Welcome to our new page dedicated to Internet Safety! This topic has been in the spotlight for quite some time now and it's presence is only increasing. Baldwin is dedicated to educating not only the students but the parents of the community as well. The more everyone understands this popular way of communication, the better. Please take the time to read the items on this page and come back often for updated materials as well as future dates for Parent Sessions.

Laura Blankenship's Talk from March 5

Resources from Dr. Blankenship's Talk Privacy and Social Media Advice for Middle School Parents (Common Sense Media)  Cyberbullying (statistics and strategies for managing)  More on Cyberbullying (from Enough is Enough)  danah boyd (top researcher in social media and teens; good information here)  Pew Internet and American Life project teens page (research about how teens are using media)

What is Social Networking? Reference: www.whatissocialnetworking.com Social networking is the grouping of individuals into specific groups, like small rural communities or a neighborhood subdivision, if you will. Although social networking is possible in person, especially in the workplace, universities, and high schools, it is most popular online. This is because unlike most high schools, colleges, or workplaces, the internet is filled with millions of individuals who are looking to meet other people, to gather and share first-hand information and experiences about cooking, golfing, gardening, developing friendships or professional alliances, finding employment, and business-to-business marketing. The possibilities are endless....

Tips and Guides Below are some materials that we highly recommend reading. There are also some documents to assist with securing a few of the more popular social networking sites.  While we only list a few here, please know that there are MANY more sites out there.  Using the same principles in these guides is recommended for any social networking site.   Facebook Security   A Parents' Guide to Facebook   Formspring Security   Lower School Technology Brochure

More Internet Safety Resources I Keep Safe: Games and resources for teaching kids Internet safety. Areas for kids, parents and educators. Get Net Wise. Information on kids’ safety, spam, security and privacy. Wired Safety Parry Aftab’s huge collection of information on Internet safety, social networks and cyberbullying. Also,  Wired Kids, includes online safety games and information for younger children.

Internet Safety Discussion with MS Students January 28, 2011 Over the past week, we've had the opportunity to speak with each Middle School Class. We took the time to discuss Internet safety with a focus on social networking sites, in and outside of the school’s campus. The goal is to teach the students about safety and keeping a clean overall online presence. We have this discussion with the students each year in order to stay current with newer sites and technology. We also offer sessions for the parents of the community as well. Click "read more" to see the items discussed with the students.