 Grades 5-8 – 56 out of 66 – 85%  Grades 9-12 – 79 out of 85 – 93%  Grades 5-12 – 135 out of 151 – 89%  100% of the Juniors and Seniors use a social networking site.

 Grades 5 – out of 135 – 34%

 Grades 5 – 12 – 70 out of 135 – 52%

 Grades 5 – out of 135 – 30%

 24% of our students have over 300 friends.  Facebook is the social network of choice for Wilmot students.

 There are an estimated 12.8 million pornographic websites, and over 1.6 billion total websites  Estimates indicate that there are over 17,000 websites devoted to child pornography or pedophilia.  According to some estimates, as many as 80,000 child pornography files are traded on-line every week.  Of those children between the ages of 10 and 17 who use the Internet, one in five was the target of on-line sexual solicitations in the last year.  As of July, 2007 MySpace detected that 29,000 convicted sex offenders had profiles on its service. These profiles were deleted by MySpace. (Reuters, July 24, 2007)

 Children make excellent victims for predators because:  They are too trusting  Most are curious about sex  They desire attention and affection  They are viewed as unreliable witnesses.  They don’t tell anyone, because they feel guilty.

 The Internet provides privacy and anonymity.  They get instant gratification.  It provides easy accessibility to millions of children  Security  An expanded opportunity for contact.  (1 in 33 was asked to meet someone face to face; was telephoned; or was sent mail, money or gifts.)

 Why would you…  Give unnecessary personal information?  Assume you know who is on the other end?  could actually by  Post compromising pictures?  Leave unwanted cyber footprints? Think Before You Post!!

 Child is secretive  Child goes around blocking software  Child turns off the screen, puts laptop screen down  Child erases Internet History  Child receives phone calls or instant messages from an unknown source  Child receives gifts from an unknown source (especially cell phones)

 No Secret Accounts  Set Profile to Private  Monitor child’s page for content  Monitor friends  Monitor cell phones  Choose a screen name that is a little mysterious and will not reveal any personal information.

 If you are suspicious, trust your instincts.  Talk with your child  Review the Internet history.  Don’t delete anything/Leave the computer on if you see something suspicious.  Do NOT allow webcams.  Tell your kids if someone tells you not to tell your parents, that is a warning sign.

 DO NOT give out personal information (ex: phone number, address, name of school, etc).  Tell your parents if you see something online that makes you feel uncomfortable.  Never agree to get together with someone you “meet” online.  Never send pictures of yourself to someone you meet online.  If someone sends you an that asks you not to tell your parents, that’s a warning sign.  Choose a screen name that is a little mysterious and will not reveal your personal information.

 Additional Information can be found at:    