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Internet Online
Summit: Focus on Children
This conference was held in Washington,
D.C., on Dec 1-3, 1997
The global Internet offers exciting new opportunities for
children and families to research their homework online, communicate with
international penpals, and build personal websites to share their creativity
with others. But with these opportunities come challenges: how can children
remain safe within this ever-expanding global village? Risks range from sites
filled with misinformation to sites which expose users to illegal pornography.
The problem of pedophiles and others who target children online is also a
concern. In order to address these issues, law enforcement, the Internet and
online industry, and families, libraries, schools, responsible corporations and
community groups must work together.
Children may not understand these online risks, and parents may
not be familiar enough with current technological and other solutions to these
concerns. Key to bringing more families online, and keeping them online, is
educating the parents about the range of available options. There are things
parents can do to protect their children. Should they wish to, they can make
choices about what their children may access online.
Industry must also continue to address these concerns with
inexpensive and easy to use solutions and "child safe" zones. Making
broad access to quality content on the Internet must be a community top
priority, where all schools, libraries, community groups, responsible
corporations and parents join forces to identify and implement appropriate
solutions.
Table of
Contents
1. Executive
Summary
2. Introduction
3. Benefits and
Risks
4. Community
Efforts
5. Quality Content and
Uses
6. Conclusion
7. Signatories
An overview of the issues
concerning child safety online, prepared by:
Organizations:
Childnet International
CyberAngels
Internet Safety Organization
Enough is Enough
Family Research Council
Focus on the Family
Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation
National Coalition for the Protection of Children & Families
Safeguarding Our Children - United Mothers
Individuals
Parry Aftab, Esq., cyberspace lawyer and
author of A Parents' Guide to the Internet...and how to protect your children
in cyberspace.
Jean Armour Polly, Net-mom®, author
of The Internet Kids and Family Yellow Pages
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