dialogue with children on their Information and Communications Technology (ICT) practices. The factors most problematic for children include inappropriate personal information disclosure, high-risk ICT behaviors and minimal iPredator awareness. The EISC also addresses the growth of mobile device technology and attempts by iPredators to infiltrate their target’s mobile devices.

Please note that all iPredator Inc. checklist & inventory tools have been formatted and designed to function as data collection, assessment, educational and internet safety monitoring tools. Of the 26 checklists & inventories offered, the IISC tools (14 Checklists) and IISC-ABR tools (13 Checklists) are formatted for verification and initial screening for internet safety, cyber-attack preparedness and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) weaknesses. The IPI tools (12 Inventories) are designed for inquiry, open discussion and inspection of internet safety, cyber-attack preparedness and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) vulnerabilities.

Michael Nuccitelli, Psy.D. C.F.C. is a NYS licensed psychologist and certified forensic consultant. He completed his doctoral degree in clinical psychology in 1994 from the Adler School in Chicago, Illinois. In 1997, Dr. Nuccitelli became a licensed psychologist in New York State (License # 013009.) In 2006, he received the Certified Forensic Consultant designation from the American College of Forensic Examiners Institute (Identification # 103110.) Given the nature of Information Age deception online, Dr. Nuccitelli is available to contact and always prepared to forward documentation of his identity and degrees.

About iPredator Inc.

iPredator Inc. is a New York State based Information Age forensics company founded to provide educational and advisory products & services to consumers and organizations on cyberbullying, cyber harassment, cyberstalking, cybercrime, internet defamation, cyber terrorism, online sexual predation and the new field the founder is pioneering termed, Information Age Forensics. Created by a NYS licensed psychologist and certified forensic consultant, Michael Nuccitelli Psy.D., C.F.C., their goal is to reduce victimization, theft, harm and disparagement from online assailants.

Contact:
Michael Nuccitelli Psy.D., C.F.C.
NYS Licensed Psychologist
C.E.O. iPredator Inc.
347-871-2416
Website: http://www.iPredator.co

Source:  http://www.prweb.com/releases/internet-safety/internet-safety-for-teens/prweb10734632.htm

Filed in Cyber Bully, Cyber Stalking, General

Cyber Bullying Prevention

Posted November 2, 2012 By

It’s no secret that Cyber Bullying and youth suicide are of growing concern and we are the first generation of parents to have to deal with this new threat to our children.

We watch the nightly news reports with unease as we hear of another child who has committed suicide as a result of cyber bullying and wonder what we can do to protect our children. The current measures which attempt to address bullying in our schools are failing because so many of them have failed to properly addressing the underlying dynamics which cause violence and these are: Shame and to a lesser degree, attachment. In addition to this our current views on bully management, often places the emphasis on punishment instead of prevention, and the reality is that the punishment only serves to enhance feelings of shame and in turn – increases the violent behaviour.

When we face a public health problem, an epidemic that is physically and emotionally harming thousands of young people, we need to rally our forces and do what is required to eliminate the problem. The time has come for us to acknowledge that violence in our schools is an issue that can be and must be addressed, and that it is not by preaching against the evil of violence, any more than by preaching against cancer, that the problem will be cured. It requires the willingness to look realistically at what we know, and to commit to doing what is necessary.

Deep fundamental shifts in our ways of thinking foster visible changes within society – understanding the deeper dynamics of violence such as bullying, leads to development of effective solutions both in the present and for the future.

I have looked at the root causes of violence, which are universal, and studied the most effective ways in which violent offenders are learning new behaviours all over the world. What I have learnt is that the purpose of violence is to force respect from other people. The less self-respect people feel for themselves, the more they are dependent on respect from others; for without a certain minimal amount of respect from others or the self, the self begins to feel dead inside, numb and empty. When people lack self-respect, and feel they are incapable of eliciting respect from others in the form of admiration for their achievements or their personalities, they may see no other way to get respect except in the form of fear, which could be thought of as a kind of substitute for admiration; and bullying does elicit fear, as it is intended to. Bullying in all its forms is intended to do just that, to get respect for those that have none for themselves. For when we feel a certain level of love and respect for ourselves we do not feel the need to get it from others by use of fear or force.

There is an epidemic of a lack of ‘self acceptance’ within our children and this may be where the cure to the problem of cyber bullying lies. When our children are worried about their ‘worth’ and ‘self esteem’ it creates dependence on peer acceptance and dependence on something so fickle, creates fear and anxiety.

If we really want to protect our children from cyber bullies, the only real and lasting protection we can offer them is to help them to learn Self Acceptance and Resilience.

No cyber bully can win against children, young people and adults who enjoy the mental, emotional and social well-being that emerges with simple self acceptance and resilience.

Amanda Robinson is the author of ‘The Silent Crisis – Simple Ways to Protect Children from Sexual Abuse’ and an ex police officer who has worked with both the victims and perpetrators of child sexual abuse. In the course of her work, she has developed a deep empathy and compassion for the victims of abuse and an in-depth understanding of the dynamics involved in child sexual abuse including the physical, emotional and spiritual wounds that are inflicted upon its young victims.

Hi Tech Crime Solutions


http://www.GregoryDEvans.com, http://www.hackerforhireusa.com, http://hiphopsecurity.com, http://TheCyberWars.com

Filed in Cyber Bully | Tagged: , ,

Awareness Against Cyber Bullying

Posted October 9, 2012 By

Internet has become the power capital of this world. Such is its impact that even children are under its awe thorough their formative years. Trick is simple: It makes life and socializing easy. Kids love making new friends on Facebook and MySpace and being one with those who seem to live many oceans apart. Admittedly, it has its positive undertones too, and allow a great learning experience.

Cyberspace has given rise to a latest form of crimes – Cyber bullying. People, who know about online ways, use this medium to influence teenagers strongly. Their effect is strengthened if you happen to show yourself and your house on a webcam. Slowly they will extract enough information from you to use against yourself. Extreme effects of cyber bullying are quite far-reaching. Even lonely women can get trapped in this cyber crime.

Cyber bullying laws are in

For instance, you may be conveyed that your parents are not guiding you in a proper way. You are befriending wrong people and you are following a wrong career. You may become ultra-dependent on the bully after a time. Your confidence will take a beating. These bullies slowly intrude into your daily habits and influence them. You will surely become introvert and go through depressive phrases. One wonders what happiness these bullies acquire from tormenting little kids.

There are cyber bullying laws prevalent in different countries that attempt to safeguard your interests. On your part, you should not post illicit photos, should not accept sexual mails and messages and not open up spam mails. Cyber bullying campaigns like COPRA are being run by national agencies or NGOS, who take strength from parent’s vigilance. Post 26/11, cyber campaigns have become prominent.

Responsibilities as parents

If you are the guardian or parent, you should make daily enquiries on your child’s workouts online. Allow restricted use and keep news of their online friends. Check if they have been referred by bona fide people. Give them quality time and encourage them to pursue offline hobbies like gardening or reading. Don’t pressurize them through strict schedules so that their state doesn’t become depressive.

If they are surfing porn on video blogging sites like YouTube, which may become an addiction. Some people get thoroughly harassed on their cell phone, and so it is not wise to allow little kids cell phone use. Certain agencies also give you regular reports if your kid gets unwanted texts.

Cyber bullying sometimes also takes the form of online stalking when it begins influencing daily life. You should take every step in pruning this bullying.

