I also wonder at the need for such a book when the internet is crammed with such stuff for free, and in depth. Example >> http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/topics/stay-safe
But good luck.
The UK at least is reported to have the most PCs per head count of population compromised in some way, that is, full of things hiding on them, or in fact patched in to some criminal network. People even make it easy for them by never even turning their PCs off, nevermind simply logging off their ISP. "Always On" means just that to them.
You do get the totally paranoid though (mostly Americans) who refuse to click any link at all, and think that Facebook can see into their house.
I do not know about aiming safety online at children, it should be aimed at adults. What I have found though, few people really care about online safety when told about it ("What's a firewall?"). In fact if what is said in 1 out of two divorce cases, it should be a case of >> what is your partner up to on line.
But in a nut shell, most parents look on kids nowadays as >> out of sight out of mind and "at least they are being quiet". Thankfully, the cases you hear about of grooming etc, are very very rare. Kids are not as stupid as we think they are, and often the ones that it happens to you have to think >> are you mental?! You went to meet a total stranger after all the warnings about such? There's the "it won't happen to me, I'm not an idiot" mentality, and nothing can protect people from themselves.
Now if you had written a book about trolls ...
Main piece of advice >> machines can always be turned off.
In my "real" life (away from writing), I'm an Internet safety trainer, working with foster carers, social workers, parents, teachers and children to help them stay safe on the 'net.
You'd be amazed at how many parents haven't looked at ANY of the online resources about Internet safety, don't use any parental controls and allow their kids on Facebook from the age of 5 or 6, giving them completely unsupervised (and unrestricted) access to the whole world in their bedroom.
Online safety is about more than grooming. (although the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) says that it receives around 250 reports relating to predators every month, so it's not as rare as you might think)
It's about Cyberbullying, peer pressure, porn, extremist viewpoints, inappropriate advice about drugs, sex and booze, viruses and malware, and loads of other issues.
What I've seen over the last two years is a real need for 'offline' resources for parents, hence the release of my book.
I'm not promoting paranoia and the last thing I want to do is to frighten anyone. However parents need to understand that whilst the 'net is a fantastic resource offering great learning and entertainment opportunities, it can also be a scary place.
I appreciate your feedback about the disclaimer, but my PI insurers insisted upon it to limit my liability.
In my "real" life (away from writing), I'm an Internet safety trainer, working with foster carers, social workers, parents, teachers and children to help them stay safe on the 'net.
Ah right, and now you thought you would sell them a book?
You'd be amazed at how many parents haven't looked at ANY of the online resources about Internet safety, don't use any parental controls and allow their kids on Facebook from the age of 5 or 6, giving them completely unsupervised (and unrestricted) access to the whole world in their bedroom.
Well, no I would not, and I am sure I said so, and why.
Online safety is about more than grooming. (although the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) says that it receives around 250 reports relating to predators every month, so it's not as rare as you might think)
That is very rare considering how many people are on line, and how many of those actually turn in to convictions anyway? How many are even telling the truth? Statistics are all well and good, but useless without the piechart.
It's about Cyberbullying, peer pressure, porn, extremist viewpoints, inappropriate advice about drugs, sex and booze, viruses and malware, and loads of other issues.
Indeed, which gets full coverage in the media, all media, and what difference does that coverage make?
I'm not promoting paranoia and the last thing I want to do is to frighten anyone. However parents need to understand that whilst the 'net is a fantastic resource offering great learning and entertainment opportunities, it can also be a scary place.
If they do not know by now they never will, in fact kids, as many people say, are more aware of the 'nasties' on line than most adults are.
I appreciate your feedback about the disclaimer, but my PI insurers insisted upon it to limit my liability.
So they are worried about what is in the book then? That's a worry.
No matter what anyone tells anyone there will always be a minority who says >> "never me, I'm not that stupid", and it's those you hear about on the news. As I say, I wish you good luck.
No, not trying to offend.
I'm just wondering why you seem intent on proving my book to be worthless?
My responses to your post are below:
In my "real" life (away from writing), I'm an Internet safety trainer, working with foster carers, social workers, parents, teachers and children to help them stay safe on the 'net.
Ah right, and now you thought you would sell them a book?
Yes. Many trainers publish books to support their courses. Is that a problem?
You'd be amazed at how many parents haven't looked at ANY of the online resources about Internet safety, don't use any parental controls and allow their kids on Facebook from the age of 5 or 6, giving them completely unsupervised (and unrestricted) access to the whole world in their bedroom.
Well, no I would not, and I am sure I said so, and why.
And yet you said that you didn't see the need for my book when free online resources exist.
Online safety is about more than grooming. (although the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) says that it receives around 250 reports relating to predators every month, so it's not as rare as you might think)
That is very rare considering how many people are on line, and how many of those actually turn in to convictions anyway? How many are even telling the truth? Statistics are all well and good, but useless without the piechart.
There were 513 arrests in the UK during 2010/2011 as a direct result of CEOP reports. 57 were convicted of online grooming offences in England and Wales during that same period. Many investigations are still ongoing.
That's still more than 10 arrests and 1 conviction every week. Not a massive number, but still too many.
If the conviction rate proves anything it's that the legal system hasn't caught up with the technology.
