Internet Dangers

  Parent's  Rules ‘N Tools™

  Youth Safety Guide

  Safety Tools

  Harms of Porn

  Child Sexual Abuse

  Report a Cybercrime

  Big Cheese Sites

  Donna Rice Hughes

  Kids Online

       Chapter 1

       Chapter 2

       Chapter 3

       Chapter 4

       Chapter 5

       Chapter 6

       Chapter 7

       Chapter 8

       Appendix A

       Appendix B

       Appendix C

       Appendix D

       Appendix E

       Appendix F

       Appendix G

       Appendix H

       Appendix I

       Book Reviews

       Letter from Author

  Public Policy Updates

  MouseClick Maze (home)

Kids Online: Protecting Your Children in Cyberspace
Chapter 8
IT TAKES ALL OF US


"Donna Rice Hughes has been a sincere and effective advocate on behalf of children's online safety, and a leader in calling attention to the responsibilities of companies, the community and parents in protecting children on the Internet. By continuing to speak out and partner with the rest of the Internet community to address the needs of children, Donna is helping all of us build a medium we can be proud of."
Steve Case, Chairman and CEO, America Online, Inc.

How can I help shape the safety issues of the Internet?
What does family-friendly policy look like?
What roles do industry leaders and the law enforcement community have in Internet safety?

It Takes All Of Us

How can the Internet become safe for my child, my family, and future generations? The answer lies in a shared responsibility among the public (parents, educators, librarians, and others who supervise children), the high-tech industry, and law enforcement. Each provides a layer of protection and security for the safety of kids online. And whenever one of these entities endeavors to accept its responsibility for child safety online, we need to affirm and support those efforts.

Why is it important to become involved in making the Internet safe for children? The answer is two-dimensional. First, the Internet is an invaluable resource that can benefit children. The second reason to be involved is the vast potential for pollution of the Internet, which destroys its value to everyone.

Public Awareness
Messages to be included in an effective public awareness program.

The Role of the Technology Industry

What constitutes family-friendly policy?

Suggested Code of Ethical Conduct for ISPs and OSPs

Zero-tolerance policy against child pornography

Law Enforcement/Law Makers

  • Current local, state, and federal efforts
  • Areas of law enforcement responsiblity
  • Lack of enforcement of Internet obscenty laws
  • Funding and resources
  • The Public's Role--By supporting more aggressive enforcement of cybercrime laws, you can help build those standards of responsibility. Remember, public opinion drives public policy and law enforcement!

Congressional Internet Caucus
The public is invited to visit the new Internet Caucus Advisory Committee Web site at http://www.netcaucus.org.

Conclusion: Why It Will Take All of Us
Stories of what others have done to make a difference
For the Internet to survive as well as fulfill its potential as the communications vehicle of the future, it must achieve mainstream acceptance. As one of the most important developments in the history of communications, the Internet must become a safe and worthwhile medium for all users. There are many issues that confront this new medium. I want to challenge you to work alongside those of us at the grass roots as well as at the national and international levels, who are seeking solutions that will ensure a safe and secure Internet that will truly reach its wonderful potential. Protecting our children on the Internet is a shared responsibility! Take advantage of the resources you find in these pages. You are not powerless, and you are not alone!

Kids Online: Protecting Your Children In Cyberspace
I have designed this book to be used as an awareness tool, a training manual and a "take action" plan for parents and others involved in the supervision of children. Simply by reading this book, you are increasing your awareness of the issues surrounding child safety online and thereby becoming better equipped to ensure that your child's online experience is safe, educational, and entertaining.

Additionally, by accessing the information in the resource lists and other appendices in the book that give Web sites, you will be able to get the most up-to-date information regarding child safety online.

 
       

© 2001 by Donna Rice Hughes. Request permission if you wish to reprint or post.