EBook awareness

To offer you great insight and awareness, we have come up with a well-compiled eBook on cyber bullying. You will benefit immensely from this eBook.

Do you want to learn more about Cyber Bullying?

Nicole Williams is the author of a new ebook about Cyber Bullying.
‘Stop The Bull – A Parent & Educators guide to Cyber Bullying’
www.CyberBullyingGuide.com

Hi Tech Crime Solutions


http://www.hackerforhireusa.com, http://computer-security-expert.com, AmIHackerProof.com, http://computersecurityexpert.net

Filed in Cyber Bully | Tagged: , , ,

Valassis Communications Supports Cyber Bullying?

Posted July 18, 2012 By StaffReporter
Picture 84

 

Valassis Communications

Supports Cyber Bullying

COULD THE LARGEST CYBER BULLY SCOT TERBAN AND HACKER BE EMPLOYED IN CORPORATE AMERICA?

“It has been a long journey,” Gregory Evans the Founder of LIGATT Security International.“Over 25 private investigators, in 5 countries on 3 continents.  Two federal and one state lawsuit. Twenty five subpoenas on every social media company worth over $100 millions. Ten more subpoenas from internet service providers. At least 70 hours on conference calls with corporations and universities around the world like Saltbush Assurance, DigiSafe Pty Ltd, Ionize Pty Ltd, SecureLink, Raiffeisen Informatik, McAfee, Frontline Security Solutions, Computershare, Symantec, Nessus, Alternative Technologies Inc., NYU, Georgia Tech, The University of Connecticut and the list goes on and on,” says Evans as he catches his breath. Then a silence and he starts again “We have contacted several government agencies, including the United States Army and Navy. We spoke to the FBI department that investigates contractors who are trying to get security clearances.   Yes, I said security clearances. Some of these bully’s work for government agencies or contract with them,” say Evans.  He continues with “the only way to fight these guys is to expose them to their employers and the other people they do business with,” say Evans as he sits back in his chair overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Marina Del Rey, California.

A large portion of society is under the impression that cyber bullying is only done by pre-adolescent kids & teens with extra time on their hands; Matter-of-fact it may start there, but it does not always end there. In the last 5 years since cyber bullying became a popular subject, most studies have been done using statistics derived from doctors, law enforcement & educational institutions, based on kids under 19 years of age.  We here at National Cyber Security (NCS) have decided to not only show that these studies are incomplete, but prove that age has nothing to do with being a bully.

To do this, National Cyber Security has hired me to become the point man on a new series called “Cyber Bullies and Hackers Exposed.” In this new series, we will reveal the names of these cyber bullies and the companies they are employed with.  Domestic and foreign companies will be profiled. Some of the people we will uncover have top security clearances within the government and/or are working as security professionals. We have contacted the agencies that issues government clearances with our findings. Additionally, we have contacted each company for a statement to inform them that they may have rouge employees working for them. In the first five articles of this series, some of the information released will be scary to many of our readers and they may feel as if they were watching the movie The Exorcist for the very first time.

If there is a bully there is victim, even though Gregory Evans does not like to be called a victim, that is exactly what he has become.  Before taking on this cyber task, I went straight to Google to find out what people had to say about Gregory Evans,  and LIGATT Security. All I could find was personal opinions and no facts. Even the CBS Expose featuring Mr. Evans contained no facts.  Just a lot of questions, which  surprised him because in most news investigation segments there are screaming victims, customers, and vendors that did not get paid, or innocent victims who were conned into buying snake oil, that was being sold as a cure for cancer.  Evan and family and watched the video in awe shaking their heads wondering, what, when and why!

I then went to Evans website http://www.GregoryDEvans.com and read every detail, and printed all of his credentials. I observed some of the newspaper articles referencing Evans company, product, and background went as far back as 1991. That was before most of the bloggers, who are as my kids would say, “hating” on Gregory Evans. I will go on record to say, I spoke to his father, mother, elementary, middle school and high school friends and they all had the same thing to say about their hero and favorite son, he was hacking before anyone knew what hacking was in 1983. I am not going to go into details about his background, but feel free to visit his biography website.

Imagine a cyber bully employed by a major company as their IT manager or worse, their computer security analyst.  This person has access to all the information within that company, including customers’ personal information as well as the company’s thousands of employees’ electronic records.  They could use the company’s network to register domain names, hack into computers, spam the company’s employees or post hate messages on blogs, all right under the nose of the CEO.

We will meet that person,  Scot Terban of Valassis Communications.  In 2009, there was a “cyber hit” put out on Gregory Evans and his company LIGATT Security International. This “hit” was called “Operation Nigger Matrix.”  This 18 page report, that uses the word “nigger” over 30 times, describes how to ruin Gregory Evans and his company’s reputation.  What makes this even more alarming is that Scot Terban is a very recognized contributor in the computer security industry.

For almost two years using the Valassis network, their computers and other company resources, Terban set up bullying websites, encouraged racial divide in the security industry and on February 2, 2011 hacked into LIGATT Security’s network and posted business and personal emails along with the company’s employees personal information including social security numbers.  All of which is outlined in “Operation Nigger Matrix.”  Valassis Communications’ legal council, David Henessey, was informed about Scot Terban’s actions and even after 5 phone calls and 3 emails we still could not get a comment. We held on for an entire month’s since we contacted David Hennessey to see if there would be any actions taken against the rouge employee and at the time of this story he is still working in computer security for the company.

In fact Valassis Communications, which is a publicly traded company — trading under the symbol VCI, has stood by Scot Terban’s actions. What most people, including Valasis (until they were recently notified) don’t know is that Scot Terban has been under FBI investigation for hacking into LIGATT Security’s network. He was part of a state lawsuit under the alias Crabby Ol Bastard and now he is part of the Federal Lawsuit being filed in the LIGATT hacking case.

Below you will find screen shots, copy’s of lawsuits, company subpoenas, emails, and third party evidence that  during business hours, working at Valasis Communications, Scot Terban, used the company’s computer network and resources to harass, stalk and hack into the networks of LIGATT Security International.

 

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This is the original page of “Operation: Niggermatrix” which was published around October 2009. Although the picture is not of Gregory Evans.

 

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When reading the article below I felt that who ever was the originator of this “Matrix” had some type of hate towards Gregory Evans and his company.  I am not African American, but I am still offended about how loosely he uses the “N” word.

 

_____________________

I checked the investor message blogs during the same time period, where they were discussing manipulating the stock market to see what was being said about Evans and LIGATT, and there was a lot of what people in the stock world called bashing.  Again who ever is the author of this mission took a lot of time and was very detailed. 

 

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The sentence below “trash his company and reputation in every and all ways possible,” is what Scot Terban and his friends have pledged to do for the last three years. 

 

__________________________

When I came across this next chapter called “Raid Planning”, you would have thought that a Navy Cyber Seal Team 6 was coming for Evans and his team.  I want all the readers to take note the section “Leave racist, homophobic comments on his blog.”  They could have stopped at his blog, but racist comments can still be found on CNN, Fox News, Youtube and more. 

_______________________

When I was combing through all the Youtube.com videos for Gregory Evans, I came across a rap video made by Chris John Riley, who is a friend of Scot Terban and also appeared in the CBS interview about Gregory Evans. It was a remix of the great rapper Eminem. I thought is was funny until I read the section below, that talks about “Create remixes, youtube poopz….”  

