Online Predators

Dowell, Elizabeth B., Ann W. Burgess, and Deborah J. Cavanaugh. "Clustering of Internet Risk Behaviors in a Middle School Student Population." Journal of School Health 79.11 (2009): 547-553. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 18 Apr. 2010.

** (i) This journal does a great job of touching on some of the key dangers relating to online predators. It talks about the affects of Internet usage by children, middle school students, and teenagers. Like most tools, the Internet comes with several advantages and disadvantages, but the difference is that many of these disadvantages literally put the lives of today's youth in danger. The usage of the Internet leaves users open to many variations of online predators.

** (ii) Since this generation has had access to the virtual world for nearly their entire lives, this journal reiterates the importance of Internet safety. Through research and survey's, this journal documents the various types of adolescents that exemplify "at-risk behavior." Being smart about our own safety when using the Internet has been of growing public concern, especially among those adults and youth who live in a world of technological communication.

** (iii) This authors of this journal entry are all credible. Elizabeth B. Dowell is an associate professor at Villanova University, Ann W. Burgess is a professor at Boston College, and Deborah J. Cavanaugh is a coordinator/senior researcher at the Justice Resource Institute.

** (iv) This journal is definitely new and up-to-date for this topic; it was posted on April 18th, 2010.

** (v) This article is extremely useful because it is entirely relevant to today's concerns about the dangers of the Internet, and the abundance of online predators throughout the virtual world.

** (vi) The information presented in this journal is entirely accurate. The statistics that are presented from this exploratory study were made possible from Finkelhor et al's (2000) Youth Internet Safety Survey.

** (vii) A "real person" could definitely use this information, and can apply it to there everyday and future lives. The access to virtual information, as well as the probability of encountering online predators, is here to stay. This journal is easy to read, no matter what reading level you are at. It is important to learn more about the facts and how to prevent fatal occurrences through the practice of Internet safety.

** (viii) My opinion concerning online predators is that it is a very serious problem that most people overlook until they are personally faced with the consequences. The general feeling of most people, no matter what the topic, is that "it will never happen to me." However, this journal showed that there are way too many young students portraying high-risk Internet behavior, whether intentionally or unintentionally.

Williams, Pete. "MySpace, Facebook attract online predators." NBC News. N.p., 3 Feb. 2006. Web. 18 Apr. 2010. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11165576/.

** (i) This resource is about the dangers that popular social networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook possess. The experts say that you have to be careful about what you are posting online, because "somebody is always watching." These sites have been known to attract online predators. It's not just young people who are pa-rousing these immensely popular sites; police nationwide say that potential sexual predators are as well.

** (ii) This article was written to warn parents to monitor what their children are posting online. How they present themselves is crucial: potential predators that are searching and scanning these sites already have poor intentions at heart.

** (iii) Pete Williams is a Justice correspondent, and is authorized to write about this particular subject. He also included several quotes and examples of the dangers of online predators in this article.

** (iv) This article is written in 2006, so it is relatively new, but definitely not up-to-date. However, it shows that the issue of online predation has been a problem in the past and present as we try to prevent these occurrences in the future.

** (v) This article adds to my research because it talks about two of the most popular social networking sites. These websites grow in numbers everyday, increasing the amount of online predators.

** (vi) This information is reliable and accurate in its depiction of the dangerous side of the MySpace and Facebook websites.

** (vii) The reading level of this information is basic for the average person (especially since it is taken from the Nightly News section for NBC News. A "real person" can both understand and use this information, and will hopefully take the warning of online predators seriously.

** (viii) My opinion is that although many people use and enjoy the Myspace and Facebook website, it's important to remember the basics when it comes to Internet safety. By setting the right security settings in your webpage, as well as filtering out personal information, it becomes easier to prevent a possible internet predator from choosing you to be their next victim.



Ellis, Ken. Common Sense Tips for Digital Generation Parents. Edutopia.org. The George Lucas Educational Foundation, n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2010. http://www.edutopia.org/digital-generation-parents-commonsense-video.

** (i) This resource is about explaining to parents that the virtual world is a good thing: it helps kids create, express themselves, meet people, etc. Kids are exposed to more powerful tools than any other generation in history has had access too. However, parents need to extend their parenting skills into the digital world. By using common sense, parents can keep their kids safe, smart, and responsible in the online world.

** (ii) This video explains to parents that they have tools to turn to to help them understand and manage the lives of their digital children. One of the tools discussed in this video is Common Sense Media, which is a website that provides trustworthy information and education for kids to thrive in our world of media and technology.

** (iii) Liz Perle is Editor in Chief of Common Sense Media, and is qualified to speak about this topic.

** (iv) The release date for this video was May 27th, 2009. The information is new, and up-to-date with today's technology times. It will also remain updated, because the Common Sense Media website is always being revamped.

** (v) This video is great for my research, because it explains the impact the digital world has on kids; as Liz stated in the video, "This is their world. It's digital life to us, but to them--it's just life. So we really have to embrace it." By understanding this strong connection our generation has with the Internet and using common sense, the various forms of online predation can be put to a hault.

** (vi) The information is entirely accurate and relevant to today's times. Liz also includes a handful of statistics concerning technology and children.

** (vii) A "real person" can both understand and utilize this information. Adults can take this video as constructive criticism and implement the common sense Internet safety tips that are being presented.

** (viii) I can definitely relate with what Liz is talking about in this video, and I can see the benefits of parent's becoming more familiar and comfortable with technology in their lives. After all, the digital world plays a huge role on their child's life, and often times, their safety.