It's about Cyberbullying, peer pressure, porn, extremist viewpoints, inappropriate advice about drugs, sex and booze, viruses and malware, and loads of other issues.
Indeed, which gets full coverage in the media, all media, and what difference does that coverage make?
Not enough. Which is why there's a need for as many resources as possible to educate parents.
I'm not promoting paranoia and the last thing I want to do is to frighten anyone. However parents need to understand that whilst the 'net is a fantastic resource offering great learning and entertainment opportunities, it can also be a scary place.
If they do not know by now they never will, in fact kids, as many people say, are more aware of the 'nasties' on line than most adults are.
And that's why my book is aimed at adults, not children. This generation of kids is the first to grow up with "always on" internet access on portable devices, home computers and mobile phones. That's why parents don't "get it", and that's why I'm working with hundreds of parents every year to help them.
BeatBullying surveyed 2,500 children and found: 50% had experienced Cyberbullying in some form (29% of those didn't tell anyone) and 11% admitted having bullied someone online.
The same report says that at least 20 children commit suicide every year as a result of bullying.
Yes, kids know about 'nasties' online but that doesn't mean they're able to protect themselves. Parents need help to understand the technology, methods and effects of Cyberbullying.
I appreciate your feedback about the disclaimer, but my PI insurers insisted upon it to limit my liability.
So they are worried about what is in the book then? That's a worry.
No. They're not worried in the slightest but we live in a litigious society and they don't want a liability in the event that someone reads my book and their child still comes to harm.
No matter what anyone tells anyone there will always be a minority who says >> "never me, I'm not that stupid", and it's those you hear about on the news.
Which again demonstrates that the existing measures are not adequate.
As I say, I wish you good luck.
Thank you
No, not trying to offend.
I'm just wondering why you seem intent on proving my book to be worthless?
I wondered about your motivations. This is the section of a self-publishing site, and self-publishing includes marketing, and includes need, so you are sure to get comments way and above a simple review of the content.
My responses to your post are below:
In my "real" life (away from writing), I'm an Internet safety trainer, working with foster carers, social workers, parents, teachers and children to help them stay safe on the 'net.
Ah right, and now you thought you would sell them a book?
Yes. Many trainers publish books to support their courses. Is that a problem?
Indeed they do, but you are not running a school are you? Yes? No? Usually they publish such things though because they do not already exist. http://uk.norton.com/content/en/us/home_homeoffice
You'd be amazed at how many parents haven't looked at ANY of the online resources about Internet safety, don't use any parental controls and allow their kids on Facebook from the age of 5 or 6, giving them completely unsupervised (and unrestricted) access to the whole world in their bedroom.
Well, no I would not, and I am sure I said so, and why.
And yet you said that you didn't see the need for my book when free online resources exist.
Indeed, because people take no notice.
Online safety is about more than grooming. (although the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) says that it receives around 250 reports relating to predators every month, so it's not as rare as you might think)
That is very rare considering how many people are on line, and how many of those actually turn in to convictions anyway? How many are even telling the truth? Statistics are all well and good, but useless without the piechart.
There were 513 arrests in the UK during 2010/2011 as a direct result of CEOP reports. 57 were convicted of online grooming offences in England and Wales during that same period. Many investigations are still ongoing.
That's still more than 10 arrests and 1 conviction every week. Not a massive number, but still too many.
If the conviction rate proves anything it's that the legal system hasn't caught up with the technology.
Perhaps so, but that minority are the ones who do not really care, feeding off others who think it will never happen to them, it's a mind-set. They are just "Too clever to fall for that ..." Did you see the prog on TV about trolls for example? And yet it will still go on and always will.
It's about Cyberbullying, peer pressure, porn, extremist viewpoints, inappropriate advice about drugs, sex and booze, viruses and malware, and loads of other issues.
Indeed, which gets full coverage in the media, all media, and what difference does that coverage make?
Not enough. Which is why there's a need for as many resources as possible to educate parents.
Vast amounts, but people prefer to read scandle, view Eastenders and play Gears of War, etc etc.
I'm not promoting paranoia and the last thing I want to do is to frighten anyone. However parents need to understand that whilst the 'net is a fantastic resource offering great learning and entertainment opportunities, it can also be a scary place.
If they do not know by now they never will, in fact kids, as many people say, are more aware of the 'nasties' on line than most adults are.
And that's why my book is aimed at adults, not children. This generation of kids is the first to grow up with "always on" internet access on portable devices, home computers and mobile phones. That's why parents don't "get it", and that's why I'm working with hundreds of parents every year to help them.
Sorry to be so cynical, but most parents simply do not care or do not or will not make the time to bother, but you say that kids are savvy about it anyway and take little notice of what adults tell them.
I appreciate your feedback about the disclaimer, but my PI insurers insisted upon it to limit my liability.
So they are worried about what is in the book then? That's a worry.
No. They're not worried in the slightest but we live in a litigious society and they don't want a liability in the event that someone reads my book and their child still comes to harm.
Disclaimers rarely stand up in law now. It's up to a judge.
No matter what anyone tells anyone there will always be a minority who says >> "never me, I'm not that stupid", and it's those you hear about on the news.
Which again demonstrates that the existing measures are not adequate.
No, it simply proves that humans are stupid 