_______________________

Remember what the author said about about leaving racist comments on youtube video blogs?  Well look at some of the video comments below.  

 

 

 

 

__________________________

August 27, 2010 after almost a year into the “Operation” Gregory Evans and his companies LIGATT Security International Inc and SPOOFEM.COM USA, Inc filed a lawsuit on 24 John Doe’s. Why, John Doe’s? I ask Gregory Evans and he said “We did not know any of these individuals”.  They were affecting stock prices and our shareholders could not tell what was real and what was not real.  Later we find out that John Doe #20 was Scot Terban. 

 

 __________________________

In his own words below, Scot Terban brags about being John Doe #20.  In-addition he admits that he is working with the other John Doe’s which show signs of a conspiracy. 

______________________

Below you will see the arrogance Scot Terban displays, as if “I am untouchable.” This alone proves to any judge in the up and coming Federal Lawsuit that Scot has been cyber bullying and cyber stalking.

 

________________________

I was truly wondering when did Scot Terban have time to post each of these articles while working at Valassis Communications. 

 ________________________

 

There is a website that hackers love, called Pastebin. Pastebin allows anyone to post anything on the site without asking for any information.  This is the site that all the hackers use to post all the spoils of their crimes.  They think that since they are not providing their information that they are anonymous and that is untrue.  As you can see below, this is where Scot Terban posted employees of LIGATT Security International personal information, including social security numbers in Pastebin, while working at Valassis.  

 

 

_________________________

 

Scot Terban proceeded to encourage people to file fake lawsuits in Gwinnett County Courts so he could then post the lawsuit on the internet. I have found 3 lawsuits that were filed, and then dropped. Evans was never served but the law suit ended up at a website that all the cyber bullies and cyber stalkers use to post about Gregory Evans and his companies called attrition.  

 

 ______________________

On January 25, 2011, eight days before LIGATT Security International was hacked, a website called LIGATTLeaks.org appeared.  An email then was sent out to all the employees of LIGATT Security International from Scot Terban.  He was looking for information to post on the site about Gregory Evans and his companies.

_____________________________

February 2, 2012 will always be known as D-Day in the cyber security industry. The day the “No 1 Hacker” was attack.  I do find it a big coincidence that 8 days before a website called LIGTTLeaks.org was started and now LIGATT gets hacked and over 80,000 emails are exposed and the first place they are posted is on LIGATTLeaks.org.   In fact why would someone start a website called LIGATTLeaks without having any information to post? I was puzzled for hours thinking about this, then it hit me “like a ton of brinks,” as the old adage goes. They had already hacked into the company before setting up LIGATTLeaks.org.  They just waited until February 2, 2012  because that was Gregory Evans birthday. This is like a Hollywood movie. 

________________________

 There was a ligattleaks website setup and minutes after the hack information was being posted on twitter and ligattleaks.org.  All off this took place between 12:30pm and 1:130pm. It was confirmed that Scot Terban was at work at Valassis.

 

___________________________

Around 2pm on February 2, 2012 Gregory Evans was on the phone with his attorneys, the FBI and several well known international hacking groups. After a short investigation LIGATT was able to narrow it down to 8 John Does. One of those John Does is know other than Scot Terban.  Below you will see where Scot Terban admits he registered the domain name Ligattleaks.org, but denies the hacking, sending emails or even posting anything on any  site.  But we will prove that he is lying further into the story. 

__________________________

______________________

 

_________________________

Below you will see the subpoena that went out GoDaddy.com and 1&1 Domains to find out who registered the domain names. Although there are more subpoenas and different company’s such as Twitter, Hushmail.com and Pastebin.

 

 

 __________________________

 _________________________

The following documentation that was given to the attorneys for LIGATT Security and Gregory Evans is the most important evidence proving that Scot Terban used Valassis Communications network to pull of  his part of the operation.  Below you will see the IP Address 74.121.100.5 which is registered to Valassis. 

_______________________

If you remember Interrogatory No. 7 that Scot Terban signed under oath to a Federal Court that the only “domain names,” he owned or operated was http://krypt3ia.com, ligattleaks.com, ligattleaks.net and ligattleaks.org.  The truth is he did not know the subpoenas had already gone.  The truth is, Scot Terban registered 6 other domain names which were variation of the domain names Gregory Evans and LIGATT Security owned. 

________________________

Below is a website that shows who the IP Address 74.121.100.5 is registered to. Yes Valassis Communications.

 

 

 

___________________________

To all the hackers and cyber thieves out there thinking that you are anonymous….. You really are not. Each one of those links were to personal information that was posted in Pastebin.com. There was over 300 links and Pastebin.com turned over all the IP Address for each one. Note the IP address third from the bottom. Look familiar? It is the same one that registered to Valassis Communications.  Again, additional evidence, that Scot Terban cyber terror crusade continued while working at Valassis.  What makes this worse is that the link is for almost 60 employees who worked for LIGATT Security International.  Having a problem with Gregory Evans is one thing, but to put the employees personal information for all the identity thieves to have it is another.

_______________________

As my my son would put in a text message, “LOL and SMH,” when I was given this letter that Scot Terban’s attorney sent to Gregory Evans when he contacted Valassis corporate attorney Mr. Hennessy about this article and Scot Terban’s actions. “All of sudden he is worried. All of sudden he is trying to hide behind the law. For almost three years he bullied, stalked and hacked into our network and now he wants to act like he is a victim,” says Evans.


 

 __________________________

I have found that Scot Terban is 1 of 2 ring leaders when people want to go after Gregory Evans and may not have the courage themselves, they call on Scot Terban.  On March 24, 2012 a internet security blog, went to a website owned by Gregory Evans company called AmIHackerProof.com and performed a website security scan on their site infosecisland.com. Not only did they perform the scan they also purchase the report for $24.95.  After they purchased and saw what AmIHackerProof.com reported they sent the following email.

 

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The following is the reply Gregory Evans sent back to Michal Menefee.

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Three days after the exchange of emails between Gregory Evans and Michal Menefee, Scot Terban posted the story  on infosecisland.com. Proving that Scot Terbans, mission in life is not to save the world, but to terrorize Gregory Evans and his companies anyway he can.

____________________

Coming To NationalCyberSecurity.com

- Part 2 – “The Largest Cyber Bully and Hacker Employed In Corporate America and the Government.” Who else was involved and the companies they work for.

- “What hacker is working as a snitch for the FBI” – July 19, 2012

Filed in Cyber Bully, Cyber Stalking, Featured Stories, IT News and Information | Tagged: , , , , , ,

Tips For Parents and Guardians

Posted May 22, 2012 By hitech
internet_predators_sizedsized1-291x300

I recently came accross a great website called lindenhurststrangerdanger.com and Raising Arizona Kids magazine.  They had some great information about child dangers and internet safety tips for kids.   The following presentation and information I think we can all live by.

Making social media safe for kids

 

 

View more PowerPoint from Raising Arizona Kids magazine

Making Social Media  Safe for Kids Sponsored by: Chi’s Martial Arts Personal Safety Programs

  1. Presentation Goals
    • Explain the various privacy settings on the major social media tools (Facebook, Twitter, MySpace)
    • Share tips on teaching your kids about social media and communicating online
    • Provide resources for further research

    *It is much easier to talk to your kids about being safe online, if you are using the tools themselves. We strongly suggest setting up accounts on the sites we discuss.

