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Dear Subscribers:

Here's our lineup this second week of July:


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The networked family

In his column this week, SafeKids.com's Larry Magid explains in tech-layman's language (hooray!) how families with two+ computers can "get networked." But it's not just a how-to piece. Larry offers a dad's own view of how this technology can actually improve family communications and make it easier for parents to help kids with homework! He doesn't hesitate, however, to spell out the challenges, too. At least you'll get some rare insights into what it's like to have the Internet "truly part of our lives" - a look at family life of the future, perhaps.

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Drugs on the Net

Our focus this week is on an aspect of online safety that hasn't gotten much attention: misinformation about and promotion of illegal drugs on the Internet.

There has been plenty in the conventional media about sites promoting violence and publishing bomb "recipes," and the media spotlight occasionally focuses on hate sites, thanks to the good work of hate watchdog groups (here's an interview we ran on this). But we all need to know more about how illegal drugs are promoted and sold on the Web.

Someone who's been tracking this closely is Bobby Charles, an attorney, consultant in the field of drug prevention, and former chief counsel to the US House of Representatives subcommittee concerned with drug-related legislation. Bobby is also doing work for a very creative program/Web site for teens that we'll tell you more about later: STEPonline.com.

When we asked him about what's going on with drugs on the Web, Bobby summed it up this way: "The Internet is like a third-world bazaar in which both legitimate and illegitimate substances [and information] are found many times almost by accident," he said, adding that there's "a virtual cornucopia of new threats relating to drugs." He described the three categories they fall into: 1) "Mislabeled sites that look like they're part of anti-drug programs but aren't or sites that are actively promoting legalization, "citing false science," Bobby said; 2) "responsible-use" sites that suggest "everybody is using drugs, so we need to teach people how to use them responsibly" then link to other sites that overtly promote drug use; and 3) e-commerce sites selling drug paraphernalia such as pipes and rolling papers (ComputerUser.com recently ran an informative piece about a drug being sold on the Web to minors).

Bobby advises parents that "the biggest word to be aware of is 'deception.' You almost have to teach your kids in bold, 3-D, flashing neon letters," he said, "that deception is the rule, not the exception, when they bump into discussion of illegal drugs online." Why all the deception? "Because most people will not voluntarily choose to do damage to their minds and bodies. For example, if you are lured into the notion that Ecstasy is harmless, which Time magazine unwittingly seems to have suggested in a recent article, then you forget or never knew that Ecstasy, when taken in multiple pills, will kill you faster than drinking gasoline…. So deception is the lesson we need to teach kids…. There are no checks on this third-world information bazaar."

We asked Bobby for his Web site picks for correct information on and education about drugs. He gave them to us with this caveat: "There are virtually no prevention sites that are well-linked; comprehensive; carefully screened; well-maintained and monitored; incentive-driven; actually entertaining, visual, and interactive; and widely accessible through schools and homes." Except for STEP's, he added, which is why he's working for that organization.

So we'll start there. STEP's Web site for teens combines information (both text and interactive Q & A with a "Dear Abby" type character), peer-to-peer discussion, partnerships with civic organizations and "10,000 school systems" throughout the US, and - unprecedented in this category - an incentive program for teens educating themselves about drug abuse and prevention. The incentive system - involving prizes and awards provided by partnering corporations - is scheduled to be in place in the next few months.

As Bobby put it, "If you can take the drug war to where kids are - in a way that is visual, entertaining, interactive, and provides material rewards - you have really captured, for the benefit of their own self-preservation, the attention of the X and Y Generations, whose attention is very hard to get!"

Other good sites on his list:

For research, he recommended…

Finally, Bobby offered some general (not drug-related), very pointed advice to parents on working with online kids. You've heard similar advice from other quarters, but we're including it because of his unique way with words (you can tell he's a dad, too): "No matter how busy you are, you have to find time - whether on weekends, during breakfast - regular time to talk to your kids about this technology, and I think you have to learn about it yourself. Don't assume that the Internet is nothing more than an electronic newspaper. It's more like an electronic forum in which the lights have all gone out and everybody is entitled to act any way they please. Some will act thoughtfully, some will act criminally, and unless you chew on that fact a while, realizing that puts your kids at direct risk in the blackout environment, then you haven't come to grips with a danger that is as palpable as not teaching them to look right and left when they cross the street."

