General

Parents less aware of impact of trolls* in online gaming According to Canadian statistics, Canadian girls grades 4-11 face stricter rules about their online activities than boys do. At the same time, boys (60%) are more likely than girls (27%) to access the internet through gaming platforms. (Reference) While it is true that online environments in general ARE more hostile to girls and women (Wikipedia) and that may justify having stricter rules for girls, SafeOnline advocates paying more attention to what the boys are doing online and applying the same level of boundaries for boys as girls. Boys require as much support, education and protection about online safety as our girls. Because boys are more likely to access the internet through a gaming platform, they may be less supervised. This means parents and caregivers are less aware of the recreational trolling (Wikipedia) and unhealthy culture (Time) their boys are exposed to while gaming. While your daughter may pop up in your Facebook feed or come to you to talk about online drama, boys are less likely to consult with an adult when they are distressed about online abuse. Online gaming does not appear to be on parents' and educators' radar as much as social media. Did You Know? There are YouTube channels that feature trolling videos to watch other people  tease, torment and taunt other players in games? Much of trolling happens to children playing games that are rated well above their actual age—the most notorious places to be trolled include 17+ games like Grand Theft Auto and Call of Duty. Many social media companies are working on technological solutions to trolling.   *In internet slang, a troll (/ˈtroʊl/, /ˈtrɒl/) is a person who sows [...]

"In 2012/2013, we delivered 140 presentations to 17,927 people in various regions of British Columbia including: Brackendale, Victoria, Port Alberni, Kelowna, Penticton, Sorrento, Salmon Arm, Summerland, Revelstoke, Prince George and the Lower Mainland, Greater Vancouver areas."   Click to read Solos 2013 Annual Report Post AGM

When 'A Platform for Good' asked me to write a post for their blog, we were thrilled. Choosing a topic wasn't easy though. So many worthy subjects that we could choose from in our field - Internet Safety. I chose to write about our Youth-2-youth Program, one near and dear to my heart, especially because it incorporates so nicely restorative justice principles.

I spent fifteen years as a youth worker and when I wrote my first article about children, youth and the internet, the prevailing concerns were about online sexual exploitation and the vulnerabilities inherent in letting children loose in the un-restricted wild west show that was the internet. Then, we were concerned about MSN instant messaging and pedophiles who might lure young people out of their homes to be sexually assaulted.

"Wow! It was a great talk. I wish even more parents had the opportunity to see hear/see it. I hope we can get them to come in to present to our students (at least the older ones)." Toni.

WebweWant was/is published in part, with participation from the European SchoolNet and InSafe, both of which have excellent reputations and track records in this field.