  2. Facebook
    • Set-up an account on www.facebook.com
    • Minimum age is 13
    • To open your profile, click on your name.
    • To change your privacy settings, go to the ‘Account’ tab

    Home Screen

    • Click on the ‘Privacy Settings’ link
  5. Privacy Settings
    • First click on ‘Personal Information and Posts’
    • Children’s profiles should be set to be viewed by ‘Only Friends’
    • For older children, you can set-up groups that are blocked from viewing certain information.
    • For example, pictures are not viewable by contacts labeled as ‘Professional’
    • To create labels for your child’s friends, click ‘Edit Friends’ under the ‘Account’ Tab
    • All your child’s friends will appear. Click the drop down menu next to each name to label.
    • Back under Privacy Settings, you should also check your child’s search restrictions.
    • Children should be searchable only to friends and should not appear in public search results.
  10. MySpace
    • Set-up an account at www.myspace.com
    • Minimum age is 13
    • Less privacy settings and minimal control over profile compared to Facebook
    • This is an example of a profile page.
    • To view privacy settings, click on ‘My Account’ tab
    • Children’s profiles should be restricted to ‘My friends only’
    • Photos should not be permitted to be shared or emailed
  13. Twitter
    • Set-up account at www.twitter.com
    • No minimum age
    • Everything public and available to search engines (unless protected profile)
    • This is what your home page will look like.
    • Click on ‘Settings’ to change privacy settings
    • Child’s username should not reflect their real name
    • Others should not be able to find by email address
    • Tweet location should not be checked
    • At the bottom of the screen, you will see a box for protect my tweets.
    • Checking this box will give you complete control over who sees your information, and tweet stream.
    • A child’s profile should not have their location or a picture of themselves.
  18. Other Tools
    • Parents should also be aware of the following social media sites/tools:
    • Chatroulette is a video messaging tool that assigns you to chat with random people.
    • There have been several reports of inappropriate behavior and nudity.
    • Foursquare is a geo-location application that awards points for ‘check-ins’ at businesses, points-of-interest, etc.
    • A child’s location should not be broadcasted. Predators could pick up on patterns and schedules.
  19. Benefits of social media for kids
    • Opportunity to practice communication skills at a younger age:
      • Blogs: Kids express themselves, learn to form paragraphs and establish a flow in their writing
    • Connect with out-of-state family and friends
    • Opportunity to establish themselves and profile projects for colleges/jobs
  20. Teaching your kids about social media
    • Establish expectations at an early age:
      • Phones: Overages must be paid by child, restricted phones for younger kids (only dial home, 9-1-1)
      • Never give out personal information: address, phone, email, etc.
      • Don’t click on links that you don’t know who they’re from
      • Only watch YouTube when parents are in the room
    • Limit time on Internet to when parents are home or for certain length (1 hour after dinner, when homework is done)
  21. Resources Search "internet safety" on www.raisingarizonakids.com
  22. Resources (cont.)
    •   Watch PBS Frontline episode “Growing Up Online”
    • http://www. pbs .org/ wgbh /pages/frontline/ kidsonline /
    • For more information on particular tools:
    • www. facebook .com/safety
    • www.twitter.com/privacy
    • www.myspace.com/safety
    • To watch the video of the “Making Social Media Safe for Kids” panel discussion, visit:
  23. Special Thanks to:
    • Oden Hughes
    • Jeff Moriarty
    • Karen Barr
    • Tyler Hurst
    • Casaundra Brown
    • Calie Waterhouse
    • Devon Adams
    • The Unwin Family

    MADCAP Theater Social Media Club Phoenix Raising Arizona Kids  East Valley Tribune Charlene Kingston SocialReflections.com Banner Health PV Mom's Club

Allowing kids to go online without supervision or ground rules is like allowing them to explore a major metropolitan area by themselves.

The Internet, like a city, offers an enormous array of entertainment and educational resources but also presents some potential risks.

Kids need help navigating this world. Kids go online almost anywhere. They surf the Internet and send messages from a home computer or one at a friend’s home, library, or school. Kids connect at coffee shops and other “hotspots” using laptops and wireless connections.

Internet-enabled, video-game systems allow them to compete against and chat with players around the world.
Wireless devices enable kids to surf the Web and exchange messages, photographs, and short videos from just about anywhere.

Where Do Kids Connect?
You can’t watch your kids every minute, but you do need to use strategies to help them benefit from the Internet and avoid its potential risks. By exploring the Internet with your kids, you greatly expand its capacity as
an educational tool. By providing guidance and discussion along the way, you increase kids’ online skills and confidence along with their ability to avoid potential risks. And you might be surprised by what kids teach you at
the same time.

According to the U.S. Department of Education, 23 percent of nursery school children in the United States use the Internet, 32 percent of kindergartners go online, and by high school 80 percent of children use the Internet.

We at the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children® (NCMEC) urge you to do one of the single most important things to promote safety — begin a dialogue with your kids about the rewards and potential risks of Internet use. We also encourage you to visit the NetSmartz® Workshop at www.NetSmartz.org and NetSmartz411SM at www.NetSmartz411.org or call 1-888-NETS411 (638-7411) to learn more about online safety.

It’s up to parents and guardians to assess the potential risks and benefits of permitting their kids to use the wide range of Internet websites and applications available. This brochure provides a list of the most popular
online activities for kids along with the strategies for and benefits of reducing the potential risks associated with those activities.

U.S. Department of Education, “Rates of Computer and Internet Use by Children in Nursery School and Students in Kindergarten through Twelfth Grade: 2003,” in Issue Brief, October 2005, page 1, accessed February 9, 2009, at http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2005//2005111rev.pdf.

Browsing the Internet
Browsing the Internet is like having the world’s largest library and entertainment system at your fingertips. Kids are able to read stories, tour museums, visit other countries, play games, look at photographs, shop, and do research to help with homework. Kids may come across websites containing adult images or demeaning, racist, sexist, violent, or false information.

Many Internet service providers (ISPs) offer filters to prevent kids from accessing inappropriate websites. Contact your ISP about what safesearch options they offer. Remember, as a consumer you have a right to choose an ISP with the services meeting your family’s needs.

Choose search engines carefully. Some are specifically designed for kids, and others offer kid-safe options.

Tell kids when they come across any material making them feel scared, uncomfortable, or confused to immediately tell you or another trusted adult. Help kids find information online. By searching the Internet together you help
them find reliable sources of information and distinguish fact from fiction. It is hard for kids to distinguish reliable sources of information from less reliable ones. Some believe because information is posted online it must be true.

Using E-mail
Adults and kids use e-mail to communicate rapidly and cost-effectively with people all over the world. E-mail transmits messages, documents, and photographs to others in a matter of seconds or minutes.

Kids are able to set up private accounts through free Web-based, e-mail services without asking permission from parents or guardians. Anyone using e-mail is vulnerable to receiving “spam,” messages from people or companies encouraging recipients to buy something, do Potential Risks
Tips to Minimize Potential Risks

Talk with your kids about their e-mail accounts, and discuss the potential risks involved. Remind them to never share passwords with anyone but you, not even their closest friends.

Before you sign up with a service provider, research the effectiveness of its spam filters. You may also purchase spam-filter software separately. Teach kids not to open spam or e-mails from people they don’t know in
person. Remind them not to respond to any online communication in a sexually provocative way. Ask them to show you suspicious communications.