[Editor's note: Statistics about online drug promotion and sales simply aren't available yet, Bobby confirmed, but we do know that "13.6 million Americans were current users of illicit drugs in 1998" (the latest data available), according to a survey by the White House's Office of National Drug Control Policy, and nearly 10% of 12-to-17-year-olds reported they were using drugs. Among high school students, 41.4% reported drug use within the past year and 25.6% within a month of the survey.]

Bobby encouraged us to give you his email address in case you have further questions: rcharleszz@aol.com. If you have any comments on this item, the Web sites highlighted here, or other sites and Net-based programs your children or students have found useful, do email us - via feedback@netfamilynews.org.

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Web News Briefs

  1. For educators: 2 new ed-tech reports

    Our thanks to ConnectforKids.org for pointing us to two just-released reports of particular interest to educators:

    The CEO Forum on Education and Technology - a four-year partnership of leaders in business and education "committed to assessing and monitoring progress toward integrating technology into America's schools" - has just published its third-annual report, "The Power of Digital Learning: Integrating Digital Content". It contains great anecdotes of actual classroom experience, the how-to's on integrating digital content, and a list of Web sites (and their addresses) that can help teachers integrate digital content (Appendix C). The Forum's definition of "digital content" includes video on demand, CD-ROMs, Web sites, email, computer simulations, streamed discussions, databases, digital audio, etc.

    With the help of a grant from the US Department of Education, the International Society for Technology in Education has released its "National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers" for teacher-training programs. These are the first national standards describing what new teachers should know about and be able to do with technology in their classrooms.

  2. Capitol Hill rocks

    It's fun picturing the Senate Judiciary Committee rocking out to the sounds of rock band Metallica. That's (basically) what happened on Capitol Hill this week during a hearing on all aspects of the controversy over downloading music off the Internet. A Newsbytes report in eMarketer.com offers a pretty complete picture of what happened at the hearing, including the views expressed, from that of Metallica (saying Napster's violating artists' copyrights) to those of Napster and MP3.com to that of the recording industry trade association, which has taken both Napster and MP3.com to court. Many of the lawmakers trying to understand the debate got their first demos of the controversial technology involved. Here's the New York Times's version of a senator's and drummer's meeting of minds. This is one of the things we love about the Internet.

    Meanwhile, musicians who take an anti-Napster position have launched a nationwide ad campaign backed by the music business, including the recording industry's trade association. CNET has the story. And in a seemingly perfect counter-measure, Napster.com has just hired a former senior music industry executive, the Associated Press reports (via the New York Times).

  3. Pedophile convictions in NY

    It's a scary story involving boys victimized by pedophiles who found them in an AOL chat room. According to the New York Times, a year-long, wide-ranging investigation into Internet pedophilia started with an investigation into the murder of a 12-year-old boy. As a result, "nine middle-aged men have been convicted of or pleaded guilty to sexually abusing boys as young as 13 whom they met through the Internet. The defendants include a Yonkers city official, a former member of the Somers school board, a former chairman of the New Castle planning board, and a retired spokesman for PepsiCo Inc."

  4. Beware free computers/connections for schools?

    Three US legislators are sending out that message. Senators Christopher Dodd (D-CT) and Richard Shelby (R-AL) and Rep. George Miller (D-CA) say parents should be aware of the "real costs" of free computers and Internet connections at schools, according to the New York Times. They want to see some regulation of the marketing data that's gathered when students surf while using these free machines and Net services - regulation that allows parents to say no to this school-based market research.

  5. 'Superguide' to AOL

    Once you get past the snootiness of the non-AOL-using technophile writer, there's some great information in this ZDNet piece. Saying that it's tough to ignore the silent endorsement of 23 million subscribers (including his own parents!), ZDNet writer and editorial director Jesse Berst tells AOL users how to take advantage of the giant ISP's "seven top features": Kid-friendliness (filtering, multiple screen names, etc.); Photo-sharing (post pictures, order reprints); Instant messaging ("a killer app for near real-time conversations" - see the downside of IM we reported on last week); Financial data tracking; Personal calendar; Cell-phone access (with Web-enabled phones); and local connecting while on the road. Jesse also mentions two weak points, but they seem well outweighed by the pluses he cites.

