Pandora’s Blog

Thought I’d share some legislative news today. Two states have taken steps in banning online predators from social networks sites, while another tries to close a loophole.

First up: New York’s eSTOP Act. I blogged about this a couple weeks ago when the bill was introduced. Aside from the glaringly obvious issues of enforcement, the bill seems to at least have a good idea at heart. On Tuesday, it passed the state Senate. It now moves on to the General Assembly and is expected to pass. You can read the AP article here: Bill requires sex offenders to register online identities.

Next in Kentucky, Mike Petchenik at WLKY did a great story on the lack of proper laws in the state to punish captured online predators. As one cop in his story said, “If I had a webcam and I showed myself masturbating to a little girl, in Kentucky that’s not against the law. It’s a Class A misdemeanor, which we can’t do anything about. It’s just a misdemeanor. In Florida, it’s three years to serve in prison.” [Watch the video here: Kentucky Lacks Laws To Punish Predators]

As a result of loopholes like this, lots of predators are targeting kids in KY cause they know they can get away with it.

Now, in addition to that, in his report, Mike mentions a cyber stalking bill, which is actually House Bill 367. I wrote to Mike and he told me that the bill actually passed committee the following day and will now go before the full house. That is great news! Incorporated into this bill are not only the provisions to prosecute for cyber stalking, but also soliciting a minor.

You can find out more about House Bill 367 in this piece by WAVE 3 (Louisville) Investigative reporter, Janelle MacDonald: Conway proposes sweeping changes to deal with Internet predators.

The final state in my trio of reports today is Alabama. Apparently, they suffer they same law-deficiencies as Kentucky. It is actually OK for an Internet sicko to solicit someone they think is a minor IF the ‘minor’ turns out to be a cop. Let me clarify: according to this OP-ED article (Closing predators’ loophole):

In Alabama, Attorney General Troy King says a loophole in state law seriously limits what prosecutors can do with an offender like those uncovered in the “Dateline” stings.

The Gulf Shores Police Department has focused on using the Internet to lure sexual predators but because it uses decoys to do so, rather than exposing a minor to a potential molester, the cases could be in jeopardy.

Baldwin County District Attorney Judy Newcomb said 30 Gulf Shores cases were dropped to lesser charges last year because judges found that the suspects had to have solicited an actual child to be charged with using a computer to solicit a child, which is a Class B felony that can send someone to prison for up to 20 years.

A bill is working its way through the legislature now with specific language that states: “The fact that an undercover operative or law enforcement officer was involved in the detection and investigation of an offense under this section shall not constitute a defense to a prosecution under this section.” The bill would establish that “the crime may be committed if the defendant believes the person being solicited is a child.”

Apparently the same bill was introduced last year, passed the house and then stalled in the Senate. Ummmm… Why?!

Forget about dealing with social networks and trying to get scumbags to be honest – at least when they are caught for the crime – don’t let the law let them get away!

While the issue and question of “entrapment” comes up… ummm… how much do you REALLY want to protect and excuse these prevos that are trying to have conversations like the ones they have with people they believe are underage girls and boys. What if it was your kid?

So, parents, once again, while the states try to protect your kids, there is still a lot of ground to cover. Don’t fall victim to false hope and forthcoming regulations – protect your own kids! Monitor their computer activity with software like PC Pandora version 5.0… For less than the cost of the flowers you bought/received for Valentine’s Day today, you could have peace of mind in your child’s Internet activity.

Love and safe surfing to all…

In addition to the Pediatrics study released a couple weeks ago, a new study by the National School Boards Association (NSBA) and Grunwald Associates LLC exploring the online behaviors of U.S. teens and ‘tweens. The study is based on three surveys: an online survey of nearly 1,300 9 to 17-year-olds, an online survey of more than 1,000 parents, and telephone interviews with 250 school districts leaders who make decisions on Internet policy.

You can read the full press release here: New Study Explores the Online Behaviors of U.S. Teens and ‘Tweens and the full report here: Creating & Connecting: Research and Guidelines on Online Social and Educational Networking.

Here is my reaction –

I am in NO WAY discounting the study, but there is more to read between the lines here. The study shows that 96% of students with online access use social networking technologies (i.e. chatting, texting, blogging, and online communities such as Facebook, MySpace, and Webkinz). Nearly 60% of online students report discussing education-related topics, such as college or college planning, learning outside of school, and careers. That is good. But also, 50% of online students say they talk specifically about schoolwork. To back this up, the study shows that 96% of school districts say that at least some of their teachers assign homework requiring Internet use.