If your kids receive e-mail containing threats or material making them feel scared, uncomfortable, or confused, report it to your service provider. Your provider’s address is usually found on their home page.

something, or visit a particular website. Spam may be sexually suggestive or offensive in other ways.

Senders sometimes disguise themselves, pretending to be someone else — a friend or acquaintance, a well-known bank, a government agency — for illicit purposes. This is known as phishing.

Instant Messaging
Instant Messaging (IM) allows adults and kids to have conversations in “real time” through their computer. IMing is particularly appealing to kids who use abbreviated lingo to communicate with each other. Most IM services
offer a feature showing a user’s contacts, known as a “buddy list,” which tells the user whether a “buddy” is online and available to chat.

IM is one method used to cyberbully, harass, or intimidate others. It may also be used to engage kids in a sexually explicit conversation. IM interactions may go from an innocent conversation to a sexually explicit or otherwise
inappropriate exchange without warning.

Social Networking
Social-networking websites allow kids to connect with their friends and other users with similar interests. Kids socialize and express themselves by exchanging instant messages, e-mails, or comments and posting photographs, creative writing, artwork, videos, and music to their blogs and personal profiles.

Some 55% of online teens have profiles on a social-networking website such as Facebook or MySpace.

A survey of 10 to 17 year olds revealed 34% had posted their real names, telephone numbers, home addresses, or the names of their schools online where anyone could see; 45% had posted their dates of birth or ages; and 18% had posted pictures of themselves.
Remind kids to IM only people they know in real life and who have been approved by you.

Use privacy settings to limit contact to only those on your child’s buddy list. Make sure other users cannot search for your child by his or her e-mail address and username.

Make sure both your kids and you are familiar with the blocking features available on most IM services. Tell your kids to block any sender they don’t know who IMs them.

Take the time to learn the online lingo used by kids so you understand what they are talking about with each other.

What’s a P911? It’s shorthand for “parent alert” — a code some kids use to let others know a parent or guardian is watching. If you have trouble translating your kids’ online “lingo,” visit www.NetSmartz.org. There you’ll find a list of popular terms and abbreviations used in IM and chatrooms.

Tips to Minimize Potential Risks
Some websites and services ask users to post a “profile” with their age, sex, hobbies, and interests. While these profiles help kids “connect” and share common interests, potential exploiters may pretend to be someone else and can and do use these profiles to search for victims.
Kids sometimes compete to see who has the greatest number of contacts and will add new members to their lists even if they don’t know them in person.

Kids can’t “take back” the online text and images they’ve entered. Kids may post information and images that are provocative and inappropriate. Once online, “chat” as well as other Web postings become public information.
Anything posted online may be saved and forwarded to an unlimited number of users. Remind kids once images are posted they lose control of them and can never get them back.

Kids have been reprimanded by their school administrators and families; denied entry into schools; and even not hired because of dangerous, demeaning, or harmful information found on their personal websites or blogs.
Tips to Minimize Potential Risks
Urge kids to use privacy settings to restrict access to profiles so only those on their contact lists are able to view them.

Remind kids to only add people they know in person to their contact lists.

Encourage them to choose appropriate screennames or nicknames — such as those that refer to sports and interests, but are not sexual, violent, or offensive. Make sure the name doesn’t include information
revealing their identity or location.

Visit social-networking websites with your kids, and exchange ideas about what you think is safe and unsafe. Ask your kids about the people they are communicating with online.

Insist your kids never give out personal information or arrange to meet in person with someone they’ve met online without first checking with you.

Encourage your kids to think before typing, “Is this message hurtful or rude?” Also urge your kids not to respond to any rude or harassing messages or ones making them feel scared, uncomfortable, or confused.

Have them show you such messages.

Cellular Telephones/Wireless Devices and Texting

Many parents and guardians look at cellular telephones as a necessity for their kids. It is reassuring to know they may reach you or call for help in an emergency. Cellular telephones/wireless devices may also be used to send
text messages, images, and videos.

Cellular telephones make it easy for kids to communicate with others without their parents’ or guardians’ knowledge.

Kids are increasingly using cellular telephones/wireless devices to take sexually explicit photographs of themselves and send them to their friends. Once these photographs are sent, there is no way of getting them back. In some instances children have been prosecuted for production of child pornography for taking these pictures.

Kids may also take embarrassing or revealing photographs of others and post them to the Internet, leaving victims few options to defend or protect themselves from this form of bullying.

Potential Risks

Posting Videos and Photographs Online Webcams, cellular telephones, and digital cameras allow kids to post videos, photographs, and audio files online and engage in video conversations.

Kids often use this equipment to see each other as they IM and chat.
Webcams are often used to help kids stay in touch with family members and friends including traveling parents and guardians and those living in other areas.

Create rules about the appropriate use of cellular telephones/wireless devices and set limits, including who your kids may communicate with  nd when they may use their cellular telephones/wireless devices Review cellular-telephone/wireless-device records for any unknown numbers and late-night telephone calls

Teach your kids to never post their cellular telephone number anywhere online

Talk to your kids about the possible implications of sending sexually explicit or provocative images of themselves or others

Think about removing the Internet features from your kid’s cellular telephone/wireless device through your service provider or consider creating settings to control or prohibit access to the Internet, e-mail, or text messaging

Tips to Minimize Potential Risks
Webcam sessions and photographs may be easily captured and saved, and users may continue to circulate those images online. In some cases people believed they were interacting with trusted friends but later found their images were distributed to others or posted on websites.

Capturing, sending, and posting sexually provocative and inappropriate images may lead to legal implications and other unexpected offline consequences.

Potential Risks
Online gaming involves playing a game over a computer network, often on the Internet, or Internet-enabled game console. Online gaming allows kids to engage with and challenge players from around the world. Many online games have text, chatroom, or IM functions, allowing players to communicate as a group or in private. Some even allow users to speak directly to each other using voice-enabled headphones. In addition online games often have associated online communities for players to share experiences and strategies. In many ways online games and gaming communities serve as a forum for social networking.

Online Gaming
Kids should use webcams or post photographs online only with your knowledge and supervision.

Remind your kids to ask themselves if they would be embarrassed if their friends or family members saw the pictures or videos they post online. If the answer is yes, then they need to stop.

Remind kids to be aware of what is in the camera’s field of vision and remember to turn the camera off when it is not in use.

Caution kids about posting identity-revealing or sexually provocative photographs. Don’t allow them to post photographs of others — even their friends — without permission from their friends’ parents or guardians. Remind them once such images are posted they lose control of them and can never get them back.

Tips to Minimize Potential Risks
There is never any guarantee your kid is communicating with other kids, those they know in person, or those approved by you Potential Risks

Other Ways to Enhance Kids’ Online Safety Skills
Because we use the Internet in different ways, kids and adults may learn from each other. By talking about Internet use with your kids, you are opening the door to discussing the important issues of personal safety and helping them engage in responsible behavior. Use this brochure as a starting point, or visit www.NetSmartz.org to find
safety resources for both kids and adults.

