Cyber Bullying—

Cyber Bullying—

More and more, kids are using the Internet to antagonize and intimidate others. This has become known as cyber bullying. Today's young Internet users have created an interactive world away from adult knowledge and supervision. Because bullies tend to harass their victims away from the watchful eyes of adults, the Internet is the perfect tool for reaching others anonymously - anytime, anyplace. This means for many children, home is no longer a refuge from the cruel peer pressures of school.

The anonymity of online communications means kids feel freer to do things online they would never do in the real world. 60 per cent of students pretend to be someone else when they are online. Of those, 17 per cent do so because they want to "act mean to people and get away with it". Even if they can be identified online, young people can accuse someone else of using their screen name. They don't have to own their actions, and if a person can't be identified with an action, fear of punishment is diminished.

Technology can also affect a young person's ethical behavior because it doesn't provide tangible feedback about the consequences of actions on others. This lack of feedback minimizes feelings of empathy or remorse. Young people say things online that they would never say face-to-face because they feel removed from the action and the person at the receiving end.

There are several ways that young people bully others online. They send e-mails or instant messages containing insults or threats directly to a person. They may also spread hateful comments about a person through e-mail, instant messaging or postings on Web sites and online diaries. Young people steal passwords and send out threatening e-mails or instant messages using an assumed identity. Technically savvy kids may build whole Web sites, often with password protection, to target specific students or teachers.

An increasing number of kids are being bullied by text messages through their cell phones. These phones are challenging the ability of adults to monitor and guide children because, unlike a computer placed in a public area of a home, school or library, mobiles are personal, private, connected - and always accessible. Kids tend to keep their phones on at all times, meaning bullies can harass victims at school or even in their own rooms.

Built-in digital cameras in cell phones are adding a new dimension to the problem. In one case students used a camera-enabled cell phone to take a photo of an overweight classmate in the shower after gym. The picture was distributed throughout the school e-mail list within minutes.

Schools are struggling to address the issue of cyber bullying among students, especially when it occurs outside of school. When real world bullying occurs in a schoolyard or classroom, teachers are often able to intervene, but online bullying takes place off the radar screen of adults, making it difficult to detect in schools and impossible to monitor off school property.

Young people should be aware that some forms of online bullying are considered criminal acts. Under the Criminal Code, it is a crime to communicate repeatedly with someone if your communication causes them to fear for their own safety or the safety of others.

It's also a crime to publish a "defamatory libel" - writing something that is designed to insult a person or likely to injure a person's reputation by exposing him or her to hatred, contempt or ridicule.

A cyber bully may also be violating the Human Rights Act, if he or she spreads hate or discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or disability.

Internet service providers (ISPs) are the companies that provide Internet access to consumers. Most ISPs have Acceptable Use Policies (AUPs) that clearly define privileges and guidelines for those using their services, and the actions that can be taken if those guidelines are violated.

ISPs and cell phone service providers can respond to reports of cyber bullying over their networks, or help clients track down the appropriate service provider to respond to.

Cyber bullying is everyone's business and the best response is a pro-active or preventative one.

What parents can do—

1. Create an online agreement or contract for computer use, with your kids' input. Make sure your agreement contains clear rules about ethical online behaviour. MNet's research shows that in homes where parents have clear rules against certain kinds of activities, young people are much less likely to engage in them.

2. Encourage kids to develop their own moral code so they will choose to behave ethically online.

3. Encourage your kids to come to you if anybody says or does something online that makes them feel uncomfortable or threatened. Stay calm and keep the lines of communication and trust open. If you "freak out" your kids won't turn to you for help when they need it.

4. Learn everything you can about the Internet and what your kids are doing online. Talk to them about the places they go online and the activities that they are involved in. Be aware of what your kids are posting on Web sites, including their own personal home pages.

5. Talk to your kids about responsible Internet use.

6. Teach them to never post or say anything on the Internet that they wouldn't want the whole world - including you - to read.

7. If the bully is a student at your child's school, meet with school officials and ask for help in resolving the situation.

8. If your child is bullied through a cell phone, report the problem to your phone service provider. If it's a persistent problem, you can change the phone number.

9. Report any incident of online harassment and physical threats to your local police and your Internet Service Provider (ISP).