OK stop right there. I have a close friend that is a teacher who is very knowledgeable in the Internet. Do you know what kids are using the Internet for? PLAGURIZING and CHEATING! This isn’t your father’s library. Kids don’t need to look things up, copy it down on notecards and source the material anymore. They simply Google it and cut & paste the first thing they see that they think will answer the homework.

Again, not mocking the study and I am glad to see such a shift in educational practices – said friend does post class work online almost every night and it is essential for schools to stay curent (if for nothing else than to keep the current generation of students’ wandering short attention spans)… But said friend has also caught an ENTIRE class of middle schoolers cutting and pasting homework. I am not accusing; I am stating a fact as seen first-hand.

It’s great that junior and juniorette are using the Internet, but why doesn’t anyone ask “to what capacity?” and find out exactly what’s going on before we extend a round of claps.

To tie into PC Pandora… well, that’s obvious. Parents should use the fact that kids are using the Internet for educational purposes to their advantage. Look things up with your child. Sit down and help them research homework – and for Pete’s sake: show them how to paraphrase and to think for themselves!!!

And when you can’t be around, save your child from being expelled or just from cheating themselves out of an education – monitor what they do. Use PC Pandora version 5.0 to monitor computer activity when you can’t be around. Encourage Internet use for education – but don’t encourage it to mindlessly “finish your homework.”

If you read my blog here, there is one thing you can easily deduce – both from my tone and my ramblings – I hate social networks. I don’t hate them because they are dangerous or filled with predators and pedophiles. No, I hate them for a much more philosophical and basic-caring-for-the-human-race reason.

You see, the term, applied to places like MySpace and FaceBook – “Social Network” – is misleading and entirely wrong. If anything it should be called “Self-Centered Bragging Pages” because that is all it is.

So what if you have 5,000 friends. How many of them do you know in real life? If you ever “met” a stranger in real life – like you often do on these sites – would you know how to act? Would you know how to break the ice or start a conversation of worth? I believe it is referred to as “small talk”… You may have 5,000 friends – but what is the point? What have you gained?

I also hate these sites because I have friends (who are 30+ years old) who have a) been fired due to their involvement in the website (creating a profile to bash the reputation of their current employer OR simply not paying attention to the job they were hired to do) and b) been constantly nagging me to join (YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!).

And for the high schools kids it’s even worse. One of the kids on the PBS Frontline special literally said he wouldn’t know what to do if he unplugged his computer – he claimed he’d sit and stare at walls. Are you that inept? Are you really that dependent on something - this electronic connection? If so, you may need to seek help. (Skynet, anyone?)

The fact is that these networks that encourage socializing do just the opposite. I contest that the sites actually decrease the ability to network socially. How could it not, since you have to be sitting, secluded and glued to your computer in order to participate? (Okay, youn’t have to be - but 99% are!) How does posting on some person’s page – who you may have never met in real life – enable your social skills?

I’m not trying to scold or resist the current technology, but all I am saying is that the generation that relies and thrives on MySpace is going to have a real tough time in the real world when they need to go to a job and interact with REAL people (you know, those with a pulse and breathing functions).

I wish parents would pay attention to what their kids are doing online. Forget about the threat of predators and cyberbullies – just look at how much time they are wasting and ask, “what is it for?” In the ‘90s we realized our kids were fat because they weren’t playing tag anymore, they were playing PlayStation… This was a result of generations of imrpoved gaming consoles finally taking over as the preferred method of entertainment. It became more fun to sit inside and stare at a screen, than be outside in the fresh air playing a sport, exploring the woods, reading a book or just hanging out with friends. I remember playing Nintendo and getting bored with it and going outside. At least there was a balance. It seems there is no balance today and like with fat kids evolving from video games, we’re going to have socially inept idiots evolving from ‘social networks’ – again, due to the physical manner that is required to participate.

They may be able to type fast and google circles around you, but they won’t know how to do a job or talk to real people. I can only imagine what dinner conversations will be like…

Anyway, what sparked this little rant of mine is this post here: Is Online Social Network A Complete Waste of Time? Please read. It is EXCELLENT and brings up many further points of how bad social networks truly are – philosophically and mentally.

Parents, know what your kids are doing. Invest in monitoring software like our new PC Pandora version 5.0. It may not be predators and cyberbullying you have to watch out for – it may simply be the complete de-constructive waste of time.

As the author of the above article says: “Get Real Friends and Stay in the Real World.” 

As David Spade says: “There I said it…”