There is even a study done at the University of Melbourne in Australia suggests that using the Internet for personal use (including social networking) can increase your productivity at work by up to 9%.
Getting into college, finding a job and being more productive sounds like a pretty good use of time.
We need to treat the Internet and social networks as we do with everything else; there are pros and cons to young people using them. There are a lot of teens getting in trouble over online mistakes, but there are a lot of young people getting in trouble having nothing to do with a computer. I think our job as parents and educators is to teach them right from wrong, regardless of the tool they are using.
Why do we do what we do? The following stories are true stories of children and how they fell prey to online predators. These stories were aired on Oprah’s television show on April 15 2009.
I just wanted to post them here so our readers would continue to be vigilent about protect our children!
Danielle and Kristin’s Story:
Danielle’s daughter Kristin at 14 did well in school and excelled at track. When Kristin was in 8th grade, she received a computer and strict rules to go along with her use. Danielle’s mother never could have guessed what was to come for her family.
Danielle described the day her family changed to Oprah’s cameras. After returning from church at 2:00 in the afternoon, Danielle heard her husband scream for her to call 911. Going down the hall while on the phone, Danielle watched her husband cut her daughter down from the rafters.
How did this happen? After finding out that Kristin had a profile up on a social networking site, Danielle took the computer away for more than 5 months, but Kristin had already started a relationship with 27 year-old Kylie Ryan Bowers. Just before her 15th birthday, Kristin revealed to her mom that she had been used by the man and made to feel wanted and beautiful.
She told her mother that she had gone with him to a motel where he sexually attacked her and once he had what he wanted, returned to Texas.
Kristin had been communicating with the man for 8 months and had only met him the 1 time. She didn’t realize she could get so emotionally involved, and entered a deep depression after the abuse, reality of the trial, and harassment she received online after he returned to Texas.
While it doesn’t make up for the loss of her daughter, Kylie Ryan Bowers did receive a 9 year sentence for his actions.
Because it helps her deal with the pain of losing her daughter, Danielle wished to share Kristin’s story and the lessons she learned from her experience that other parents may benefit from.
It can happen to anyone – predators are experts in seduction and can convince a child to trust him. Don’t believe that because you have a ‘good’ kid that it couldn’t happen to your child.
Don’t let your children be naive – share stories of caution so your child knows what to look out for while using the internet.
Cell Phone Predators:
A story was also shared in a clip about a girl who was not allowed to have a computer, but was given a cell phone at 11.
Finding a chat site on her phone, she met a 20 year old man online when she was 12. After just recently losing her dad, she was able to find support from this man and eventually agreed to meet him at a park. The incident ended in him raping her, but thankfully he was caught but only sentenced to 3 years in jail.
Alicia’s Story:
In October of 2007, Alicia testified before congress about being lured by an online predator at 13 and kidnapped to Virginia to become a sex slave. Alicia met Scott Tyree online and talked to him for 8 months before agreeing to meet with him on New Year’s day of 2002.
Once Alicia was near Scott in person, she knew he was a monster and would have to do whatever she could to survive. Scott raped, beat and too video of Alicia locked in his basement. He bragged to his friends and shared images and video of his prisoner online, which eventually led to him being caught and Alicia being saved.
A friend who Scott shared the material with turned him into the FBI, and Alicia was rescued after 4 days.
Alicia shared that Scott seduced and groomed her into trusting him. Always telling her what she wanted and needed to hear, Alicia became brainwashed.
Now a college junior, Alicia speaks to schools to help kids not make the mistakes that she made. Scott received 19 years in jail for his actions and is a great example of how internet predators are monsters disguised as the man next door.
Does your child have their own adult supervised blog or website?
Would you like to create a video, would you like to write an article or would create a slideshow highlighting your Remarkable Kid?
We think you do!
Why Would I Participate?
Sometimes you just need an idea… a little encouragement to acknowledge someone special in your life.
You now you can submit content to be highlighted in the special section of our website — called Remarkable Kids!
