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Home : News : News
JBSA News
NEWS | Sept. 19, 2016

Internet safety class helps parents learn about children’s online habits

Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph Public Affairs

A class scheduled Thursday at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph’s Human Performance Resource Center will provide parents with insight into their children’s internet use and help them inform their children about using mobile apps and social media sites safely.

“Internet Safety” is planned for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the HPRC, building 999, with instruction by Rebekah Sanchez, JBSA-Fort Sam Houston Military & Family Readiness Center Family Life Program educator.

“The purpose of the class is to give parents an awareness of some of the ways teenagers are using the internet currently, as well as a general knowledge of popular apps that could pose a safety risk for teenagers if they use them improperly,” she said. “This class is basically the same class that was offered last year at JBSA-Randolph, but updated to reflect some of the apps that have become popular over the last year.”

The class will address a variety of topics, including current statistics on teenage cellphone use, social media apps that can pose a risk to children, how to set safety settings and safety apps available for parents.

Regarding teenage cellphone use, Sanchez said the Pew Research Center’s Internet and American Life Project indicates internet use by children 12 to 17 years old has increased by 10 to 13 percent since 2004.

The center’s Internet Teens and Privacy Management Survey shows one in four teens are “cell-mostly” internet users while only 15 percent of adults are cell-mostly internet users, she said. In addition, 50 percent of teen smartphone owners say they use the internet mostly via their cellphones.

Social media sites that are unregulated by age pose the most serious threat to teens and tweens because of exposure to cyberbullying and predators, Sanchez said.

“A lot of kids are on these sites and are not utilizing the safety features available, which means their personal information is easily accessible to the general public to include predators,” she said. “Most children are not aware of the dangers of posting their school information, neighborhood or geo tagging while using social media apps. On some apps when geo tagging is turned on, if a child posts from home, other users can see that child’s location down to the exact house.”

Other anonymous chatting sites can also be a threat, Sanchez said.
“Because of the anonymity, children never know the actual age of the person they are talking to,” she said. “According to nobullying.com, a U.S. Department of Justice survey found 1 in 25 youths has received an online sexual solicitation where the predator attempted to contact the child offline.”

It is important for parents to talk to their children about the dangers of posting personal information online, Sanchez said. They can learn more by coming to the internet safety class and by going online to research what apps children are using and what possible threats are associated with those apps.

“Parents will benefit from becoming educated on the apps and social media sites their children are using and having an open dialogue with their children about how they are using them,” she said. “If necessary, parents should monitor their children’s internet use.”

Sanchez said it is her hope that the class “gives parents a general knowledge of what to be aware of in regard to their children’s Internet use as well as how to start a conversation with their children about internet safety.”

To reserve a seat in the class or for more information, call 221-0349 or 221-2418.