Comprehensive Approach, Education Underlined at Online Safety Meeting
The Adolescent Web Awareness Requires Education Act(HR- 3222) probably will be marked up soon, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., said Tuesday at a meeting of the Online Safety and Technology Working Group. Education for children, parents and teachers is crucial, speakers said.
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Schultz proposed a comprehensive online safety approach, which was reflected in her bill. But some disagree, saying efforts should be concentrated on those most at risk, she noted. Other online-safety bills they take a piecemeal approach, dealing only with parts of the problem, Schultz said. “If we can pass the AWARE Act,” introduced by her and Rep. John Culberson, R-Texas, “we will give children the tools they need to avoid to be victims and avoid the realities of some of the other legislation that are out there,” she said. She said cyberbullying of teens is a national crisis that requires cooperation by agencies including the Education and Justice departments.
Education is enormously important because it empowers parents and children in real life situations, Schultz said. There’s an obligation to ensure that parents, teachers and students have the information they need to make wise choices, she said, urging that children be taught how to be good cybercitizens.
It’s scary that some parents are unaware of the mobile Internet and dangers that it brings, Schultz said. CTIA Vice President Dane Snowden stressed the importance of partnerships and coordination among many diverse players to create awareness about parental controls and online safety in the mobile context. Well over 600 mobile devices are on the market, making devising controls a daunting task, he said. But the wireless industry and independent vendors are responding with new integrated tools and add-on services that can help parents control handset use and online interactions, he said. A wide variety of parental control tools are working on various mobile operating platforms, he said.
ISPs are offering free online safety tools for parents and are committed to provide a safe and positive online environment, said Rob Stoddard, a senior vice president of the National Cable & Telecom Association. The group believes in education and awareness, he said, adding that it’s easier for cable companies than other telecom players to reach directly to communities.
Balance is critical, said Kevin Rupy, a director at USTelecom. Parental empowerment tools should be simple to use and sophisticated, he said. But the best parental control is involvement with kids, said Marian Merritt, an Internet safety advocate at security firm Symantec. Parents should have open communications with kids on the use of parental control tools, said Karen Hullenbaugh, AOL’s director of safety products.