Software and services are available to help parents and guardians set limits on kids’ Internet use. Most computer-operating systems have optional filters allowing parents and guardians to block websites they consider inappropriate. Some services rate websites Keep the gaming console and computer in a common area of the
home so you are able to more easily supervise

Set rules, including how long your kids may play, who they are allowed to play with, and what types of games are appropriate

Check out rating systems to help you decide which games to allow in your home

Look into what types of protections or parental controls the gaming console allows and make use of them

Tips to Minimize Potential Risks
As with IM or social-networking websites, kids may be exposed to inappropriate language, harassed, threatened, or asked sexually explicit questions

By setting aside time to go online with your kids you not only become more aware of what they do online, you reinforce positive Internet skills. Helping your kids with a research project is a great opportunity for them to learn about and distinguish which websites provide reliable information, are simply someone’s opinion, and are to be
avoided entirely. And when looking at e-mails together ask, “Are these people who they seem to be?” These are prime opportunities to help kids develop their critical-thinking skills.

Work with your kids to develop reasonable rules. Consider setting rules about the time of day, length of time, people they may communicate with, and appropriate areas for them to visit while online. Also explain to your kids why these rules are important.

It’s important to reassure kids if they encounter problems online or view something disturbing, it’s not their fault. Discussing these issues openly may reduce their fear of going to you if they encounter something online making them feel scared, uncomfortable, or confused.

Be a resource. Let them know if they share the experience with you, you will try to help, not punish, them. At the same time help them understand what happened and avoid similar situations in the future. Some programs prevent users from entering information such as names and addresses, and others keep kids away from chatrooms or restrict their ability to send or read e-mail.

Monitoring programs allow you to see where your kids go online. But remember these programs and services don’t develop kids’ own sense of safety, and they are not substitutes for parental/guardian communication,
supervision, and involvement.

The NetSmartz Workshop is an online, educational resource for kids of all ages and their trusted adults to help foster positive choices when on the Internet and in the real world.

The NetSmartz program is designed to be used in homes, schools, and communities. It provides parents, guardians, educators, community leaders, and law-enforcement officials with a wide variety of resources including activities, games, presentations, safety pledges, and videos. These resources help trusted adults build kids’ safety awareness, prevent their victimization, and increase their self-confidence on- and offline.

The NetSmartz Workshop is a leader in safety education for youth, parents and guardians, and educators. The program was created to spearhead a movement toward safer and more responsible use of the Internet by kids and teens. Download the free resources at www.NetSmartz.org.

Created by the Ad Council and NCMEC, “Don’t Believe the Type,” is part of a publicservice campaign specifically designed to help teens recognize the dangers of the Internet, situations to avoid, and how to “surf safer.” Visit www.cybertipline.com, and click on the “Don’t Believe the Type” link to view the website.

A part of NCMEC’s Ad Council public-service campaign, “Think Before You Post” is a public-service campaign warning kids about the dangers of posting inappropriate pictures and videos of themselves online.  Visit  .cybertipline.com and click on the “Think Before You Post” link to view the website.

Visit www.cybertipline.com or call 1-800-843-5678 to report the sexual exploitation of children on- and offline. The CyberTipline accepts information about the possession, manufacture, and distribution of child pornography; online enticement of children for sexual acts; child victims of prostitution; sex tourism involving children; extrafamilial child sexual molestation; unsolicited obscene material sent to a child; misleading domain names, and misleading words or digital images on the Internet. Your information will be forwarded to law enforcement and Internet service provider(s) for investigation and review when appropriate.

NetSmartz411 is a free, first-of-its-kind service provided by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and funded by the Qwest Foundation. It was designed to raise Internet-safety awareness and provides general information about computers and the Web.

Parents, guardians, and educators are able to find this resource at www.NetSmartz411.org. The website contains a searchable knowledgebase of frequently asked questions regarding computers and the Internet, along with the opportunity to ask questions of experts. Questions may be submitted via the website anytime or called into experts at 1-888-NETS411 (638-7411), Monday through Friday, from Noon to 8:00 p.m., EST.

If you have information to help NCMEC in the fight against child sexual exploitation, please report it to the CyberTipline at www.cybertipline.com or 1-800-843-5678.

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Research Round Up May 16th, 2012

Posted May 16, 2012 By

Hi everyone! Sorry we missed you last week! NSCC has some very interesting articles and pieces floating through the office. The headline of this week has to go to an incredible school community who rallied together not only for one student, but to take a stand against bullying. Check out this week’s research roundup and see what we found:
An extraordinary community rallies together to take a stand to bullying in their school community  http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-05-15/indiana-teen-bullying-protest/54982074/1
Students take the day, and time to show their support to their community- http://thegazette.com/2012/05/14/service-day-sends-400-students-into-community/
Hi everyone! Sorry we missed you last week! NSCC has some very interesting articles and pieces floating through the office. The headline of this week has to go to an incredible school community who rallied together not only for one student, but to take a stand against bullying. Check out this week’s research roundup and see what we found:
IAn extraordinary community rallies together to take a stand to bullying in their school community  http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-05-15/indiana-teen-bullying-protest/54982074/1
Students take the day, and time to show their support to their community- http://thegazette.com/2012/05/14/service-day-sends-400-students-into-community/
Are Child advocay groups on the rise? You decide. http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2012/05/16/31adv-overview_ep.h31.html?tkn=ONCCCcaWA2AbyEH9kuMwoUCupwk7BRWgCTO6&cmp=clp-sb-ascd
Is there a difference between boys and girls in the classroom? Should there be? http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2012/05/07/30coed.h31.html?tkn=LORF%2B8zyt68pYacB%2B6GmkyRDK4NThmc24jJ2&cmp=clp-sb-ascd
 

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Research Roundup May 2nd 2012

Posted May 2, 2012 By

This week’s Research Round Up is focusing on the articles highlighting some of the latest research about cyber bullying and bullying. Some of you have indicated an interest and longing of more research based information, and below you will find a couple of the most relevant articles out this week. This is what we have found:
Anti-bullying experts believe that laws against cyber bullying will not solve the problem of cyber bullying, as kids do not know what is appropriate to post online. The question is, what do you think will solve the problem of cyber bullying? To read more: http://www.canada.com/life/Laws+stop+cyberbullying+experts+tell+Senate+committee/6543098/story.html
A new study suggests that kids with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are more likely to get bullied.
To read more: http://www.forbes.com/sites/alicegwalton/2012/04/24/why-autistic-children-are-bullied-more/
This week’s Research Round Up is focusing on the articles highlighting some of the latest research about cyber bullying and bullying. Some of you have indicated an interest and longing of more research based information, and below you will find a couple of the most relevant articles out this week. This is what we have found:
Anti-bullying experts believe that laws against cyber bullying will not solve the problem of cyber bullying, as kids do not know what is appropriate to post online. The question is, what do you think will solve the problem of cyber bullying? To read more: http://www.canada.com/life/Laws+stop+cyberbullying+experts+tell+Senate+committee/6543098/story.html
A new study suggests that kids with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are more likely to get bullied.
To read more: http://www.forbes.com/sites/alicegwalton/2012/04/24/why-autistic-children-are-bullied-more/
A new research concludes that urban youth who have been bullied as well as those who have bullied others are at increased risk of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. To read more: http://www.jahonline.org/article/S1054-139X%2811%2900677-X/abstract
Age-related DNA changes seen early in those exposed to abusive behavior, study finds. To read more: http://health.usnews.com/health-news/news/articles/2012/04/24/bullying-violence-linked-to-faster-aging-in-kids
“Children who frequently ‘butt heads’ with siblings, parents, teachers, or peers are more likely to use bullying behaviors to attempt to control the feelings, attitudes, and behaviors of others” According to the founder of a non-profit dedicated to helping children and families in crisis. To read more: http://www.examiner.com/article/why-cyberbullying-is-uncivil-behavior-not-a-civil-right

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Bullied Dolphin Will Probably Make His Way Back Out to Sea Without Help, Experts Say

Posted May 1, 2012 By

The bullied dolphin currently chilling out in the wetlands near Huntington Beach, California is likely to eventually get back out to sea himself, experts who have been watching the creature say. Bullying is a trendy problem in America, and it doesn’t seem to be confined to mammals that walk upright. While dolphins can’t cyberbully one [...] Bullied Dolphin Will Probably Make His Way Back Out to …

View full post on cyberbully – Yahoo! News Search Results

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CyberPatrol Online Protection with Bully Alerts!

