Senate Delcares June Internet Safety Month

SENATE DECLARES JUNE INTERNET SAFETY MONTH

Crapo notes importance of children's online safety

Idaho Senator Mike Crapo hopes that more parents will become aware of Internet safety issues with the passage of a Senate resolution declaring June "National Internet Safety Month." "With approximately two-thirds of Idaho households having Internet access, it is critical that parents and kids work together to educate themselves on the dangers of Internet predators and other privacy concerns," said Crapo. "During National Internet Safety Month, families, educators and law enforcement can work together to raise awareness of these perils that children can unwittingly fall victim to."

In a recent national survey of 100,000 children aged 5 to 18, i-Safe America found that 90 percent of students in grades 5 - 12 have Internet access; 23 percent are online more than five hours per week. Eight percent were asked to keep an Internet friendship secret; 12 percent have been upset by a stranger's online comment. While 94 percent of parents claimed to know about their child's online activities, only 54 percent of students tell parents where they go online. Twenty-five percent of students said their parents, on some level, wouldn't approve of their online activities, and 13.8 percent keep Internet usage secret from friends and family. Many student give out personal information online: Almost 30 percent of seventh graders have provided their name, email address, age and/or gender; over 50 percent of twelfth graders have done so. Over 50 percent of students prefer to surf the web alone, and many do.

The Senate Resolution calls on Internet safety organizations, law enforcement, educators, community leaders, parents and volunteers to increase efforts to raise awareness of the need for online safety in the United States.

http://crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/release_full.cfm?id=255971&&