Ms. Kahn’s class was studying how flowering plants sexually reproduce. She assigned a research project that required reading on three websites. Ethan protested, “My parents restrict what I search for online. There is no way I can open a website with the words ‘sexual reproduction’!”

“Don’t pose as ignorant, Ethan!” laughed Aliyah. “You’re a computer wiz! At a minimum, you can get around any website filter your parents set up, and you’re not the only one. These days, most teens know how to get unmonitored access to the internet.”

“Many of you are tech savvy,” said Ms. Kahn. “But does that make you less of a target for predators?” “I think the more you’re online the more likely you are to be contacted by a predator,” said Aliyah.

Ethan agreed. “Predators, phishers, cyberbullies, real creeps—they’re all just a click away! But if you think before you click, you won’t be a prime victim. You have to learn how to minimize the chance of being contacted by internet predators.”

Aliyah and Ethan carefully read information on a Department of Homeland Security website. Then they created the following survey for their classmates.

Do you think that Ethan and Aliyah’s survey provides a good indication of how safe you are on the internet?

What questions would you add to this survey? What questions would you rewrite? As you answer, think about other things that teens can do to make themselves safer online.

Discussion Question:

How did you score? What steps could you take to improve your safety online?