INTERNET SAFETY Being smart on the Internet can avoid future issues
The workshop Internet Safety guru John Parsons held for boys and parents last term, really made an impact on Hunter McKenzie.
“It really hit home, as he used examples of things that could happen on the Internet to boys of our age,’’ Hunter says. “I think boys saw a whole new perspective about what they have been posting on social media. It made us think about what could happen when you don’t really think about the implications and show lack of judgement about what could affect us or our friends. “It was interesting that when we went back to the House, lots of boys pulled out their phones and started deleting photos on Facebook and Instagram that could be risky. Some were quite worried and realised that if they are uneasy about it, then there was something wrong with it. “Boys can get a certain mind set when they are on social media and, in the effort to get more likes or attention, they may not think of the consequences of posting a photo of themselves or their friends doing something inappropriate.’’ Mr Parsons says with the huge increase in opportunities for people, especially young people to communicate online, it has become increasingly important to understand the long and short-term effects of sharing online information, comments and photos. This can affect the lives not only of the person posting, but also those of their family and friends. Senior Master Academic Mr Robin Sutton says it is important to
Workshop Internet Safety guru John Parsons.
empower boys to look after themselves and each other.
other young people look after him when he was in a bad space and helping him to value himself. “We believe that by ensuring parents talk with their children about what can happen through innocent or inappropriate information sharing on-line and making sure there is two-way communication, they can prepare boys to be safe on-line,’’ says Mr Rodley. “We know that kids make mistakes, and if they do, it is important they let someone know they have and that they need help.’’ “Employers can use these tools to check job applicants,’’ he says. “Nowdays it is not just about having the right qualification and the requisite skills to get a job, one’s
“No-one doubts it can be a scary world out there, but it need not be scary if boys learn to respect themselves and their family and friends. This way they can be more confident about protecting their identity and their reputation, because once these are lost, they may be lost forever, or at least very hard to get back.’’ Respecting and protecting oneself are closely aligned with the main College values, he says. IT Director Mr Paul Rodley says Mr Parsons shared information about his own upbringing and about the things that profoundly affected his life. His life was changed by having
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