How Do I Participate?
If your child has a blog or website, please submit the url (do not include child’s name) in the comments. Note: All content must be submitted by an adult 18 years or older.
Link It Up
So link it up and let’s get this great new project started. We are excited and can’t wait to begin receiving your content!
This entry is part 3 of 3 in the series Twitter For A Social Cause
I think we all struggle with how can give something back?
Some of us struggle with the inability to donate financially, some of us cannot find the time, while others don’t because they lack information that clearly outlines what they can do and where help is needed. Well, if you fall into the last category, this is your lucky day!
Helping People Find Jobs
“Job Angels mission is to help bring people together in a community setting where each person commits to a single goal: to help just one person find gainful employment.” -- Job Angels mission statement
We will be discussing a new non-profit, called Job Angels, who are not only helping those out of work find jobs, but has also devised a way for people to help each other, one person at a time. I love the way Job Angels covers both sides of the spectrum with a strategy that allows anyone to help.Job Angels is a using social media in a new way, to help people find jobs!
In The Press
Fortunately, Job Angels has been able to get some great press lately which has drawn even more job seekers and angels to the cause.
In this article, we want to familiarize you with how people seeking jobs can use this service effectively and how people who are employed can become an Angel for someone else (usually someone they don’t know).
How Can You Connect With Job Angels?
There are many ways you can help with the cause; list your mini-resume for help finding a job, post an available job, become an angel for someone out of work, become a volunteer w/ job angels, or help us spread the word.
Steps for each of these subcategories has been listed below.
Get Help Finding a Job
Twitter
1. Create a Twitter id (Takes less than 2 minutes)
2. Follow @JobAngels on Twitter(type: follow jobangels)
3. Send @JobAngels a mini-resume tweet (ie. @JobAngels Boston MA 15 years exper. in pr and marketing seeks management pos. @JohnDoe #jobangels)include the hashtag #jobangels
4. Use twitter search to search through jobs already posted (ie. criteria: boston pr jobangels)
5. Connect on twitter with others in the same city, twitter local application
6. Connect on twitter with others in your same area of expertiseusing twitter search(ie. criteria: pr)
7. Put your mini-resume in your twitter bio
I would recommend joining all three social media areas, but the two must have’s would be Linked-In and Twitter. They don’t have as large of an overlap of the same people as Facebook and Twitter has.
Post A Job
Twitter
1. Create a Twitter id (Takes less than 2 minutes)
2. Follow @JobAngels on Twitter(type: follow jobangels)
3. Send @JobAngels a mini-job posting tweet (ie. @JobAngels Milwaukee WI Retail sales person needed for southeastern wi location , contact @JohnDoe #jobangels)include the hashtag #jobangels or email Job Angels
Linked-In
1. Join the group JobAngels
2. Start a new discussion, add job posting to the “Discussions” or the “Jobs” board
Each job seeker will have different needs from their Angel.
The following areas are a few where you may be asked for help; preparing their resume, job relocation, interview skills, possible contacts you may have in the area of expertise, or just someone helpful to listen to them.
Twitter
1. Create a Twitter id (Takes less than 2 minutes)
2. Follow @JobAngels on Twitter(type: follow jobangels)
3. Use twitter search to search through the job seekers in your area of expertise, possibly your own city or state. (ie. criteria: ny marketing jobangels)
Linked-In
1. Join the group JobAngels
2. Look for a job seeker to help in your area of expertise
Facebook
1. Join the group JobAngels
2. Look for a job seeker to help in your area of expertise
Become A Volunteer
Job Angels is currently looking for volunteers. Help is needed on twitter/social media, the web site, answering email, and other areas. Contact Job Angels via email.
Get The Word Out
Another way you can help with Job Angels is to write a blog post, an article, tweet, or otherwise tell others about Job Angels.
The more people that get involved, the more people that can be helped.
![[Post to Twitter]](http://kidsafe.com/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/icons/tt-twitter-big1.png){kind=icon}
