Netizen+Notes


 * NETIZEN NOTES**

**What is a Netizen?** We are all cybercitizens (a person actively involved in online communities). You are a citizen of the largest community in the world the Internet.

**Cyberbullying** Cyberbullying is a new term which occurs when "a child, preteen or teen is tormented, threatened, harassed, humiliated, embarrassed or otherwise targeted by another child, preteen or teen using the Internet, interactive and digital technologies or mobile phones." It is only considered bullying if adolescents are involved. If adults are involved it becomes "cyber-stalking." We will discuss inappropriate internet behavior between children and adults in "Internet Predators." Cyberbullying is also different from sexual harrassment, because sexual harrassment typically involves sexual predators which again falls under the "Internet Predators" page (Wikipedia.com, 2008).

Methods of Cyberbullies - WiredKids, Inc. lists the methods that Cyberbullies can resort to in order to harrass their victims at http://www.stopcyberbullying.org/parents/howdoyouhandleacyberbully.html. Just keep in mind that sharing too much information online may invite intruders to take advantage of your naivity. Remember, do not share personal information on the internet and if someone does resort to one of the methods mentioned on WiredKids, Inc. or harrasses you in any way, alert a trusted adult (your teacher, parents, and/or guardians).

**Netiquette** Etiquette refers to the proper way people are supposed to conduct themselves in social situations. Since the advent of the Internet, and especially the new Web 2.0 trend, computers serve as a new tool for people to socialize. The distributed nature of the Internet brings many disparate people together in this new social medium. As this develops, there is a new set of rules developing both inherently and purposefully. These new rules of online social interaction are called Netiquette. Netiquette is a term which describes the proper way people are supposed to socialize over the Internet.

When emailing, chatting or blogging it is improper to use strange fonts, symbols, colors, emoticons or ALL CAPS! All of which may serve to turn off your reader to your message. Written correspondence should be business like because what goes on the Internet never gooes away. Therefore, it is important to protect your online identity. It is important o only post things which you would not be afraid to show your grandmother.

**Online Ethics** Online ethics refers to how people behave on the Internet. People using the Internet have access to vast stores of written material, music and movies. In addition, most of the days news and television shows are available online for free. Content creators (copyright holders) expect to be compensated for their work and few people work exclusively for the betterment of mankind. There is a free software movement which does exactly that via the GNU General Public License, however most content creators do so for financial return. Internet users have a choice as to whether they will or will not behave ethically online.

The question of an individuals ethics brings into question a persons integrity. Integrity is best described as what a person does when someone is not looking. Integrity is tied to a persons value system, someone who does not behave ethically will seek out inappropriate material. Young people are still developing their value system, as such, need to be monitored to make sure they do not mistakenly stumble across inappropriate material or go to them knowing rules against such activities. Firewalls help to keep children off of bad websites, but the best firewall in the world will still let some inappropriate sites through.

Reference: http://internetsafetyforkids.wikispaces.com/