Internet safety is becoming more important, especially at school

by Misha von Dassow, Kavik Chaney Leoton, Theo Schooler 

There are a lot of people on the internet. Some people are predators and try to steal money from you or stalk you. The bad thing is that people on the internet can pretend to be somebody else than actually are. This can lead to people getting scammed or robbed of money. 

In the past, the internet was not as vast and complicated as it is now. Now people can track other people more easily because most of us rely on virtual websites to keep money or information.

The first type of computer was really big, and all it could do was type in big yellow letters on a black background. Later, more advanced technology was invented, but it was really slow and not particularly useful.

Now almost everybody uses the internet to some extent.   

Millions of people are online right now, and with that many people, some of them are hackers and scammers trying to steal your personal information and money. If you don't want them to, then install firewalls and don't click on shady websites.

People want your personal information such as credit card information, passwords, names, addresses, and birthdates. They can use these to steal your identity or your money.

 “When you're on a website, try to remain as anonymous…Most trustworthy people and companies won't ask for this type of information online,” Nemours Teens Health said.

You should never buy stuff from shady websites because they might just take your money or steal your credit card information. 

People can exchange money very easily on the internet, so it makes it easier to make bad choices with their money.        

People have and will continue to get closer to the internet. “Americans have never been less physically fit, less mobile, and less socially capable, or more isolated and less likely to think outside the box,” Pete Schaefers, IT manager said. 

People have become less capable and more likely to fall for scams. “There are two stereotypes… that it happens to old people…and younger people,” said Schaffers. 

Internet safety is an issue everywhere, but it seems to be more of an issue in school environments.

It's hard for teachers to track what their students are doing at all times even when using programs such as Securely which can inform teachers of inappropriate use of school devices. 

“The number one problem with Securely is how quickly my email gets bogged down with inappropriate student use. For instance I typically get between 50-75 email flags for Youtube use alone,” Shelley Lake, the director for Lighthouse School, said.    

Schools use lots of fire walls and programs to keep students safe but even with those it's hard to keep students safe without watching them at all times.

“On a daily basis, anything... anything connected to the internet….is attacked or gets their door knocked on maybe hundreds of times in just a few minutes.” Schafers said.

In the future we will be on the internet and electronics a lot more, and internet safety will become  more of an issue than it already is. 

Photo credit Theo Schooler, used by permission