Exploring the Dangers of Cyberspace

Ah, spring break. Time for a respite from the schedules and demands of school.

But parents, while you’re looking forward to time off, whether here or in vacation-land, try to remember to put April 4 on the calendar. Time and place: 7 to 9 p.m., at , 416 McKinley Ave.

That’s when the , with the support of Geneva School District No. 304 and in partnership with the Illinois Attorney Generals office, will hold a seminar on “Internet Tools Our Children Use.” The evening will cover sexting, cyber-bullying, safety software and a hands-on primer on the wildly popular Facebook social media site.

“We see a lot of problems with kids getting in trouble on Facebook, or with cyber-bullying and sexting,” said Geneva Police Officer Sarah Sullivan. “Those are some of the main questions we get from parents.”

“Sexting” is generally defined as sending sexually explicit messages or photographs, usually between mobile phones. And cyber-bullying is, essentially, the use of the Internet, cell phones or similar devices “to send or post text or images intended to hurt or embarrass another person,” according to www.cyberbullying.org. Cyber-bullying can include threats, sexual remarks, posting false statements and/or making something the object of ridicule.

Parents also are concerned when kids give out too much information on Facebook, and police can get involved with the young people post information about something that could be crime-related, Sullivan said. 

“A lot of times it’s kids bullying other kids,” Sullivan said of cyber-bullying. “They frequently don’t realize they’re having such a big impact,” she explained. (The typical scenario: Kid A posts something; Kid B posts a remark in retaliation.) “Mostly we sit down and explain possible legal consequences.” That includes informing both that an arrest is a possibility, “but how about we sit down with parents and figure something out,” Sullivan said of the typical route police would take. 

The evening will include three different discussions in three different rooms. One session will be on cyber-bullying and sexting, including what they are and legal problems that can result.  

There will be a hands-on Facebook lab. “Parents don’t always know about Facebook, and it’s always changing,” Sullivan said, adding that there will be information on how to set privacy features on accounts.

And there will be a discussion on general online safety tips, including parental software, where to and where NOT to allow a child to have a computer, and even information on router settings, to keep wireless networks secure. “More and more people are leaving their wi-fi networks unprotected,” Sullivan said. 

Participants may select two of the three areas, with a question-and-answer session at the end.

Though it’s geared primarily to situations encountered by middle school and high school students, Sullivan pointed out younger kids also use computers, and parents of elementary students may value the information as well.

For more information, contact Officer Sullivan at the Geneva Police Department, 630-232-4736.