What schools can do—

·Change the school or board's bullying policy to include harassment perpetrated with mobile and Internet technology.

·Educate teachers, students and parents about the seriousness of cyber bullying.

·Integrate curriculum-based anti-bullying programs into classrooms.

·Update the school or board's computer Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) to specifically prohibit using the Internet for bullying.

What kids can do—

Because most incidents of bullying occur off adults' radar screens, it's important that young people learn to protect themselves online and respond to cyber bullying among peers when they encounter it.

Take a stand against cyber bullying with your peers. Speak out whenever you see someone being mean to another person online. Most kids respond better to criticism from their peers than to disapproval from adults.

Guard your contact information. Don't give people you don't know your cell phone number, instant messaging name or e-mail address.

If you are being harassed online, take the following actions immediately:

1. If the bullying includes physical threats, tell the police.

2. If you are being bullied through e-mail or instant messaging, block the sender's messages. Never reply to harassing messages.

3. If you are being harassed, leave the area or stop the activity (i.e. chat room, news group, online gaming area, instant messaging, etc.).

4. Save any harassing messages and forward them to your Internet Service Provider (i.e. Hotmail or Yahoo). Most service providers have appropriate use policies that restrict users from harassing others over the Internet - and that includes kids!

5. Tell an adult you trust - a teacher, parent, older sibling or grandparent.



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Adolescents and HIV/AIDS—

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a condition in humans in which the immune system begins to fail, leading to life-threatening opportunistic infections. Previous names for the virus include human T-lymphotropic virus-III (HTLV-III), lymphadenopathy- associated virus (LAV), and AIDS-associated retrovirus (ARV).

Infection with HIV occurs by the transfer of blood, semen, vaginal fluid, pre- ejaculate, or breast milk. Within these bodily fluids, HIV is present as both free virus particles and virus within infected immune cells. The four major routes of transmission are unprotected sexual intercourse, contaminated needles, breast milk, and transmission from an infected mother to her baby at birth. Screening of blood products for HIV has largely eliminated transmission through blood transfusions or infected blood products in the developed world.

HIV infection in humans is now pandemic. As of January 2006, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the World Health Organization (WHO) estimate that AIDS has killed more than 25 million people since it was first recognized on December 1, 1981, making it one of the most destructive pandemics in recorded history. It is estimated that about 0.6% of the world's population is infected with HIV. In 2005 alone, AIDS claimed an estimated 2.4–3.3 million lives, of which more than 570,000 were children. A third of these deaths are occurring in sub-Saharan Africa, retarding economic growth and increasing poverty. According to current estimates, HIV is set to infect 90 million people in Africa, resulting in a minimum estimate of 18 million orphans. Antiretroviral treatment reduces both the mortality and the morbidity of HIV infection, but routine access to antiretroviral medication is not available in all countries.

There are so many misconceptions surrounding HIV and AIDS; myth and misunderstanding fueled by the media, by fear, and by ignorance. Let's take a look at the truth.

Today adolescents of both sexes face a serious risk of HIV infection, which is the cause of AIDS. AIDS is a chronic and most often fatal disease. Despite growing understanding and awareness, HIV infection is a serious threat to both heterosexual and homosexual teens. When adolescents take certain risks, they are more likely to become infected with HIV and develop AIDS:

Since the epidemic began over twenty years ago, stereotypes have surfaced as to who are HIV infected people. White gay males, drug users and prostitutes are labeled as the faces of HIV and AIDS. Nothing could be further from the truth. HIV knows no boundaries and certainly doesn’t discriminate. The fact is that anyone can get HIV, from elderly men and women living in a nursing home to teens planning their next prom.

Men and women, adults and children, rich and poor, the homeless and the college professor; HIV can infect anyone who doesn't take the proper precautions. Keep this in mind the next time you hear HIV cant impact you. Since the epidemic began, over 50,000 teens like yourself have contracted HIV and progressed to AIDS, many of them dying before the age of twenty.

