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Presentation on youth and technology April 21 |
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Thursday, 17 April 2008 |
Jennifer Larson
Community Editor
The Internet isn’t any safer because it’s accessed over a computer. Actually, it can be just as dangerous as the world we live in.
But a free presentation on Monday, April 21 from 6:30-8:30 p.m., in the media center at the Forest Lake High School may help parents protect and educate their children in an age of technology. The event is co-sponsored by Promoting Positive Parenting, Community Education departments from school districts 622, 831, 832 and 834, as well as the Chemical Health Action Collaborative in Washington County.
Speakers are Dr. Peggy Kendall, a professor in Communication Studies at Bethel University, and Washington County Sheriff’s Office Det. Tim Harris. He is also a member of the Minnesota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
They will provide information at the presentation on how parents can support, guide and protect their teenager or preteen from the perils of cyberspace.
The old adage of “stranger danger” applies to the Internet as well.
It may seem harmless for a youth to have an account on Myspace or Facebook and Instant Message (IM), or engage in chat rooms, file sharing or text messaging.
Harris said it is very serious when a child puts out information to the public, which can be used against them. Unknowingly, youth are sometimes unaware of the dangers that exist by doing so.
“Time on the Internet doesn’t equal trust,” he added.
The best method for parents to determine if their child may be in danger is having open communication and dialogue between them, Harris said.
He suggested that the computer be located in a common room rather than the youth’s bedroom where they have unlimited access. Harris said that parents should know what access their child has.
Although there are a lot of negative ways technology impacts children, Harris said there are some positive benefits like developing social bonds.
He said the mentality of today’s youth is very different than previous generations.
“They’d be more apt to be sitting in the same room and text back and forth without ever talking,” Harris added.
Forest Lake resident Susan Edseth is the mother of a 15-year old. She is also a volunteer at the Youth Service Bureau and a 4-H leader.
Her son, Ben Lunn, attends North Lakes Academy. He serves on the YSB Youth Advisory Board as well.
Edseth feels the information presented by Harris and Kendall is very important to adults who have a role in the lives of youth.
“The more I know about what these kids are doing, the better it is for all of us,” Edseth said.
She said Lunn didn’t have a Myspace account until YSB set up a page to communicate with youth.
Edseth suggests that parents go to myspace and read the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) where they can find out how to limit access or even delete the profile if they choose.
“I trust that he’s (Ben) not hiding anything from me but I don’t know that he is,” she noted.
The University of Minnesota Extension has great parenting education resources online such as Teen and Social Networking Websites, Edseth said. That information can be found at www.parenting.umn.edu/programs/familiesWithTeens/teenTalk/index.htm.
Forest Lake High School is located at 6100 210th St. N. For more information, contact Kathy Bystrom, Community Education, at (651) 982-8391. To register, call (651) 982-8392 or 982-8110 or online at www.communityed4u.org – Class #5913-SP08.
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