Expert Interview Feature

West Side Wrecker Service and KidsBeSafeOnline LLC give back to the community to educate, bring awareness and prevention to the dangers of texting and driving. Doug McFadden, father, business owner and industry leader sees firsthand the dangers of texting and driving and donates books to his son's local school to help with awareness.

Owensboro, KY December 15, 2009 -- Business owner, father and community-minded resident, Doug McFadden, gives back to the community to help educate on the dangers of texting and driving.

West Side Wrecker Service President, Doug McFadden and his wife Rachael McFadden of Owensboro, Kentucky have seen firsthand what happens to our youth and adults when they text and drive. West Side Wrecker Service started in business in 1997 and services the cities of Owensboro, Louisville and Bowling Green.

McFadden found a way to help educate youth by providing a resource to the teachers of his son's school.

McFadden joins Denise Pellow, Author of The Five Dangerous Trends Concerning Kids, Technology and the Internet, by donating her book as a vital resource to educate teachers, parents and the community. Pellow's mission through her website provides educational materials and resources to all adults needing information to protect their children concerning the electronic digital devices they use and the Internet. Read more

Kids home for the holidays and left to their own devices need clear-cut direction.

The holiday season can be a time of joy, high spirits, gift giving and family time, but for parents, it is also a time of concern for children out of school and left without supervision. Teens especially will be more social than ever, considering the rounds of holiday parties and seeing friends outside of the school setting. Add the mix of texting, drinking and driving to the social networking scene and parents have additional worries.

The best defense for a safe, happy holiday season is trust-the open and honest relationship you've developed with your children as you have discussed what is off limits for personal behavior, the Internet and social networking, driving and drinking. Be clear and consistent so that everyone understands the behavior consequences. That and a sense of humor will help.

Still, temptations abound when the days are unstructured. This is the time to refresh your kids' understanding that behaviors that are considered "cool" are really against the law and can have serious consequences. In many states texting and driving is illegal and certainly drinking and driving is in all states. These behaviors affect not only the driver but the safety of innocent people who could be injured or killed.

Internet safety during the holidays

Teens congregate on social networking sites, even more during the holidays. Parental controls are perfectly acceptable and your kids should know what those limits are. Keep in mind that with smart phones like the iPhone, kids are walking around with mini computers in their hands.

Internet predators know when school is out and step up their efforts to entice kids into relationships. The holidays aren't necessarily a happy time for everyone. If a teen feels alone and sad, she is even more likely to respond to a dangerous proposition that seems innocent. Be watchful of mood changes.

It's party time

John Martin, now 29 years old, reflects on his teen experiences during the holidays. "Teen drinking is going to happen. Responsibility should be taught early on and expected. I think this approach to drinking is much more effective than ignoring it or trying scare tactics. Kids might be naïve, but they certainly aren't dumb," he says. "If there is a party, have it at your house. You know where your kids are, and who their friends are too. Parents can regulate what goes on and possibly take car keys from drivers before they leave."

Because I said so

Ultimately, consequences speak much louder than parental threats. Martin says that "'Because I said so' does not qualify as a valid reason for any teenager to not do something."

In fact, it can have quite the opposite effect." Looking back to his teen years, he reflects that positive parental influences, sometimes with difficult consequences, are the best teacher.

As a parent, you do have the right to ask, where are you going, who are you with and what time  will you be home. Those important questions, and the mutual trust you have with your teens, will make the holidays a lot more fun and a lot safer.

With the holidays rapidly approaching now is a good time to load up on your safeguards for watching your children's online activities. More time at home, more time on the computer, and more time on social media sites leads to the possibility for incidents to occur that affect our children.

IROC2.org's message brings being digitally responsible to the 21st Century.  Should we not put warning labels on digital devices such as we do when you purchase a toy, buy alcohol or tobacco products? Ever notice the plastic bag that comes wrapped around your recently shipped item. Keep away from children and pets suffocation is possible.

All these warnings are placed on these products to inform you of the risks associated with irresponsible use of the item(s) and to mitigate the manufacturer's liability, as well as to communicate safe use and proper disposal of the product purchased.

Should we not have warning labels attached to digital devices that can change or alter our life or the lives of our children and loved ones in 1 split second in time? IROC2.org is proactive in its mission to teach 21st Century Digital Responsibility to adults and children and through its Office of the Cyber Safety General adhere to the warnings that children will make decisions through technology and their digital devices that can change their lives forever.

On December 10, 2009 IROC2.org presents to a well respected Congresswoman in Washington, DC the first Petition to warn consumers and society that there is a big risk with the use of digital devices.  Please help IROC2.org and KidsBeSafeOnline to bring awareness of these digital issues and sign the Petition today!

The Five Dangerous Trends Concerning Kids, Technology and the Internet provides parents and adults with a Plan of Action and how to execute that plan to be proactive with their children and technology. What a great holiday gift especially if you know a youth receiving a computer or digital device  this holiday season.

After two interviews with cyber crime detectives the following updated information is very important for parents, educators and adults.

Sexting is the act of taking, possessing or disseminating nude or partially nude images via digital device and distributing same and is punishable under Federal Law. Title 18 USC 2252, and 2256. It is important to understand the law and what it states exactly and how it can affect children who are sexting (excerpts of the statutes at the end of article).

What does this mean and what do we teach children?

Law enforcement has been very forthright and clear to communicate taking an image of any sexual nature, possessing that image or distributing that image is punishable under federal law.

We want to teach children sexting is a very serious crime. Law enforcement is mandated by federal law to investigate every image that comes under the violation of the above statutes.

Are kids taking Sexting seriously?

While children are not taking "sexting" seriously according to law enforcement they are tying up viable resources in local departments for the act of sexting. Continued investigations on sexting pull time and resources from local departments who are currently investigating cases of child molestation, abuse, pedophilia, child pornography and prevention of online predation. Read more on what to do...