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Girls Today: The
4-1-1
Informational Series on Girls:
Topic is Cyber Safety
Press Release (Word) |
Girl's Today: The 4-1-1 Flyer |
Rack Card
Media Contact:
Ann Marie van den Hurk, APR
302-456-7170
avandenhurk@cbgsc.org
Newark, DE, October 5, 2005: Thirty percent of girls
who have gone into a public chart rooms have been sexually harassed
online. Cyber Safety is a real concern for both girls and their
families. Girl Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay is launching the
informational series, Girls Today: The 4-1-1, to address the
concerns and issues girls are faced with today. Cyber safety is the
first topic as a follow-up to the Cyber Safe Summer campaign in June
due to the high level of interest.
Please join us for the following
session.
Cyber Safety
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
7:00 - 8:00 pm
Hockessin Library
1023 Valley RD, Hockessin, DE
The Hon. M. Jane Brady, Attorney General of Delaware, to
speak about how to keep girls safe on the Internet.
The program is free and open to the public.
Why is Girl Scouts concerned about Cyber Safety?
Computer technology is ingrained in the social and academic lives
of girls of the “Cyber Generation.” However, the dangers of the
internet aren’t. The issues and experiences teenage girls face on
the Internet are concerning.
Girl Scout Research Institute has been providing the voice of girls
regarding their experiences on the Internet and how they feel safe.
In recent studies, girls told us that:
- Thirty percent of girls who have gone into public chat rooms have
been sexually harassed online, but only seven percent of those girls
say they told their mother or father about the incident immediately.1
- Almost one-quarter of teens have fewer than three adults they can
go to if they are in trouble or need help.2
- Twenty-six percent of girls ages 8-17 are concerned about being
kidnapped.3
- Twenty-four percent of girls ages 8-17 are afraid of being forces
to do something sexual.4
Computer-savvy teenage girls report going online anywhere from twice
a week to several times a day. Although it hasn’t replaced other
communications, the Internet with its e-mail and instant messaging
features, is an integral part of girls’ computer experiences. Too
often these computer-savvy teens are still naïve and emotional
vulnerable. They report grappling with issues such as how to react
to sexual online content they unwittingly encounter or to being
harassed.
Girls want parents and adults to
fully understand their online lives. However, girls sometimes rely
too much on their own judgment in making decisions about how to
behave online. Girls are aware of the varied dangers of the
Internet, but want more proactive involvement rather than
prohibitive don’ts from parents. All reap many positive and safe
benefits from Internet usage, as it allows girls to build social
self-confidence and express intense emotions they may not otherwise
share.
When empowered with knowledge and given pertinent advice, girls can
successfully navigate both positive and negative experiences on
online.
What can we do as adults to
helping girls navigate the Internet safely? Here are some tips:
- Talk to her about safety rules for using the Internet. Her common
sense is probably very different from yours.
- Discuss with her what her online rules should be such as how much
time she can spend online, what kinds of sites she can visit, etc.
Consider her input seriously.
- Know what she is doing online such as what sites is she visiting
or does she go into public chat rooms? Familiarize yourself with the
Internet.
- Maintain an open dialogue with her about her Internet use. Be
willing to compromise, but make sure she understands your concerns
are for her safety.
- Encourage her to teach you some new Internet-related skills
opening a door to communication.
- Without becoming overly judgmental, help her solve problems she
encounters online. Make sure she knows she can come to you with
those problems.
- Prepare your daughter for the kinds of uncomfortable experiences
she might have online, without making her feel that the Internet is
a totally frightening place.
- Find out what her friends are doing online so you know what her
Internet social reality is all about.
If girls are armed with
knowledge, trust, and support, they’ll be able to use the Internet
safely.
Girl Scouting builds girls
of confidence, courage, and character, who make the world a better
place. We do that by providing girls with personal leadership
development and programs that build real life skills for the real
world. To learn more about Girl Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay
Council, visit
www.girlscoutschesapeakebay.org.
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1The Net Effect: Girls and the New Media, Girl Scout Research
Institute, 2002
2Feeling Safe: What Girls Say, Girl Scout Research Institute, 2003
3Feeling Safe: What Girls Say, Girl Scout Research Institute, 2003
4Feeling Safe: What Girls Say, Girl Scout Research Institute, 2003
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