Posted May 1, 2012 By

‘CyberPatrol Online Protection combines all the features of CyberPatrol Parental Controls with and online monitoring service complete with bully alerts to let you know when your kid is being cyberbullied. The basic software package uses a standard blacklisting feature while Online Protection adds an allow only list, enforces Safe Search on search engines to keep out nude images, and constantly monitors your kids activities. The monitoring feature scans for keywords that may indicate that your child is being solicited by a pedophile or is being attacked by a cyberbully. If a predator of bully is detected then you will get an instant alert so that you can stop the creep before they meet and come back to this website to write a Cyberbullying Report about the incident.

CyberPatrol Online Protection Includes:
- Bully Alerts
- Predator Alerts
- Web Monitoring
- Safe Search Enforcement
- Custom Alerts
- Time Monitoring
- Blacklisting’

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Hard Candy (2006) DVD Starring Ellen Page with Trailer

Posted May 1, 2012 By

‘Ellen Page got rave reviews for her role in Hard Candy as Hayley Stark, a bright 14 year old girl who meets a creepy 32 year old man named Jeff Kohlver (Patrick Wilson). Jeff chats with her online for three weeks before arranging to go on a date with her at a coffee shop where he flirts with her and invites her back to his house to be photographed. Little does he know that Hayley is on her own secret mission to teach him a lesson that strangers should not talk to little girls. Once at his place she mixes him a drink laced with something that makes him pass out and when he wakes up she is in charge and starts torturing him for being a pedophile.’

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NEW Supports from BullyBust!

Posted May 1, 2012 By

      For the second year in a row, BullyBust is providing FREE supports to schools nationwide to help students take a stand to bullying. BullyBust is designed to help students and adults become "Upstanders"-people who stand up to mean, cruel and bullying behaviors and become part of the solution to end harassment, teasing, and violence in our nation’s schools.  Building off the great success of the "Stand Up to Bullying"WICKED-themed Student Supplement and Educator Guide in 2010, BullyBust is proud to announce a new resource for the 2011-12 school year: the Upstander Alliance, which empowers youth with the tools and resources they need to powerfully engage their peers, using the school community in the effort to prevent bullying in their schools. By joining the Upstander Alliance, students and schools will have access to
For the second year in a row, BullyBust is providing FREE supports to schools nationwide to help students take a stand to bullying. BullyBust is designed to help students and adults become "Upstanders"-people who stand up to mean, cruel and bullying behaviors and become part of the solution to end harassment, teasing, and violence in our nation’s schools.  Building off the great success of the "Stand Up to Bullying"WICKED-themed Student Supplement and Educator Guide in 2010, BullyBust is proud to announce a new resource for the 2011-12 school year: the Upstander Alliance, which empowers youth with the tools and resources they need to powerfully engage their peers, using the school community in the effort to prevent bullying in their schools. By joining the Upstander Alliance, students and schools will have access to:
 

Detailed Toolkitsfor students and adult moderators on how to start and sustain a successful youth team dedicated to raising awareness and putting an end to bullying for good

Guidelines for Team Projects- Each team will be encouraged to create their own student-led initiatives to help address the issue of bullying with their entire community.

Opportunities to connect with other Alliances across the country to share their stories and

Messages of Support from youth leaders, experts, and celebrities who will encourage teams throughout the school year on the Upstander Central forum.

 
As part of the Upstander Alliance, BullyBust will be launching an exciting "For Good" video contest sponsored by the hit Broadway show, WICKEDto be announced later this fall.  Alliance school-based teams will be encouraged to submit their best video showing how they are helping to put an end to bullying for good.  The winning school will be awarded with a special visit from select cast members of the show!
 
As schools across the nation are well into their first semester, Bullying is on every educators list to address with their students. With the recent tragedy of Jamey Rodemeyer parents, teachers and students are asking what we can do to put an end to harmful teasing and harassment with our students. Jamey was 14 years old, from Buffalo New York- leaving several messages of hope for his friends and peers, including an "it gets better" video, the popular website started by Dan Savage. But, unfortunately these weren’t enough as he ended his own life. Jamey is not alone; there are thousands of children who skip school everyday in fear of being bullied, and even more who are watching their friends be bullied. This past May President Obama held a conference at the whitehouse where experts, educators and students came together to speak about the dangers of bullying and what we can do make change.

Do you want to help make a difference?Join the movement today, register as an Upstander Alliance at: www.bullybust.org/upstander.

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Amber Alert GPS Tracking System for Kids and Grown Ups Too

Posted May 1, 2012 By

‘Russell Thornton created the Amber Alert GPS Tracking System after his son temporarily disappeared and he wanted to monitor his every move to keep him from disappearing again. Utilizing a global positioning satellite system in conjunction with an interconnected network of computers and mobile telephones Thornton invented a revolutionary child safety product that quickly caught the eye of the news media before earning endorsements from Good Morning America and countless local news stations. What were they raving about? A product that fits in the palm of your hand backed by a service engineered to track your child’s every move and capable of impacting everything from business to sports and romance.

Built to keep kids safe the Amber Alert GPS Tracking System starts with a little piece of hardware that can easily be hung around your child’s neck, slipped into a backpack, or sewn into a jacket. Then the service takes over with a combination of desktop, laptop, and mobile applications that let you pinpoint the location of your kid on a satellite map simply by sitting down at your computer or making a phone call. In addition to the tracking system the device features a SOS button that you kid can use to call for help. Optional features include a predator alert system that lets you know of your kid is getting too close to a known sex offender and voice monitoring that lets you listen to the world around your kid with a simple phone call.

At just $9.99 a month the voice monitoring feature makes Amber Alert GPS more than just a kid tracker, but a game changer as well. Simply place your Amber Alert GPS in the board room of a competing company, the locker room of a competing team, your wife’s purse, or your husbands jacket and you will be just a phone call away from gathering valuable intelligence capable of changing your life forever. At work you could find out what your competitor is up to and use that as your fast track to the promotion you always wanted. In football you could learn the other teams second half strategy and use it to pull off the upset of the year. In romance you could find out once and for all if your significant other is faithful to you. Whether you need help gathering information for professional or personal reasons the Amber Alert GPS Tracking System’s voice monitoring service is capable of helping you make the most out of what they don’t want you to know.

Overall the Amber Alert GPS Tracking System is a state of the art service capable of keeping children safe and helping adults stay in the know about each other. Whether you seek peace of mind as a parent, a competitive edge, or cold hard facts the Amber Alert GPS Tracking System has what it takes to help you.

