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C.L.I.C.K.S. Initiative
Community Leadership In Cyber Knowledge and Safety
The Internet provides an endless collection of information from
all over the world, right at your fingertips. Children learn how
to use computers at an early age and use the Internet to do homework,
to play games, and to chat with friends and family members. Just
as you would teach your children safety rules in the real world,
it is important to teach your children the safety rules of the
online world.
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Attorney
General Gansler participates in the CLICKS "Train
the Trainer" Webinar held on May 18, 2010.
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Online predators
lurk in the anonymous world of the Internet and are preying on
our children. It is vital for parents, educators,
and law enforcement to help children learn how to protect themselves
on the Internet, while still enjoying the many benefits it provides.
Our C.L.I.C.K.S. initiative - Community Leadership in Cyber Knowledge & Safety
- is an educational outreach program designed to equip Maryland’s
community leaders with the resources to teach students and their
parents about Internet safety.
A
key component of C.L.I.C.K.S. is to provide training and
resources to law enforcement, educators, librarians and
other community leaders so they can talk to students and
their parents about Internet safety.
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HELPING TO KEEP KIDS SAFER ONLINE
Communication is the most effective tool to help keep your children
safer online. Talk to your children about the potential dangers of
the Internet, like sexual predators and cyber bullying. Encourage
your children to show you what they do and who they talk to on the
Internet.
Tips for Parents
 Keep your computer in an open area like a family room, kitchen
or den.- Set rules for use of cell phones, laptops and other portable
devices.
- Set rules about what your children can access online
and set time limits for the amount of time spent using the Internet.
Post the
rules next to your computer.
- Check
your computer’s Internet
history and determine if any additional filtering, tracking or
blocking software is appropriate.
- Talk to your children about
what they do online. Ask to see their online profiles and screen
names. Make sure the profiles do not
contain identifying information, photos or inappropriate comments.
Remind your child that information on the Internet can be seen
by anyone and will stay in cyberworld forever.
- Know your
children’s
passwords and remind them to never give out their passwords.
- Teach
your children to tell a trusted adult if they see something
that bothers them online.
Below
are some common internet slang terms to help you understand your
child's internet conversations. For more a more complete
list of terms, enter "Internet Slang" into your favorite
search engine, like Google or Yahoo!.
Partnering with NetSmartz
The Office of Attorney General has partnered with NetSmartz, an
interactive, educational safety resource developed by the National
Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) and Boys & Girls
Clubs of America. The NetSmartz Workshop seeks to extend the
safety awareness of children and teens whenever they go online.
NetSmartz computer activities combine the newest technologies
and the most current information to create educational activities
that are well received by even the most tech-savvy kids. www.netsmartz.org
National
Center for Missing & Exploited Children
Founded in 1984, NCMEC’s mission is to help prevent child
abduction and sexual exploitation; help find missing children;
and assist victims of child abduction and sexual exploitation,
their families, and the professionals who serve them. Among its
many other services, NCMEC operates a CyberTipline that the public
may use to report Internet-related child sexual exploitation. www.ncmec.org
CyberTipline
The CyberTipline is a reporting mechanism for cases of child sexual
exploitation, online enticement, molestation, sex tourism, prostitution
of minors, and unsolicited obscene material sent to a child.
Reports may be made at www.cybertipline.com or by calling 1-800-843-5678.
NetSmartz411
NetSmartz411 is a parent and guardian’s premier, online resource
for learning about Internet safety, computers, and the Web where
you can easily search for answers to your questions about the online
world. www.netsmartz411.org.
The
following partners have helped make this initiative possible:
Click
here for color trifold CLICKS brochure (778k PDF)
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