1. Youth Engagement Section DEAL.org Program

2. Communicating the Youth Perspective Use information gathered from youth to create better resources and strategies for internet safety by providing an understanding of the youth perspective of online issues.

3. Youth Perception of Internet- Enabled Child Exploitation Don’t see themselves as potential victims of internet-enabled child exploitation Terminology used = possible barrier Have different perceptions of ‘”friends” vs. “strangers” online Different perception of what “abuse online” is Don’t realize they can be victimized by people they know

4. Youth Reaction Youth are not overly concerned online Youth have developed their own strategies to cope with problems they encounter online

5. Education and Awareness Terminology in messaging should be carefully considered Educate population from which youth are getting their information Utilize mediums youth are interested in as a means to communicate messages

6. Response Strategies To effectively educate and support youth we need a coordinated response from all areas (law enforcement, victim advocates, child protection, ISP’s and other key agencies) Open lines of communication Shift away from monitoring towards communicating and discussing online safety issues