RSS Feed |
|
|
|||||
|
Information on Internet predators 'scary' for parents
"You should trust me," the daughter told mom. "I wouldn't do any of those things (like giving out personal information.)" Only a short time before, the program's presenter Sgt. Paul Aleman of the Cyber Crimes Unit of the Texas Attorney General's Office had told mom, along with about 30 other concerned parents, such a comment is exactly what a child would say to gain access to the Web - a fact mom was quick to pick up on. "No, I can't trust you on this," Mom said with one of those maternal smiles crossing her face. A mother of seven, including a 14-year-old son, Gomez explained her family has a home computer, but doesn't have Internet service in part because what little she knew scared her. "I didn't know much about any of this other than the stories I've seen on the news on television," she said. "And I try to change channels when the kids walk in the room so they aren't afraid. But all through the presentation I was telling Gabrielle this information is scary. Really scary." Despite her fears, she said she may have learned enough to actually allow the Internet into her home. "My husband has been wanting the Internet too," she said. "And I liked some of the information they did talk about. Our computer is in a back bedroom, but if we got the Internet, we could move it into the living room because they talked about putting it in a high traffic area so you could keep track of what the kids were doing." While not a parent, Rachel Polasek deals with youngsters and the Internet on a regular basis as the technology director for the Boys & Girls Club of Wharton. She said she learned a lot. "I didn't know a lot of the lingo used," she said. "But this presentation makes me want to learn more about it as well as the various social networking sites the kids might be visiting. Particularly site like 'My Space' that focus on teens. I'm considering doing a program for the club members on what I learned during the meeting." Teen chat lingo 121 - one to one A/S/L? - age, sex, location BBL - be back later BRB - be right back CYO - see you online F2F - face to face ILU - I love you IPN - I'm posting naked IRL - in real life IWALU - I will always love you KOL - kiss on lips LDR - long distance relationship LMIRL - let's meet in real life LTNS - long time, no see LUWAMH - love you with all my heart M/F - male or female MOSS - member of same sex MOTOS - member of the opposite sex NIFOC - naked in front of computer NP - nosy parents OLL - online love P2P - peer to peer P911 - my parents are coming PA - parent alert PAL - parents are listening PANB - parents are nearby PDA - public display of affection POS - parent over shoulder ROTFL- rolling on the floor laughing SO - significant other TAW - teachers are watching TOY - thinking of you W/E - whatever WTGP - want to go private? WUF - where are you from * from the Cyber Safety Unit of the Texas Attorney General's office. |
for larger version       |
||||
)