The following elements will give you a big picture of what I have found as concerns and helps related to internet safety. I have also included several comprehensive media helps for leaders and parents. To be "wise as a serpent and gentle as a dove" in our encounters with the internet and other media vehicles, requires an intentional plan by each individual and family.
You will find four main concerns regarding the internet: online dating/online affairs, internet pornography, online predation and online harrassment. Many helps, articles and research is also provided to best understand and become "wise" on this matter.
Internet SafetyWise! & Media Savvy Support
“Wise as a Serpent, Gentle as a Dove” Matthew 10:16
Teaching young and old to be “wise as a serpent and gentle as a dove” through multiple online areas of concern!
UPDATED as of February 16, 2008
Please Note: this is not an exhaustive list of resources for these topics.
Bonus: Internet SafetyWise! overview, that we produced, titled
Magazine article: Internet Safety: ParentLife, July 2007, “Are Your Kids Safe Online?” by Benny Hauk (excellent big picture report). (Available today)
Four Areas of Concern:
iDating: Check the SCBC Family webpage for multiple resources:
http://www.scbaptist.org/family (this site also provides links for the other concerns noted below)
Note: Not for Single Adults Only…Married Adults are “flirting” online with Single Adults and other Married Adults: Ex: Chat rooms by Yahoo and Microsoft designated for this: Married and Flirting or Married, but Flirting. Therefore, the other critical issue in iDating is Online Affairs!
Related Resources:
Books:
*”The Rules for Online Dating, Capturing the Heart of Mr. Right in Cyberspace,” by Ellen Fein and Sherrie Schneider
*“Infidelity on the Internet, Virtual Relationships and Real Betrayal,” by Maheu, Ph.D. and Subotnik, M.A., MFT
* “Boomers’ Guide to Online Dating” byJudsen Culbreth
Websites:
iPornography: Clay Crosse’s “Somebody’s Daughter” CD (powerful).
*Note: This CD by Clay Crosse provides songs and an interview on the journey of Clay’s healing from his addiction to pornography.
Related Resources:
Books:
*Every Man’s Battle, Every Man’s Guide to…Winning the War on Sexual Temptation One Victory at a Time,” by Arterburn and Stoeker
(Note: there are books for men and women, married and single, young and old…excellent set of resources for churches to use or to challenge single adults, couples or parents to use at home.)
*“Pornified, How Pornography is Damaging our Lives, our Relationships and our Families,” by Pamela Paul
*”In the Shadows of the Net, Breaking Free of Compulsive Online Sexual Behavior,” by Carnes, Delmonico, and Griffin
*”The Secret Seductress, Breaking the Destructive Cycle of Pornography,” by Dr. Mark Laaser & Michael Christian
Websites:
*Link to the Enough is Enough website (Donna Rice Hughes, founder/author of "Kid's Online")
*Link to Spector 2.2 or eBlaster 2.0: captures computer and internet activity, even in chat rooms and on IM.
Related Resources:
Websites:
Note: these links are valuable for iHarrassment, and
information listed in iHarrassment will assist you on iPredator issues.
*Link to the webpage for the "National Center for Missing & *Exploited Children" site. www.cybertipline.com
*I am really proud of our state's work on this...I have not had direct influence, yet hope to work more with them on this, as I am also working with our AG's office on another devastating issues for couples and families: domestic violence.
iHarrassment: Cyberbullying? Feathers…three stories! (All videos found in the “education” section of Netsmartz.
Overview Note: These are each comprehensive websites for learning and applying internet safety:
www.loggedonandtunedout.com ,
Netsmartz, i-Safe, Knights Quest Ministries, www.2SMRT4U.com, wiredsafety.org is the world's largest online safety/help group
and www.pointsmartclicksafe.org. Six excellent websites on this topic, plus the other topics related to internet safety for our children, to learn with our children, especially tweens (7-11), yet extremely valuable for adults, too.
Websites:
Media Savvy Support! Review of music, movies, videos, video games and books. Also included are helpful resources to track the trends in media.
*Note: This organization reviews intensely Software, Hardware, Web Services, Movies, Music & Video Games!
Additional Online Perspectives and Support!
Social Networking Update…As of January 2007 there were recorded by the FBI over 200 social networking sites…196 plus more than most parents know about like Facebook, MySpace, Friendster or Zanga. Check out these books for information:
* “MySpace® Unraveled: A Parent’s Guide to Teen Social Networking from the Directors of BlogSafety.com, Larry Magid and Anne Collier (
CBS News story and article from
“Internet Parent”) Note: Myspace.com and Facebooking Updates/concerns...
Please note that the faster growing segment of social networks are not for adults, yet for children: (a few examples)
Note: As of January 2008,Enough is Enough noted that “MySpace and Attorney Generals representing 49 states and the District of Columbia unveiled Key Principles of Social Networking Sites Safety designed for industry wide adoption relating to online safety tools, technology, education and law enforcement cooperation.” (see
NetFamily News article)
Internet Safety Browser for children up to age 12:
Noah’s Internet: Protecting Children Online while Enhancing their Relationship with God
Online Filters:
Counseling Support Groups/Individual:
*Palmetto Health Counseling Center:
Danny Garnett @ (803) 296-5879
*PureOnline:
One package of three (3), 50-minute, counseling sessions with Mike Rosebush.
More Details
SAME AS Pure Online Workshop for Men, but this item includes 3 phone sessions with expert counselor and purity coach, Dr. Mike Rosebush.
More Details
*Avenue: Resource for Sexual Integrity: for men and women
Clay & Susan Allen @ (877) 326-7000 (organize local groups)
Note: This is an interdenominational non-profit ministry, which exists to offer healing to men caught in the snare of sexual compromise, and to wives devastated by betrayal.
Presentations available for church leadership, members, or community outreach:
Need someone to share with your group/ministry on one, some or all of these topics please contact Roger Acton (contact info below).
Also available for presentations, especially if wanting to do an outreach to your community’s school(s) parents/children:
Please also look over the information from Knights’ Quest Ministries. Buddy Knight is also available to address issues on internet, most notably to local churches. Buddy is a graduate of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He often challenges seminary students in Fort Worth, cautioning them against a career/family destroyer struggle.
