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How Schools Can Help Thwart Cyber Predators


(PRWEB) September 10, 2007 — Back-to-school means the annual battle begins again. As more students use the Web to share photos and information, school districts are stepping up their vigilance to make sure teens and tweens know and follow guidelines for safe behavior online.

Chat rooms. Instant messaging. Social networking. Unfortunately, these fun and popular Web 2.0 pastimes are a predator’s paradise. With more students online every day, and social networking sites continuing to be among the fastest growing online destinations, Internet safety is a top school concern this fall.

But how can school officials keep Web-active children safe online, both in and out of school? The short answer is there’s no one way to keep students safe. According to EdTech Focus on K-12, there are a number of ways that school officials can help keep students safe, including these:

• Update and enforce acceptable-use policies.

• Use the latest filtering software.

• Engage in safety education that reaches not only students but parents, too.

To learn more and read about how schools with one-to-one computer programs keep students safe and how districts can stop students from using proxy servers to avoid filtering software, go to http://www.edtechmag.com/k12/issues/april-may-2007/cyber-safe.html.

EdTech Focus on K-12 is a national magazine that goes to school CIOs and CTOs and other educational IT professionals.

The Magazine Group, a leader in custom publishing, provides complete print and interactive services to 70 corporations, associations and nonprofits.


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