Posted by Abbey Fatica, LivingmyMoMent on Thursday, August 27th, 2009
REVIEW – The Five Dangerous Trends Concerning Kids, Technology and the Internet written by Denise Pellow
August 27, 2009 – Even though my children are little and I don’t really have to worry about them meeting people on the internet, this book is a great way to prepare myself for what is coming down the line. Technology and the Internet are great tools and definitely not all interactions that your children and teens will have are negative, but as parents we need to be aware of what could be occurring online when we’re not around.
Do you know about cyberbullying, sexting, cyberharassing, internet predators and video streaming websites? In this book, Denise goes into great detail of what signs parents should be looking for in case your child has become a victim of one of these crimes. She also informs you about talking to your children about what kind of information they should be giving out on the internet and to make sure they are talking to people they know.
This is a new age that we live in and predators and pedophiles are going after our children and brainwashing them in a new way, the Internet. It is important that you educate yourself on what could be happening on the internet and then talk to your children about how to protect themselves. The Five Dangerous Trends… is a book that parents with children of all ages should read.
Thank you to Denise for providing us with exceptional information that will help protect our children!
According to Foxs News today, parents and the ACLU are now suing the Pennsylvania District Attorney over Sexting. The Pennsylvania DA, George Skumanick, gave the parents and their children a choice to either attend a sex education class or be charged with child pornography. He stated on Fox News today the charge for taking the pictures in itself is a crime as well as disseminating the pictures is also a crime.
His objective: Is to stop the activity. This activity can leads to other issues as they filed charges today against a person in Georgia who wanted to meet one of the kids involved in this sexting case. He stated if the parents wanted to see the pictures that were taken of their children, they could do so privately, and gave them a choice to have their children attend the class or be charged. He also stated that this option was a choice and he has the full right to prosecute under the current laws of child pornography and dissemination of child pornography.
Parents please note: cases of sexting are still turning up all over our country. Each state is dealing with these same charges and children under the age of 18 are being charged. Some states are entertaining a change in law which pertains to minors and sexting to make it a misdemeanor rather than a felony. These changes in law have not been passed and it is still very important to warn your kids about sexting via cell phone or posting to a social networking website and even further to not take risqué pictures in any form under any circumstances.
New Book Helps Parents Protect Kids from Dangers of the Internet
Written by Denise Pellow
Thursday, 16 April 2009 10:50
April 14, 2009 ST. LOUIS, MO-When it comes to online child protection, Denise Pellow, author of the compelling new book, The Five Dangerous Trends Concerning Kids, Technology and the Internet sheds new light on vital issues facing every parent and their children. The book is being released on April 14, 2009, in e-book and print. The Five Dangerous Trends help parents effectively build strategies and enhance relationships with their children.
Pellow, founder of KidsBeSafeOnline LLC, guides parents through the trends in technology that affect families, aids in deflecting the persuasion of Internet predators and helps prevent the effects of cyberbullying and cyberharassment.
With a mix of real life examples, helpful and concise suggestions to protect children, Pellow, an author, speaker and consultant, writes about her subject with a sense of compassion and urgency.
"The Internet is a wonderful resource for our kids, and a valuable tool to assist in learning," she says, "however, it can also present concern for parents when this tool has potential to put their children at risk. The most vulnerable, our children, are at risk of being exposed to unwanted attention and potentially dangerous circumstances children are not equipped to handle.""Education, awareness and prevention are essential," adds Pellow. "Ultimately it is the parents' responsibility to safeguard their children, but they can reach a balance in protecting their children while building a sense of trust. That's why I wrote this book, to inform parents and introduce a dialogue between parent and child."
The book provides resources and guidelines to help parents educate themselves on the topics of cyberbullying, internet predators, social networking, text messaging and sexting. Licensed professional counselor Diana Beane, M.Ed., says "the information and suggestions provided by Denise Pellow in The Five Dangerous Trends are invaluable in helping parents become aware of the dangers kids may encounter in cyberspace, and how to institute safeguards to protect them."
Pellow has been instrumental in facilitating new laws to protect children online through her website, kidsbesafeonline.com, providing resources, legislative updates, news articles, educational materials and presentations.
Pellow assisted a Boston, MA, parent when her teen daughter made plans to leave the country and marry an older man with whom she had started an Internet relationship, but never met. "We are grateful for her guidance, support and advice."
The Five Dangerous Trends Concerning Kids, Technology and the Internet can be ordered online at www.attentionparents.com or here at this site.
Prosecutors around the country are charging teens with felony offenses and child pornography due to what is now called "sexting." Sexting among teens is the distribution of nude or semi-nude images of a minor child over a cell phone via text message.
January 2009, Greensberg, PA - Three high-school girls ages 14 and 15 sent semi-nude photos to their boyfriends ranging in ages 15 to 17 by cell phone. The high school learned of the photos several months prior to the impending charges of child pornography in juvenile court. One of the girls had her cell phone on during school which violated the school district's electronic device policy. When the phone was taken away, the photos were discovered. The school district issued a statement stating this was a violation of their electronic device policy. Read Full Story...
Controversy - Child pornography as a charge for sexting has provoked debate among teens and adults. Law enforcement wants it to stop; they want kids to think first before doing this type of act. There is a very real threat of adding "sex offender" to a juvenile's confidential record. These are very serious charges. Parents need to understand and teach their kids the consequences for sexting are severe, and there is a good possibility of having the label "sex offender" added to their record.
What Does the Technical Task Force, Xbox and Puerto Rico Have in Common?
Written by Denise Pellow
Friday, 06 February 2009 00:00
The technologies most popular among kids are social networking sites, text messaging, chat rooms, instant messaging and online video games. Below are two stories that demonstrate kids can be at risk no matter what type of technology they may be using.
Feb 3, 2009 - A 27-year-old, Richmond Heights, Missouri man meets a 15-year-old girl in California on Xbox LIVE and travel's to girl's home state. Edward Stout has been charged at the federal level with coercion of a minor over the Internet and traveling across state lines to engage in sex with a minor. The state has charged him with lewd conduct with a juvenile and oral copulation with a person younger than 16. It appears from the news reports the relationship between Stout and the minor child had been ensuing since March of 2008, via the Internet and a cell phone which was a birthday gift from Stout. Read full story
Feb 4, 2009 - 16-year-old Jasmine, from Pittsfield Township, Michigan, was found safe just outside of San Juan, Puerto Rico. She left her home to join a 26-year-old man from New Jersey who she met in a live chat on her Xbox computer game. This minor girl had been missing for three days and local and federal authorities were involved in the investigation. Evidence indicated she had been lured out of the country based on her missing computer hard drive and damaged Xbox. Read full story
Task Force Conclusions
Task Force research determined concerns in two areas: "minors dealing with unwanted contact and content online," (sexual predation and the availability of harmful or illegal content). We look at the two cases above and even though the Task Force concluded that according to their data, there was no influx of cases verses online and offline. It was clearly stated sexual predation is still evident whether it happens because of a family member, affiliated family members or strangers online (Webcast dated Feb 3, 2009). Read more...
