Atlantic County Detective Teaches Children About Internet Safety

Keeping children safe online served as the focal point of a Charter School Awareness Week program held Monday morning at the Galloway Community Charter School.

"We haven't had major issues (with Internet safety)," Jessica Fisher, assistant director at Galloway Community School, said. "There were isolated incidents here and there (last year)."

However, the idea for Monday's program actually stemmed from changes made to what needed to be taught at the local school districts from the state level. Since it is Charter School Awareness and Teacher Appreciation week, Fisher said school officials thought it would be an ideal time to incorporate an Internet safety program.

The fifth- through eighth-grade students were targeted—even though the school is a K-8 school—because they use computers more often than the younger students, she said.

Although Atlantic County Office of the Prosecutor's Office Detective Tracey Thompson is not a member of the prosecutor's office's computer crimes unit, he is known at the school. Fisher said that Thompson has spoken at Galloway Community School before, and an invitation was sent out for him to talk about Internet safety with the students.

During both sessions, he spoke with the students about what they need to do, what they shouldn't do and what to look out for in order to remain safe when they are online.

Topping that list is watching what they put on the social network sites and through instant messaging. He said they shouldn't post any nude or semi-nude pictures to their boyfriends and girlfriends. This could result in the student posting or texting the image getting in trouble with law enforcement, he said.

He also explained that they also should watch what they say about other people. Postings can be misconstrued or taken as harassment or bullying. This, too, could get them into a lot of trouble.

It has prompted some students elsewhere to be kicked off sports teams.

During his visit to the school, Thompson also advised students not to put any personal information out there, whether it's one's phone number or address.

"That's one of the biggest areas predators go to lure you in," he told students during two sessions that were held Monday morning at the school.

Thompson explained that predators go to sites and chat rooms where they think kids go, and try to befriend them through instant messaging—or IM'ing—by making supportive or other comments they believe will encourage the child to trust them.

He warned students not to answer people they don't know online.

He also spoke to the children about cyber-bullying.

“Do not respond,” he told them, in reference to cyber-bullying. “Don't even respond to comments that are being made about them.”

"If you respond, you can be charged with harassment," he said, explaining that responding could only make everything worse than what was being said.

Thompson said he understands it's normal to want to retaliate. However, it could cause more harm than good.

"Keep yourselves emotionally in control," he said. "Keep control."

Additionally, if they had been talking with anyone they don't personally know, no matter how long they had been conversing, they should never agree to meet someone they met online, in person.

If they are contacted about meeting in person, or if feel they are being bullied or harassed online, tell someone, Thompson advised the students. He recommended they go to someone they trust.

“Speak up,” he said, “and tell someone.”