Facts about AIDS:

·You can get AIDS from use of even one contaminated needle or one sexual act with a partner who has HIV/AIDS
·Condoms can reduce the risk of getting AIDS
·Anyone can get AIDS - many teens (both boys and girls) have been infected
·AIDS is most often fatal

Risk of AIDS is increased by:

·Tattoos and body piercing with contaminated (unsterile) needles or instruments
·IV drug use
·Any sex (oral, anal or vaginal) without condoms
·Anal intercourse
·An increased number of sexual partners
·Alcohol and other drug use (sex is more impulsive and use of condoms less likely if under the influence of alcohol or other drugs)

When a person's immune system is overwhelmed by AIDS, the symptoms can include:

· a cough that won't go away
· chronic diarrhea
· extreme weakness or fatigue
· frequent fevers that last for several weeks with no explanation
· heavy sweating at night
· minor infections that cause skin rashes and mouth, genital, and anal sores
· rapid weight loss
· swollen lymph glands
· trouble remembering things
· white spots in the mouth or throat

HIV transmission can be prevented by:

· never sharing needles
· avoiding contact with the bodily fluids through which HIV is transmitted
· always using latex condoms for all types of sexual intercourse
· abstaining from sex (not having oral, vaginal, or anal sex)

While most everyone knows how HIV is spread from person to person, most people underestimate the risk involved in some behaviors. Oral sex is often thought of as the "safer sex". Its incidence among young adults and teens is well documented. In fact, some studies have shown that oral sex in high schools is as common as kissing was twenty years ago. Many adolescents believe that oral sex is a safe way to engage in sex, free from the worry of pregnancy and disease. The truth is that oral sex is not as safe as you think.

Studies have concluded that infected bodily fluids such as semen and vaginal secretions have high concentrations of HIV and can enter the blood stream through the mucous membranes of the mouth. One such study revealed that in one group of newly infected HIV positive young adults, many reported their only sexual contact was oral sex.

HIV infection is preventable. Knowledge about HIV is an important aspect of prevention. Parents should educate their children and also work closely with schools, churches, youth organizations, and health care professionals to ensure that children and teens receive sex education and preventive drug abuse courses, which include material on HIV.

HIV infection occurs in all age groups. Twenty-five percent of the babies born to untreated mothers infected with HIV develop HIV infection themselves. Many of these children die within one or two years, but some live for years, although their development is slowed and they can get many infections.

Even with all the media attention HIV gets these days, many teens still believe that the only risk associated with unprotected sex is pregnancy. So, to prevent pregnancy, teens used birth control techniques such as oral sex or the withdrawal method (pulling out) prior to ejaculation. Unfortunately, there is more to be concerned about. The incidence of sexually transmitted disease, including HIV, is on the rise among teens.

Many of these STDs are for life, meaning there is no cure. Herpes, syphilis, and HIV are real concerns that if contracted will be with you a lifetime. For these reasons, to minimize your risk of STDs and HIV, latex condoms are a must each and every time you have oral, anal or vaginal sex.

Mothers-to-be with HIV must get special treatment to try to prevent transmission of the virus to their fetuses. New treatments for pregnant women may reduce the transmission of the virus to fewer than one in ten babies of HIV-positive mothers.

HIV is transmitted through exchange of certain bodily fluids such as blood, semen, vaginal secretions, and breast milk. To produce an infection, the virus must pass through the skin or mucous membranes into the body.

The HIV virus dies quickly when it is outside the human body. It cannot be transmitted by day-to-day or even close social contacts. Family members of an individual infected with HIV will not catch the virus if they share drinking glasses with the person. There is no known instance in which a child infected with HIV has passed the virus to another child in the course of school activities.

Not every teen ignores the risks of HIV. Some ask the important questions of their partners but what they do with the answers they receive is just as important. Think about it for a moment. How many people will admit they are HIV infected if asked by the new love in their life? How many will admit to their sexual history when they are trying to win the affections of their new love interest? How many people really know their HIV status and the status of the people they have been with in the past?

Unfortunately, in part due to the prejudices surrounding HIV and AIDS, many people are not willing to disclose their status to potential sexual partners for fear of discrimination and prejudice. Furthermore, many are reluctant to ask the questions of their partners prior to sex or if they do, the tendency is to take the answer they get as fact. The only way anyone knows their HIV status is to get tested. A claim of “my past partner was negative” is only acceptable if they are backed by a negative test.

AIDS is a chronic illness caused by infection with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). Millions of Americans are infected with HIV. Some of them have AIDS, but most have no symptoms at all, and many do not know they are infected. Despite significant advances in available medical treatment for HIV, there are no definitive cures or vaccines that can prevent the disease. New treatments have enabled many people with AIDS to live longer. Avoiding risk behaviors can prevent HIV infection and AIDS.

