[LM_NET] Pending Legislation to Address Internet Safety

[Nancy Willard <nwillard@CSRIU.ORG>]

Hi all,

I could use your help.

Wired Safety and some other undisclosed Internet safety organizations have
been working closely with Senator Menendez (D-NJ) on some legislation to
address Internet safety. With a $65 million price tag, this communicates
that there are very significant concerns associated with Internet use. Yes,
they are teens and are making mistakes online. Yes, some are at higher risk
- online and in the real world. But we need to change how we are addressing
these issues. 

The undisclosed organizations just let the rest of us in this field know. A
meeting was held on Wednesday of the folks with a DC presence. The current
legislation reportedly provides:

The formation of a politically appointed task force. This will likely
include representatives from most of the Internet safety organizations. Who
else would understand the issues - and have the interest and political
connections to get appointed?

This task force will review the research and identify best practices to
address the concerns. There is no research on best practices specifically
related to youth risk online. There is plenty of research on best practices
in youth risk prevention. But it would be highly unlikely that a politically
appointed task force would be able to delve into these issues to the degree
necessary to analyze the research on youth risk online and make
recommendations on how to apply effective risk prevention to these concerns.

The DOJ (source of much of the fear-based messages) will provide funds to
organizations that are following the recommended best practices.  Can you
spell "conflict of interest?" The people on the task force are with the
organizations that would want these funds.

I have proposed a different approach:

Focus on three issues:

Digital Citizenship - make sure all students learn how to engage in safe,
ethical, and responsible activities using the new interactive technologies.

Youth Risk Online - establish national, state, local initiatives to address
the needs of those young people who are at greater risk online.

Addressing Youth Risk Using Online Technologies - establish national, state,
local initiatives that make use of interactive technologies to address the
risks young people face whether online or in the real world - like the
National Suicide Lifeline online presence.

Provide funding as follows:

Center for Disease Control - Division on Adolescent and School Health - to
fund additional research, coordinate the translation of research into
practice including an initiative to gather youth risk online researchers and
risk prevention specialists together to make recommendations for grant
administrators, and to support professional development.

Safe Schools/Healthy Students (a combined initiative of safe schools, mental
health, and juvenile justice) - to support state and local initiatives to
address youth risk online.

Department of Justice - Bureau of Justice Assistance - to support national,
state, and local initiatives to address youth risk online concerns that
relate to justice concerns.

Department of Education - Enhancing Education Through Technology - to
support initiatives to teach digital citizenship in the context of
instructional activities using interactive technologies (Web 2.0).

Senator Menendez's staff member who is in charge of this legislation is
"Tuber, Jason (Menendez)" <Jason_Tuber@menendez.senate.gov>.

Thus far he is only hearing from those people who are in organizations with
a DC presence that would love to tap into these resources. I think he needs
to hear from people who are working with students and technology on a day to
day basis. So if you feel inclined to drop him a line, this would be
helpful. And if you would like to forward this message forward, that also
would be great. 

Thanks in advance.

Nancy
-- 

-- 
Nancy Willard, M.S., J.D.
Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use
http://csriu.org
http://cyberbully.org
http://cyber-safe-kids.com
http://csriu.wordpress.com
nwillard@csriu.org

Cyberbullying and Cyberthreats: Responding to the Challenge of Online Social
Aggression, Threats, and Distress (Research Press)

Cyber-Safe Kids, Cyber-Savvy Teens: Helping Young People Learn to Use the
Internet Safely and Responsibly (Jossey-Bass)

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