Web Safety Guidelines -
Internet Chat:
Reading messages from others as they are typing them, and immediately responding, usually in theme-specific "chat rooms". This can be thought of as a kind of "instant e-mail." It is difficult to explain the attraction of Internet chat to those who haven't tried it. It involves conversing with other people through typing. Given the very limited typing skills of most people, even computer enthusiasts, there is the obvious temptation to suggest that it would be easier to pick up the 'phone. Or even (God forbid) go out and meet some people. And yet... There is some strange magic about watching the word come up on the screen and waiting for a response. It somehow taps into something deep in the psyche, both adult and child, and there's a buzz every time. This, of course, has its darker side and there are many stories of people, young and old, becoming hopelessly hooked but that is really only of peripheral interest to us in the school setting where there isn't that much access time for individuals. In fact, there is a danger in the general use of Chat which points up a bonus of its use in the school. The image of the teenager or adult sitting in a lonely bedroom feverishly tapping away through the wee hours is at best sad and at worst downright scary. The typical school situation is very different. There will be one individual controlling the keyboard while a larger group watches and suggests questions and responses. The result is a very social activity in real life as well as the cyber world. So what are the dangers in the school setting? Well, in fact they're very limited. It's difficult to imagine a session like this happening in a school without the active involvement of a teacher. It's also reasonable to suppose that the teacher will use a "safe" chatroom such as that provided by the INTO. Under such circumstances the only real concern for the teacher is to educate the children to possible dangers of this kind of activity at home. Teachers may feel that we have enough to cope with in taking responsibility for activities in school without taking on the home setting as well. On the other hand, if the school experience fires up an enthusiasm for something about which the parents may know nothing it is not unreasonable that the parents will expect us to equip them. This is not as onerous as it may sound. Simply ensure that the children are well-trained in the rules and perhaps send home a printout for parents where the children are known to be using the ‘net at home. All the most important risks, such as giving out personal details or agreeing to meet someone are covered there. In fact, the dangers in most cases are remote and these precautions are designed on a “be sure to be sure” basis.