People are living longer due to the advent of powerful HIV medications that help fight the virus. Unfortunately, the medications are not a cure. While they do allow for longer lives, HIV still kills. Since the epidemic began, over one half million people have died from HIV and AIDS. Liver disease, pneumonia, and serious infection of the brain and other internal organs are constant companions of those living and fighting the disease. The medicines are not a quick fix to an HIV infection. They are difficult to take and cause many side effects such as fat accumulations in the stomach and neck, diarrhea, extreme fatigue, rashes, and vomiting. They have to be taken many times each day and often lead to liver and kidney disease. And they cost thousands of dollars each year. The best way to stay healthy is not through HIV medications, but by avoiding HIV in the first place.

HIV and AIDS are growing the fastest among minority populations…and Native Americans in particular have some tough obstacles to overcome due to social, behavioral and cultural issues.



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Aspergers Syndrome

Aspergers Disorder—

Asperger's is the term for a specific type of pervasive developmental disorder which is characterized by problems in development of social skills and behavior. In the past, many children with Asperger's were diagnosed as having autism, another of the pervasive developmental disorders, or other disorders. While autism and Asperger's have certain similarities, there are also important differences. For this reason, children suspected of having these conditions require careful evaluation.

In general, a child with Asperger's functions at a higher level than the typical child with autism. For example, many children with Asperger's have normal intelligence. While most children with autism fail to develop language or have language delays, children with Asperger's are usually using words by the age of two, although their speech patterns may be somewhat odd.

Most children with Asperger's have difficulty interacting with their peers. They tend to be loners and may display eccentric behaviors. A child with Asperger's, for example, may spend hours each day preoccupied with counting cars passing on the street or watching only the weather channel on television. Coordination difficulties are also common with this disorder. These children often have special educational needs.

Although the cause of Asperger's is not yet known, current research suggests that a tendency toward the condition may run in families. Children with Asperger's are also at risk for other psychiatric problems including depression, attention deficit disorder, schizophrenia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Child and adolescent psychiatrists have the training and expertise to evaluate pervasive developmental disorders like autism and Asperger's. They can also work with families to design appropriate and effective treatment programs. Currently, the most effective treatment involves a combination of psychotherapy, special education, behavior modification, and support for families. Some children with Asperger's will also benefit from medication.

The outcome for children with Asperger's is generally more promising than for those with autism. Due to their higher level of intellectual functioning, many of these children successfully finish high school and attend college. Although problems with social interaction and awareness persist, they can also develop lasting relationships with family and friends.

Signs and symptoms—

Signs and symptoms of Asperger's include:

·Appearing not to understand, empathize with, or be sensitive to others' feelings
·Displaying unusual nonverbal communication, such as lack of eye contact, few facial expressions, or awkward body postures and gestures
·Engaging in one-sided, long-winded conversations, without noticing if the listener is listening or trying to change the subject
·Having a hard time "reading" other people or understanding humor
·Having an odd posture or a rigid gait
·Moving clumsily, with poor coordination
·Showing an intense obsession with one or two specific, narrow subjects, such as baseball statistics, train schedules, weather or snakes
·Speaking in a voice that is monotonous, rigid or unusually fast

Treatment—

The core signs of Asperger's can't be cured. But most children benefit from early specialized interventions that focus on behavior management and social skills training. Your doctor can help identify resources in your area that may work for your child. Options may include:

· Medication. There are no medications to treat Asperger's. But some medications may improve specific behaviors — such as anxiety, depression or hyperactivity — that can occur in many children with Asperger's.

· Cognitive behavior therapy. This general term encompasses many techniques aimed at curbing problem behaviors, such as interrupting, obsessions, meltdowns or angry outbursts, as well as developing skills like recognizing feelings and coping with anxiety. Cognitive behavior therapy usually focuses on training a child to recognize a troublesome situation — such as a new place or an event with lots of social demands — and then select a specific learned strategy to cope with the situation.

· Communication and social skills training. Many children with Asperger's can learn the unwritten rules of socialization and communication when taught in an explicit and rote fashion, much like the way students learn foreign languages. Children with Asperger's may also learn how to speak in a more natural rhythm, as well as how to interpret communication techniques, such as gestures, eye contact, tone of voice, humor and sarcasm.

