By Charlotte Carter
Parents can rest assured that the state is doing something to make the Internet safer for their children.
The Utah Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs and the Internet Crimes against Children Task Force has joined together in creating NetSmartz, an Internet safety program to help children and teens to recognize the dangers associated with the Internet.
To begin this valuable program in Utah County schools, Attorney General Mark Shurtleff visited Farrer Elementary School on Thursday. Following his remarks, Max Rogers of the Utah Boys and Girls Club introduced fifth and six-grade students to NetSmartz.
?This program has been such a success with the Boys and Girls Club that we need to share this with Utah County,? Rogers said.
NetSmartz introduces Internet safety by using interactive, 3-D characters. The main characters, Nettie and Webster, help children understand Internet safety through different games and activities located on the Web site. Teens can find more specific stories and links directed to their age group on the NetSmartz homepage.
Rogers identified the three main teachings found in these activities to make sure children and teens understand the aim of the NetSmartz program: first, to never meet someone in person who was first met online; second, to tell a trusted adult if anything makes the child feel scared, uncomfortable or confused; last, to always ask a parent or guardian before giving out any personal information.
Rogers continually emphasized these points and also made sure students knew to never become a ?Numbut,? someone who always stays in front of a computer screen and never goes outside.
Because there are more children and computers in Utah than anywhere else in the United States, Internet safety is an important topic needing to be taught to all ages.
Mayor Lewis K. Billings attended and said the students added meaningful dialogue to the introduction of NetSmartz.
?We need to tune it up for this generation,? Billings said.
Billings said he realizes there is much to compete with when trying to obtain the focus of a child that is distracted by numerous things. Parents, teachers and trusted leaders must keep reinforcing the topics taught by NetSmartz to make sure children and teens understand the importance of Internet safety.
?I?m glad this is being done,? Billings said.
Along with educating children and teens about Internet safety, officers are doing their part to keep predators off the Internet.
As the chief law enforcer of Utah, Shurtleff said his staff often pose as teenagers in chat rooms to find predators and capture them.
?Utah has arrested more predators than anyone else in the United States,? Shurtleff said.
For more information about the NetSmartz program, go to www.NetSmartz.org or contact Max Rogers at 801-371-6242 x121.