Key Features Include:

Global Positioning Satellite
Real Time Mapping
SOS Button
Mobile Application
Predator Alerts
Voice Monitoring’

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Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Pro Succeeds Where Norton Fails

Posted May 1, 2012 By

‘Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Pro specializes in finding and removing malicious software programs that have been installed on your computer. Once installed a simple system scan is all Malwarebytes Anti-Malware needs to identify a wide variety of threats including viruses, spyware, rouge security software, and more.

I personally had a good experience using Malwarebytes Anti-Malware before applying for the Malwarebytes partner program. My computer had been hijacked by a rouge security software program called Win 7 Home Security 2012. Win 7 Home Security 2012 was so bad that it took over parts of my Windows 7 Control Panel, ran fake anti-virus scans, and hijacked my web browsers to replace my intended destinations with fake malware warnings. I tried to fix the problem using Norton AntiVirus, but Norton failed to remove the program and Malwarebytes Anti-Malware did.’

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Diamond Bar library tackles bullying

Posted April 26, 2012 By NewsRoom

Diamond Bar library officials are offering options to combat bullying and cyber-bullying.

Jesse Lanz, administrative librarian at the Los Angeles County Public Library System branch, created a pilot program to help 11- to 13-year-old tweens and teenagers age 14 to 18 positively resist bullies. Information will be shared with county librarian Margaret Todd to be considered for use at other county libraries.

Steven Angel of Santa Monica, founder of the Drumming For Your Life Institute, and La Puente resident George Martinez, one of six institute facilitators, recently used percussionistic patterns to express emotions and teach values which combat bullying.

The drum masters return to the library at 3 p.m. Monday, April 30, and on May 2 and 7.

Dr. Elizabeth Brewer, a Loyola Marymount University professor and an authority on cyber-bullying, conducted a workshop to help parents keep their children safe and another session giving tips to teens on combatting cyber-bullying.

Puppeteer Rich Woloski presents a puppet show at 3 p.m. May 4 to show younger children how to resist being bullies or victims of bullies. The Theater of Hearts concludes the series with art workshops at 3 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays May 14-24.

“We did focus groups with our teens and tweens in November 2011 and asked them to brainstorm, then tell us the things they’d like to see at the library,” Lanz said. “They listed two major concerns: self-defense and bullying.”

Lanz, parent Bonnie

Chow of Diamond Bar and Chaparral Middle School sixth-graders Hannah Salazar, Tatiana Smith, Clarissa Ramirez and Amaya Armstead said Walnut Valley Unified School District educators, particularly Chaparral Principal Ron Thibodeaux, use regular video presentations and special lessons to educate students about bullying and teach them how to avoid being victimized.

The library program expands educators’ efforts “because we are also concerned adults and felt we could do something to help children,” Lanz said.
He said research confirms bullying and cyber-bullying are now national problems. A joint MTV-Associated Press study revealed one in three teens and tweens are directly involved in bullying as victims or bullies and two in three children witness bullying.

“Even with all the media attention, there’s still work to be done. Cyber-bullying has become a new form of online aggression,” Lanz fretted. “You can go online and be anybody, so a kid who’s not big enough to bully another kid in person can re-invent himself online and bully others.”

The local library has amassed new anti-bullying books, educational DVDs for teachers, coaches and youth leaders and materials for young people.

“The pilot features a variety of programs so we can appeal to a variety of kids,” Lanz said. “Some forms of bullying are more overt while others are more subtle. We want kids to be equipped with skills to combat bullying whether it’s the in-your-face kind or more subtle.”

The Friends of the Diamond Bar Library fund the anti-bullying project.

Filed in Cyber Bully | Tagged:

It's time for students to stand up to bullies

Posted April 26, 2012 By NewsRoom

Bullying in school is no longer invisible. From the YouTube videos encouraging gay, lesbian and transsexual teens that “It gets better,” to the critically acclaimed new movie “Bully,” to the landmark court case at Rutgers University, where a freshman was convicted of a hate crime for cyber-bullying his gay roommate to suicide, bullying is on everyone’s radar.

The response has been dramatic. Parents are confronting school officials, lawsuits are threatened, and laws are passed, like Seth’s Law from Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, D-San Francisco, to demand that schools respond “expeditiously” to bullying incidents.

That’s fine. But it is not enough.

Punishment sounds great, but it rarely stops the taunts, assaults and cyber-attacks. There’s really only one thing that works. Students must speak out and stand up to their peers.

That was the message at a daylong conference this week attended by school officials from San Francisco and the Bay Area.

Among the speakers was Rick Phillips, executive director of Community Matters, a Bay Area organization that works nationally with schools in violence prevention. He says he was bullied in elementary school.

“I realized I wasn’t concerned with being assaulted,” he said. “It was that nobody intervened. It was the indifference.”

Frankly, getting kids to speak up in middle school, a time when everyone’s self-esteem is fragile, sounds like a tall order. Kids worry they’ll be the next target, or lose their friends.

What those kids need is a push. It is being provided by Lee Hirsch, director of “Bully,” which is now playing in nearly all 50 states. “Bully” is the view from the victim. Now that the film has caught fire, Hirsch has received funding to get the film into schools all over the country. Those who see it, Hirsch is convinced, will find it hard to be a silent bystander.

That’s the hope of school officials, who realize the stakes have been raised. The conference was hosted by the Los Angeles law firm Morris Polich Purdy, and Wright Risk Management. The thrust was to get away from punishment and implement a cultural change.

Certainly, no one who watches “Bully” can pretend the systematic taunts, assaults and cyber-attacks do not have terrible consequences. Two families describe how their sons were driven to suicide. A girl is heckled and harassed until she brings a gun on her school bus.

In a particularly wrenching sequence, a geeky freshman in Sioux City, Iowa, Alex Libby, is systematically punched, stabbed with a pencil, and banged head first against the seat in front of him on the school bus. When his parents complain, a vice principal tells them that she’s been on that bus and “those kids are as good as gold.”

The predictable response to that kind of vicious behavior is a crackdown. Phillips says that’s short-sighted.

“You can’t legislate civility,” said Phillips, a former school principal. “You can’t punish kids to be nice.”

Besides, says Erin Waller, dean of students at San Francisco International High School, “At our school, it isn’t physical violence on the playground. It’s on Facebook.”

“There’s no sanctuary,” agreed David Jackson, head of school at San Francisco Day School. “You’re in your home, you sign on to talk to your friends and there it is. Any time, any place. For a 12-year-old that can be overpowering. You get the sense that you really are powerless.”

Phillips’ program, Community Matters, wants to engage those bystanders to break the “don’t snitch, don’t tell code of silence.” He wants to give the “cool kids,” the ones likely to ignore bullying, a script to speak up safely. No bully, he says, can stand against overwhelming peer pressure.

With his million-kid goal, Hirsch has found sponsors to underwrite entire school districts on a field trip to see “Bully.” All a district has to do is ask: Hirsch’s funding provides free admission, buses, and even a study guide for discussion.

“There’s power in this and it is happening right now,” Hirsch said. “Today we are literally changing the national conversation. The moment is now.”

Last week, 7,000 students saw the film in Los Angeles.

“Seven thousand students and they were perfectly quiet the whole time,” he said. “I swear to God you could hear a pin drop.”

And when they left, he hopes, they will be silent no more.

C.W. Nevius is a San Francisco Chronicle columnist. His columns appear Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Twitter: @cwnevius. cwnevius@sfchronicle.com

This article appeared on page C – 1 of the San Francisco Chronicle

Filed in Cyber Bully | Tagged:
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