Coping skills—

Asperger's can be a difficult, lonely disorder — for children and their parents. By nature, the disorder brings difficulties socializing and communicating with your child. It may also mean fewer play dates and birthday invitations and more stares at the grocery store from people who don't understand that a child's meltdown is part of a disability, not the result of "bad parenting."

Luckily, as this disorder gains widespread recognition and attention, there are more and more sources of help. Here are a few suggestions:

· Find a team of trusted professionals. You'll need to make important decisions about your child's education and treatment. Find a team of teachers and therapists who can help evaluate the options in your area and explain the federal regulations regarding children with disabilities.

· Help others help your child. Most children with Asperger's have no visible sign of disability, so you may need to alert coaches, relatives and other adults to your child's special needs. Otherwise, a well-meaning coach may spend time lecturing your child on "looking at him while he's talking" — something that can be very difficult for a child with Asperger's.

· Help your child turn his or her obsession into a passion. The tendency to fixate on a particular narrow topic is one of the hallmarks of Asperger's, and it can be annoying to those who must listen to incessant talk about the topic every day. But a consuming interest can also connect a child with Asperger's to schoolwork and social activities. In some cases, kids with Asperger's can even turn their childhood fascination into a career or profession.

· Learn about the disorder. Just 20 years ago, many pediatricians hadn't heard of Asperger's syndrome. Now, there are numerous books and Web sites dedicated to the disorder. Do some research so that you better understand your child's challenges and the range of services in your school district and state that may help.

· Learn about your child. The signs and symptoms of Asperger's are different in every child, and young children have a hard time explaining their behaviors and challenges. But, with time and patience, you'll learn which situations and environments may cause problems for your child and which coping strategies work. Keeping a diary and looking for patterns may help.

Go to Online Parent Support: Aspergers Super Blog

Kids and the Internet

Podcasts:

==> Kids and the Internet - part 1

==> Kids and the Internet - part 2

"Don't talk to strangers" has been a caring parent's mantra since time immemorial. Yet when it comes to keeping their kids safe online, many parents fail to enforce the same safety rules.

The anonymity of the Internet allows stalkers, sex offenders, scam artists, and a whole host of bad guys to come in contact with children more easily.

According to the 2006 report “Online Victimization: A Report on the Nation's Youth” by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children:

• 1 in 7 children between the ages of 10 and 17 received a sexual solicitation on-line;
• 1 in 3 had unwanted exposure to pictures of naked people or sexual activity; and
• 1 in 11 was threatened or harassed.

Those of us in criminal justice are all too familiar with these grim statistics. However, we also know the value of education as a tool for prevention.

SafetyNet

As part of the SafetyNet campaign, the Attorney General’s Office visited communities across Washington to share what we've learned from the experts about the dangers of the Internet and to talk about ways kids can avoid those dangers. We visited schools, met with law enforcement, and talked with PTAs and parent groups to spread the message about this important topic.

Netsmartz

In 2006, the AGO teamed up with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) to provide free train-the-trainer seminars to prepare up to 400 educators and law-enforcement officers to teach Internet safety using NetSmartz resources. NetSmartz creates age-appropriate educational materials to teach children and teens rules for online safety. Free activities and resources are available at: www.netsmartz.org.

The seminars were sponsored by a partnership of the Attorney General’s Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office Eastern and Western Districts of Washington, Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Educational Service District 101, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, and NetSmartz.

Qwest Connected Family Online Classroom

Also in 2006, Attorney General McKenna has joined the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) and leaders across the state in encouraging 10,000 Washington parents and guardians to become informed about online safety issues and prevention tips through the Connected Family Online Classroom this year.

“The Washington Attorney General’s office has worked hard to strengthen laws to effectively keep sex predators out of our neighborhoods and communities, but the Internet can be a tougher place to police so families need to help. As a father of four, I’m pleased to support Qwest in this important program and encourage Washington families to join us and learn to be safer on the Internet.” — Attorney General Rob McKenna.

Cable Public Service Tips on Internet Safety

Finally, as part of Internet Safety Month, Attorney General McKenna recorded the following tips for Comcast: Internet Danger.

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