The Cyber Jungle: a Wilderness of Websites
Posted February 8, 2013
The internet is an online world with the same opportunities and dangers of the real world. There are maps of our world, our country, our state, and our city, that show citizens where to find what they are looking for or where there are detours (paths) around dangers. There are also maps of the internet that are changing constantly as old websites disappear and new ones take their place. Learning how to navigate around the World Wide Web is just as important as finding your way safely home from school, or finding the shop down the street that is selling what you need.
Places in Our Neighborhood, Places on the Internet
Let's discuss some places in our neighborhood you are allowed to go. What advice do your parents give you before you go to those places?
Are there some places in our neighborhood your parents do not want you to go. Do your parents give you reasons not to go to those places?
Are there some place you can go if you're with someone your family trusts, but that you are not allowed to go to yourself or with friends your age?
The World Wide Web also has areas that are safe places to go, and others you should not visit without an adult around, or at all.
What do parents and teachers mean when we talk about "appropriate" and "inappropriate"?
Are there some places in our neighborhood your parents do not want you to go. Do your parents give you reasons not to go to those places?
Are there some place you can go if you're with someone your family trusts, but that you are not allowed to go to yourself or with friends your age?
The World Wide Web also has areas that are safe places to go, and others you should not visit without an adult around, or at all.
What do parents and teachers mean when we talk about "appropriate" and "inappropriate"?
AppropriateEdmodo for class assignments Homework help website School website Bill Nye the Science Guy videos Google Earth to find Lexington & Concord NASA Kids' Place GoAnimate for Schools Prezi, the online presentation website Discovery Education for lion and tiger video clips. Online encyclopedia for research How to use HTML website to make a presentation |
InappropriateEdmodo for "wasssuuuuuuppppp!" Matchmaker quiz to find a boyfriend or girlfriend Science Fair Projects for Sale! Miss Teen America Googling classmates looking for phone numbers Play games and win a free iPad! Music! Games! Movies! Free downloads! Collected videos of funny dogs! Cute Kittens! Online medical encyclopedia looking for people without clothes. A "hacking for beginners" website |
Careful Living, Careful Surfing
As you can see from the examples, there are some places that are safe, some that are unsafe, and some places that are safe so long as they are used properly.
How you surf may be as appropriate or inappropriate as where you surf. It is best to use the websites selected by your teachers as quality places, or the websites your family is comfortable with.
If you are exploring online and end up in a "bad neighborhood," let your family or teacher know! It is easier to fix mistakes than to hide them. The more responsibility you demonstrate to teachers and family, the more trust and liberty you earn! Surf Safe!
How you surf may be as appropriate or inappropriate as where you surf. It is best to use the websites selected by your teachers as quality places, or the websites your family is comfortable with.
If you are exploring online and end up in a "bad neighborhood," let your family or teacher know! It is easier to fix mistakes than to hide them. The more responsibility you demonstrate to teachers and family, the more trust and liberty you earn! Surf Safe!