  6. Reference librarians: Needed more than ever

    Contrary to what some librarians thought, the Internet is not putting them out of work. In fact, according to the Associated Press (via the Nando Times), reference librarians are busier than ever! We're not surprised, given everybody's need for guidance on what is and isn't credible on the Web.

  7. Rent-a-computer

    You can't beat the article's opener: "Attention, shoppers: Go home!" That's the lead into ZDNet's explanation for why we'll all rent - not buy - our next computer. The article predicts that the Internet is causing computers to go the way of cell phones: "Buy the service, get the box for free." The concept is not for everyone right now (more for small businesses, actually), but the piece lays out all the options coming down the pike (a lot of parents are already leasing computers for kids going away to college). See the "Talkback" feature at the bottom of the article for fellow computer users' views on leasing.

  8. Net gambling update

    A showdown is nearing over the fate of Internet-based gambling. A bitterly fought bill to ban most forms of it will be voted on in the US House of Representatives as early as next week, according to the New York Times. "The bill attempts to curb one of the fastest-growing activities on the Internet, wagering on casino-style games and sporting events. Industry analysts say there are more than 700 unregulated wagering sites on the Web, generating more than $1.2 billion annually in bets, with more sites appearing every day and the amount wagered doubling yearly," reports the Times. The story gives a feel for all interested parties, from the gambling industry and lobbyists for it to which groups are lobbying against it.

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Subcribers write…

  1. SafeKids, South Africa-style

    Subscriber Annette in South Africa wrote us about her company's efforts on behalf of online kids - the early days of online-safety education in South Africa. We thought you'd appreciate, as we did, the snapshot her email offers:

    "I work for a company by the name of AVS Content Security. We specialise in content security software and deal with both corporates and consumers. We are actively involved in creating an awareness in South Africa in the area of children's safety on the Internet. We advise people to educate them of the dangers lurking on the Internet. We have a site - www.safekids.co.za - to that end. We also realise how negligent people are in South Africa and do not realise just what is going on at home when mom and dad are at work. We also do not want them to stop their children from completely doing away with the Internet, as it is so resource-full. We have also contacted the police in South Africa, but have not received any response from them on this."

    [Annette continued, with questions about working with law enforcement and legislators on Internet safety. We connected her with Cyberangels.org, which works closely with law enforcement agencies, and pointed her to a recent study on "Online Victimization" by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, whose introductory section provides a very useful summary of private-public activity of this nature in the US to date (please see our coverage of the study under "Online sex & kids").]

  2. Speaking of that NCMEC study…

    Subscribers and professors Michael Berson and Ilene Berson at the University of South Florida are not so sure that sexual solicitations aimed at online teens come largely from their peers - a key finding of the NCMEC survey. They sent us a response, based on their own research, to Larry Magid's column about the NCMEC survey. We think it offers even more insight into a little-known world (at least publicly little-known).

    Their email was about the finding that "96% of those who sexually solicit teens online are not 'dirty old men,' but rather under 25 years of age; and 48% of those solicitors are under 18" (Larry's words). Here's what they wrote about their own findings in a survey, conducted with Cyberangels.org, of online teen-aged girls:

    "Based on our survey results, we want to caution against definitive statements that young people are being targeted online primarily by their peers. As you are aware, David Finkelhor's study [with the NCMEC] involved phone interviews with parents and their children. The identity of those individuals who solicited the youths are based on the perception of the respondents and not based on actual evidence of age and gender. For example, if a respondent received an email from an individual who stated that they were a 17-year-old male, they may take this at face value (at least our study results indicate this), and they may never realize that they may have been engaging in an online relationship with an adult male.

    "On the other hand, our study participants also acknowledged that they frequently assume alternative identities online, pretending to be older, younger, a different gender, etc. It is only in those worst-case scenarios, when a young person transitions from an online dialogue to a face-to-face encounter, that true identity is more readily discerned. Anecdotal reports indicate that adult males are more often identified as the offender in these cases, usually assuming a more benign self-description early in the online relationship to facilitate the grooming process."

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That does it for this week. Have a great weekend!

Sincerely,

Net Family News

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