Internet Safety Bill Passes House
This article speaks for itself – very good news for all schools!!
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June 17, 2009
Putnam’s Internet Safety Bill Passes HouseWASHINGTON – Legislation introduced by U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam, R-Bartow, designed to make it easier for schools to teach children how to protect themselves from the potential dangers on the Internet passed 416-0 in the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday.
The Internet Safety Act now heads for the Senate.
“We teach our kids to look both ways before crossing the street,” Putnam said in a news release. “We should also make sure they know the safety rules before they get on the ‘Information Superhighway.’ “
Putnam’s measure would allow schools that receive federal funding from two programs to promote technology and school safety to be able to use those funds for Internet safety educational programs. Those programs would include educating students about social networking, protecting them from online predators and cyber-bullies and ways to involve parents in the use of the Internet by their children.
“The digital world is a remarkable resource for our young people, but it can also open the door to dangers,” said Putnam. He noted a 2007 study by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, which has endorsed his measure.
According to the study:
- 69 percent of teens regularly receive personal messages online from people they don’t know.
- 31 percent of teens say they usually reply and chat with people they don’t know, and only 21 % tell a trusted adult when they receive such messages.
- 64 percent post photos or videos of themselves, while 58% post info about where they live.
- 71 percent of teens have established online profiles, up from 61 percent in 2006.
- 19 percent of teens report they have been harassed or bullied online.
