Dave and Bill  

It is refreshing to talk with Anne Collier, and hear her approach on how to mitigate the problems facing the digital community. We are all familiar with the phrase, seeing the glass half-empty or half full, I suspect Anne’s comment might be just to say, maybe we need another glass.

Anne’s approach to education and the new media literacy is exciting to hear. Children today are tuned in to informal learning, which are driven by their interests and friendships.

The education system needs to embrace media literacy, including social networking and quit demonizing new technologies as the culprit. Anne pointed out it is not question of adding something on, or an addition to the system.

Everything needed is already available, and already existed. Our own children will let you know it is not social networking; it is socializing. It is more about life than technology. Anne recalls her interview with Winn Schwartau (Internet & Computer Ethics for Kids) and his thinking it is not just about being responsible cybercitizens, digital responsibility, or being a good citizen, all of which are good. It is not about blaming technology.

The important underlying idea is it is protective for all of us to empower our children with civility, empathy, caring, and ethics. If we are not aggressive, we are safer, therefore; if we are good citizens, we are safer citizens.

We need to educate and empower our children with media literacy and the values of digital citizenship, or as the CyberHood Watch partners, Dave and Bill, refer to it as, responsible cybercitizens.

Connect Safely has introduced its version of Online Safety 3.0, a positive approach and a proactive way of empowering our children and their parents on mitigating a better life experiences for our children online and offline.

We need to stop blaming technology for problems our children face, as well as parents, grandparents, guardians, and the community. These problems are not new, however; technology has been a powerful catalyst in dispensing a more pandemic, and pervasive exploitation of an old existing problem.

Again, technology is not the problem. Our decisions on how we empower children to use these technologies, and how we instruct them to apply critical thinking to make informed decisions are the important issue.

Online Safety 3.0 is a refreshing approach, which will help to eliminate most of the fear mongering, and focus on a positive, safe, and healthy approach to sustaining a safe and fun Internet.

by: david c ballard